I’ve always liked the quote, “Nothing changes, if nothing changes” – because I see change often as a positive thing, an improvement, making things better than before.
Now we find ourselves in the middle of a pandemic, the Covid 19 virus and we are surrounded with changes. Changes in the way we work, shop, live, worship, connect with others, learn, travel, greet others, and I could go on. . Positive change??? Well certainly not in many ways, and yet, I ask, will we learn somethings out of all this? Will we no longer take for granted the ones we love, the work we have, the freedom we enjoy, the churches that are available to us, the friends that we share with in our daily lives, and so on and so on? Will we one day just go on as if nothing has changed or will we change for the better in remembering the little things that have become the big things and that we all have a part to play in making this a better world to live in.
I have been blessed to watch that for some families while they are staying home, some are home schooling, some are taking the time to camp out in the back yard, build a fire, they have played board games together, cooked together, watched movies and listened and made music together. Beautiful to see… I have been blessed to watch the medical profession shine in their care for others, I have been blessing to see politicians endeavouring to work together for the common good.
History will record that we lived through this time of Covid 19 and economic hardship, as it does that of war, depression, terrorist attacks, and other major events through time. Sadly though, as we are painfully aware, not all of have lived through it and we are all so desperately sad for the death of our friend and brother in Christ, Ralph Ferrett and we ache for Beryl and for their family at this time. We are so grateful for Ralph’s life, love, his faithful service in the name of Jesus, his teaching and mentoring. We are also grateful for Beryl’s recovery and pray she will continue to gain strength as she returns home from the hospital.. We also uphold others in our communities, our country and in our world who have lost loved ones and who are sick and struggling to survive this horrendous virus.
May you and I, be changed by this experience of isolation and social distancing, and personal reflection. May we be the change the world needs to see, may we love unconditionally, serve willingly, give generously, share passionately with others along the way. God is with us yet! My prayer for you and for the church in the Mid North Coast and beyond is that we continue to live out our discipleship in ways that we change the world, one person at a time, starting with ourselves.
Peace and Blessings,
Wendy Ballard, Tiona Chaplain and Network Co-Ordinator Mid North Coast
Community of Christ Australia continues to mourn the passing of Ralph Ferrett on April 4th 2020.
Ralph was a unique disciple of our Lord, whose love of God was complete. A compassionate minister, a lover of Scripture with an enquiring mind, one who had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the Book of Mormon. A scholar. An historian. And a lifelong companion to his beloved Beryl.
Ralph served as Pastor of Tuncurry Congregation from 1969 to 1973 and his years of dedicated service are honoured with a marker in the path at Tuncurry Church.
We will miss him, his wisdom and his love of each of us.