Dear Friends,

At this time we not only have a government, but we also have knowledge of who in the government will be responsible for what ministries. Those familiar with the classic British comedic “Yes, Minister” and “Yes, Prime Minister” shows may take that with the proverbial pinch of salt and assign the ultimate responsibility for what actually gets done to the civil service heads rather than to cabinet ministers. All the same I think we generally recognise that if we can safely ignore the contributions of the gutless multitude of anonymous commentators on the online newspaper services, as I believe we always can (not to mention on Facebook) - since they choose not to contribute their name and authority to any of their strictures and suggestions - we may now enjoy the “honeymoon period” that is traditional after the appointment of a new government and give them the opportunity to settle down and sort themselves and their portfolios out. We pray for them, as Scripture directs us to, wish them well and perhaps, as is often very possible in small jurisdictions, make suggestions to our MPs or others in relevant positions, such as for example to the members of the Constitutional Commission.

I do want to share a concern with you about the vaccination “roll out”, which appears to be slowing down quite markedly after a a pretty fast rate of coverage from the time it was made available from around the beginning of the year. If it remains true, as we have been told all around the world as well as here, that the danger of the covid virus requires a very large percentage of the population to receive the full dosage of the vaccination being offered  - otherwise we may never get free of it - then Cayman may not remain in the good position that we have so far achieved for very much longer. As we all know there are many views about the vaccines and it is not my purpose to assess those views here. But it is clear that the more they fail to be universally accepted the less possibility there is that their advertised position as the way out of the pandemic can be maintained. But surely we are not prepared to go on as we are now (in spite of our good fortune compared with very many others in the world) indefinitely. 

Enter into this conversation the possibility of treatments other than vaccination. The mention of these is not intended to persuade anyone to set aside being vaccinated, but recognises the possibility that there is the need to attack the problem on more than one flank in order to win the current war. I have attached a video which can be accessed from the index page of www.TruthWithLanguage.com where it refers to a “case to be heard”. This video coming from Jamaica I find to be very persuasive, and I would like to hear your views on the matter.

The Collect for the week of the Fourth Sunday after Easter is

O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This Collect can be said to develop last week’s theme and indeed the theme that is the primary concern of several if not all of the New Testament human authors: that their hearers will live lives that are consistent with their baptismal profession. As stated in different ways by Paul and James and John and Peter our ”unruly wills and affections” - those of His people too - cannot be “ordered” by any other than Almighty God HImself, though our Lord Jesus Christ. Moreover, that “ordering” is a matter of the heart, not merely of an external measure. The obedience of the New Covenant is an issue of loving, not merely obeying, the will (command) of God, and of a prevailing “desire” for His promise. The true anchoring of our hearts must indeed be “where true joys are to be found”. 

Wow

For directions about the services this Sunday the 2nd May, please see the website www.truthwithlanguage.com  . We’ll be returning to our first Sunday of the month schedule in which we use the Prayer Book 1662 Order after the Litany. Peter Westin will give the address.

In the most gracious and excellent Name of the Lord Jesus,

Bishop Nicholas

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