To Hug Again (after COVID)

          Can you imagine that soon we’ll be able to hug again? It may be hard to imagine, and some may not even want to think about that!

          In a way, COVID-19 traumatized us, similar to other traumatizing experiences such as accidents or prolonged illness. It changes us in some way and leaves its marks on us. Some who recovered from COVID have reported there are lingering symptoms, including a loss of smell or taste. In order to regain these senses, one has to retrain them to be able to enjoy them again!

            Do you know how COVID has impacted you?

  •    Do you constantly feel anxious or unsafe to go out ? (emotional / mental impact)
  •    Would you rather not socialize or see anyone “during this time”, or feel extremely lonely? (social impact)
  •    Is your relationship with your close family members getting too heated? (relational impact)

             Just like the loss of taste and smell, the post COVID impact could render a sense of hopelessness, unmotivation, and powerlessness. If you recognize these effects on you, let’s journey together to “retrain” these senses by focusing on God.

             I believe we are called to be “Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, Mission-focused”.

             In the next few weeks, we’ll focus on different aspects of how this refreshes our soul. 

  •    Refresh our heart by God’s Character (Christ-centered)
  •    Refresh our direction by God’s Calling (Mission-focused)
  •    Refresh our strength by God’s Provision (Spirit-empowered)

                                                                           再度擁抱（疫情過後）

         你能想像我們很快就能再次彼此擁抱嗎？可能對於一些人會是很難想像的事，亦可能有些人根本不願意多想！

         在某程度上，新冠肺炎給我們帶來各種創傷，就好像其他一些經歷如意外事故或長期病患等帶來種種創傷後遺症一樣；令我們在某些方面改變了，也可能在我們身上留下烙印。一些新冠肺炎康復者講述有些症狀在病愈後仍然揮之不去，包括失去嗅覺或味覺。若要回復這些感官，就必須接受訓練才能再次正常地享受各樣事物！

           你了解疫情時期對你帶來的影響嗎？

  •  你是否經常感到焦慮或者感到外出不安全（情緒/精神上的影響）
  •  你是否寧願「在此期間」不社交或不見任何人，或感到極度孤獨（社交層面的影響）
  •  你與親密的家庭成員的關係是否變得緊張（人際關係的影響）    

           就像失去味覺和嗅覺一樣，疫情過後所帶來的影響可能會讓人產生無望、無心和無力的感覺。如果你也意識到這些感覺，就讓我們一起出發，聚焦在神的身上，「重新訓練」我們的感官。   

           我相信我們被呼召是要「以基督為中心、以聖靈為能力、以使命為焦點」的。

           在未來的數週，我們會從不同層面看看怎樣能全人的更新

  •  藉著神的品格更新我們的心靈（以基督為中心）
  •  藉著神的召命更新我們的方向（以使命為焦點）
  •  藉著神的供應更新我們的力量（以聖靈為能力）  

           這也是我們今個夏季將會一同探討的幾個講道主題。  

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