There is another Covid-19 wave upon us, and I think it’s time we had a quick word about it before we head off to celebrate our Christmas season. Covid-19 isn’t just a wintertime flu, and we still need to take some care while we are out and about because it would be annoying to be sick when we should be relaxing in the sun!

However, I imagine you already have your new Covid-normal sorted!

As the year winds down you may be reflecting on the last 12 months so maybe now would be a good time to reflect on how we have done over the last four years. Even the Government is undertaking a Covid-19 review https://www.covid19lessons.royalcommission.nz/have-your-say/

Four years since this Covid journey started! Next year I will be seeking your reflection about what things we did well as a Connexion, what we could have improved on, and yes, that includes talking about things we should never do again!

I would also invite your parish, your synod, and your church entity to undertake your own review. What lessons have you learned, and how would those lessons assist everyone else?

If we were to experience another new virus, how well would we respond given what we know now? How well have we learned our Covid-19 lessons?

This is a complex exercise. It involves wrapping four years’ experience into simple questions. There will be some interesting conversations to be had. In those four years, we had changeovers of presidential teams, General Secretaries, and Prime Ministers. We got a new website and grew into online meetings, including Conference, and we celebrated 200 years of Methodism in Aotearoa.

Here is one experience I personally don’t want to repeat. There were so many documents created, and while they had their purpose at the time, it must have been hard to follow what was the latest advice and to be familiar with all of the documents to understand what had changed from one set of advice to the next. Then near the start of the document changes, our website crashed and was non-operational for a few weeks!

But that is all next year’s job.

For this year, I wish you, your whānau and friends the very best for Christmas and New Year.

May your days be filled with light, love and laughter.

Ko te mea nunui, ko te aroha.

TRUDY DOWNES

I will be on leave from 22 December and back on 8 January 2024.

Did you know you can still get a booster?

It is recommended you wait 6 months after testing positive or having a previous Covid-19 vaccination before getting any or another COVID-19 vaccination.

The 6-month gap gives your immune system time to recover from the infection and get the most benefit from vaccination.

If you are at high risk of severe illness if you do catch COVID-19 again, talk to your doctor or specialist about when to get your next dose. You may be able to get it sooner than 6 months.