“For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”
— Hebrews 13:14-16

I am thankful for all who participate in our Lectionary Lunch Wednesdays at Noon on Zoom. We read through four Scripture passages, and share out thoughts, reflections, and questions. This week we paused for a moment to think about Psalm 119:108, “Accept my offerings or praise, O Lord…”

In this section of Psalm 119, the author alternates between recounting afflictions and celebrating   attendance upon God. In this back-and-forth, the goodness of God is directed at one’s problems in the way that an ointment is applied to a wound. We talked about how “offering praise” reminds us that praise is something precious we have. The offering of this gift is not something God needs, but something we need to do. Offering praise affirms our relationship with God, and opens a conduit with the Divine.

The author of Hebrews puts this even more clearly, in a way that is particularly applicable to our moment. In this letter, the Hebrews are the “wandering people of God.” They have no permanent earthly home, indeed there is no such thing as “regular life.” They live in extraordinary times, cut off from what has been, and not yet in the place of promise. They are like their ancestors: freed from captivity, but not yet in their homeland, with no permanent place to gather. The Letter to the Hebrews reminds them and us, that even in such circumstances they can still make their offerings and sacrifices to God. They can remember and proclaim who they are through a different kind of sacrifice: a “sacrifice of praise” where they give over their precious pride in praise to God, which rises as the smoke from a burning offering.

An offering we can make to God in this time, our sacrifice of praise is now as it was then: to do good and to share what you have.

Pastor George

Merciful creator, our burden is so heavy right now. We want to do the right thing, but that seems to change on a weekly basis. We feel overwhelmed with painful news and an ever-increasing counting of death. We can’t even connect with you in all the ways we have before. We want this to be over, but we fear what the future will hold. Remind us that you are our rock. You will be with us forever. No matter what may come, your truth will last. Help us to see in the sacrifice of praise that we are yours. Help us to celebrate that connection through our works of mercy and justice. We pray this in the name of Jesus our Savior and friend. Amen.

‘“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

This past Sunday was our first Drive thru Communion service and it was a day I will never forget.  It was a day that reminded me how much we need to connect with each other and how important the fellowship of the church family is to our church family and to me personally.

It was such a blessing to be able to participate and see all the folks that came out to receive communion, a blessing, and a prayer. Some folks I have been able to see on Zoom and some have dropped by the church office to drop off something for our Food Closet, etc. Some I have only talked to and not seen in 3+ months. Of all the things that COVID 19 has taken from us, not being able to see each other, give others a hug, and just being there for others, hurts the most.  This time of isolation has reminded me just how important it is for us just to be together as the body of Christ, the church.

When this first started, a lot of people were saying how “The church is closed” and I would say that the church isn’t closed and that we are still in ministry.  It hurt me to see people saying that the church is closed; I was taking it as a personal attack on our church. To me, it was like saying when life starts getting really tough, the church isn’t there. My husband pointed out that what people were really voicing was their sorrow that we can’t be together as the church, that our time being here in fellowship with one another is important and meaningful and was now taken away.  That point hit home on Sunday.

On Sunday, people were so happy to be back, just in our parking lot, to receive a blessing, communion, and a prayer. People were holding back tears just to be on campus.  It truly was a blessing to be able to see you all and talk, check in and pray for you.  We even had a person who has never been here before come in for communion.  He saw on Facebook that we were serving communion.

I guess my point is we are still figuring out how to be the church during these times and those lessons will help us to be the church in the future. We don’t know when we will be back in sanctuary, we do know that we continue to do the work that God calls us to do, to be the church that God calls us to be. 

We can adapt and get stronger as a church family during these times.  We can check in on our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ with a phone call or note, even if you are not close to them.  How uplifting would it be to receive a note from a fellow church member that you don’t know very well? If you are comfortable going out a little, have a socially distant porch visit with a friend.  There are many ways to fellowship and share the love of Christ with others; we just need to think outside the box, the box of the way we used to do things, because how we used to do things isn’t going to work right now.

A great example is Lisa Brewer who calls people to see if she can drive by and wave hello. She takes their pictures and shares them on Facebook.  Yes, there are good things happening on the internet.

We are coming up with new ideas to help us connect and fellowship with each other during these times so make sure to check your emails and scroll all the way down and read what comes after the daily blessing.  
And please check in on folks that you know are not very good with computers or don’t have them at all.  Those are the folks that really need others to help keep them connected.  It takes a village, so they say to raise a child.  It takes a church family, to help people through a pandemic.

Stay safe, stay connected, and reach out to others.  And please let your church family know if you need help. We will get through this together with God’s help.

Blessings, Suzanne

Gracious and Loving God, 
We are so grateful that during the good times and difficult times you are with us, you are there for us whenever we reach out to you.  We thank you for the gift of our church and our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Those relationships are dear to us and help us live out our faith.  Help us to reach out to others, to connect with them and let them know that they are not alone.  Create in us a heart that puts others first and helps to show your love and grace to all your children.  Help us to have patience in these times and to learn to reach out in new and different ways to be your disciples.  Amen

^“But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”  Proverbs 4:18

As I was looking through the book “Then Sings My Soul” of hymns and stories, I came upon a song I loved singing as a youngster at my Long Beach Church, “Sunshine in My Soul.” I remember I would sing it loud and proud as I did many of the hymns. As with most songs in the hymnals, I had no idea of the backstory of what created it, so I thought I would share that story with you.

A man, Edmunds Rhoad, had decided to research his family tree. In the process, he discovered the diary that his great grandmother, Zeruiah Edmunds, started keeping at the age of nineteen which revealed a passionate love for Christ.

Zeruiah married James S. Hewitt, a young sailor who also kept a journal that tells of harrowing storms, shipwrecks, near escapes and an earnest faith. One entry, for example, tells of a voyage to China in which he was surrounded by “a rough irreligious body of men who paid no attention or any duty God on the Sabbath or on any other day.” James, deeply saddened, would slip off to quiet spots to read his Bible and pray.

It was into this Christian home that a daughter was born in 1851, in a house on Christian St. in Philadelphia. Little Eliza grew up in the nurture of the Lord. She was teenager during the Civil War, but she managed to concentrate on school well enough to graduate valedictorian of her class. She displayed an unusual love for children, and after further study she became a schoolteacher.

In 1887, while teaching at the Northern Home for Friendless Children, Eliza, 35, was struck by an unruly student. He slammed his slate across her, severely injuring her back. The doctor placed her in a heavy cast for six months, and Eliza was virtually immobile, perhaps wondering if she would ever walk again. When the cast was removed in early 1887, the doctor told her to take a short walk in nearby Fairmont Park. It was a warm spring day, and she was overcome with joy. Returning home, she picked up her pen and immediately wrote the hymn.

In picking this story, I felt we all could connect to it in a small way with our staying inside, social distancing and the inability to move about as much as we normally do.

Sunshine in My Soul

1. There is sunshine in my soul today, more glorious and bright than any earthly sky, for Jesus is my light.

2. There is music in my soul today, a carol to my King. And Jesus listening can hear the songs I cannot sing.

3. There is springtime in my soul today, for when the Lord is near the dove of peace sings in my heart, the flowers of grace appear.

4. There is gladness in my soul today, and hope and praise and love. For blessings which He gives me now, for joys “laid up” above.

(chorus) O there’s sunshine, blessed sunshine, when the peaceful happy moments roll. When Jesus shows His smiling face, there is sunshine in my soul.

Loving God, during these continuing difficult times, may you surround all who are lonely and weary with your joy and peace. Help us to celebrate and continually praise you for the small and simple gifts that we are given each and every day. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Blessings,

Brenda

‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ Ephesians 2:10

God is good all the time. All the time God is good. You might be wondering how I can be saying this as the cases of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are on the rise. We are all feeling the burden of staying at home and not being able to be face to face with others and to move through our routines that were second nature to us.  Not moving through my routines has been difficult for me because now when I am planning to go out, I have this whole conversation within. I must weigh whether it is necessary. Will I make someone else uncomfortable? How can I do this and be safe for me as well as others? Have the people that I encountered been practicing safe practices? But here is why I think God is good.  These conversations that I have with myself have forced me to think about others.  I am much more conscious and concerned about the well-being of the people that I will meet than I was when I was just moving through life in my normal routines.

Back in March when everything shut down and many of the children and youth ministries came to an abrupt halt, it felt like there was nothing that could be done but… God is good and with God’s power we have been able to continue to do God’s work. It is just in new and creative ways.  Messy church is still meeting monthly and each month we get better at making connections and creating community. Faith Friends gathers on Zoom for some fellowship time together. At the end of this month, we will be launching our first ever Vacation Bible Camp on the Go.  Some creative minds have come together to make sure that this ministry continues, and we reach our community. Every Sunday evening our youth have been gathering virtually.  We connect. We discuss. We play games. Although our campus will be quiet this summer, it will not be on Zoom.  All the time God is good.

But it is not just the children and youth ministries that are still alive and well.  The church is caring for our community with offering showers twice a week and serving our at-risk neighbors weekly at the food closet.  We share communion together in a parking lot and “see” each other at worship each Sunday. Through virtual choirs, phone calls and Bible studies we have been able to minister to each other. We are God’s handiwork and we are doing good work. With God’s creative power we have not had to come to an abrupt halt, but we have been able to recreate and find new ways to be the church. So, you see God is good all the time.

Say it with me…

God is good all the time. All the time God is good.

Creative God, we thank you for the creativity that you have blessed us with so that when we are faced with challenging times we are able to recreate and continue to do your work and share your love.  Please give us strength and endurance as we continue to navigate life as it is right now. Help us to keep our eyes open so that we don’t miss an opportunity to be in ministry to and with others. Amen

Grace and peace,

Marty