For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 12:3-8

When COVID-19 embedded itself into our society, it leveled the playing field. We were all immediately faced with the question, “How do I do this now?” Whatever “this” is. We all were starting from the same point… brand new uncharted territory. For some people it was how do I teach? For others it was how do I keep my restaurant open, and those in the medical profession wondered how they could see their patients.  Churches weren’t any different. They too asked the question How do we do church when we can’t come together?

The blessing is we have started collaborating and supporting each other.  Immediately people started to come together and brought their gifts of creativity, communication, big picture visioning and innovation. Bishop Hagiya sees the value in the sharing of ideas and innovation so much that he has set up a place for this to happen virtually. Messy Church USA has brought leaders of Messy Churches to share with others how they have continued to worship with their Messy Church congregations. Our Vacation Church Camp was the result of a few people collaborating together. At our staff meetings we regularly share ideas that we have come across while talking with others. 

There are a couple of ironies in all of this collaboration.  The first one is that while we are in a time where we have to socially distance ourselves, we are connecting with those who are not geographically close. They are people we would have never thought to collaborate with.  In Romans, Paul tells us that we all have been blessed with different gifts and that together we make up the body of Christ.  In this time, we all are using our God given gifts and coming together as one to be the church in the world. We have never been the church more than we are now. And that is the second irony.

I wonder how you are using your gifts to collaborate with others to be the body of Christ we’ve been called to be?

Dear God,

You surprise us all, just when we think we are in the dark you bring light to show us a new way. We give thanks for the opportunities to come together in different ways, near and far. We give thanks for the many gifts you give us to bring to these collaboration efforts so that we can be the church without coming together in one time and place.

 Amen

Marty

² He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. ³ And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 18:2-4

Recently, our caregiver’s son put together a service project for their church, and he excitedly included my four-year-old daughter. They made notes inviting people to donate for a contactless food drive, dropped them off in their neighborhood, and then went back to collect the food off neighbors’ porches. This went on for about a week.

My daughter came home every afternoon wanting to write more notes to give to people to get them excited about the drive too.

As a mom, I was anxious. Not about walking the neighborhood. They went with our amazing caregiver. I was worried that people would ignore their carefully crafted notes, people wouldn’t donate, and the kids would go for their pick-up day only to be disappointed.  Yes, I recognize this is pessimistic. But my concern went beyond this particular drive.

These kids found their fire through service. They were exuberant, confident, and proud of their work. I did not want anything to disappoint them, dampen their zeal for helping others, or cause them to question the power of our Almighty God.

Thinking about it now, I was the one questioning. I was dwelling in a human-centric mentality, wallowing really, expecting to be disappointed. How often do we find ourselves here? Especially in these times. I don’t know about you, but I, unfortunately, am disappointed in people a lot lately. I wonder how difficult it is to stop debating the efficacy of masks and face shields and just to put one on for the betterment of our common man hoping that we’re doing some sort of good. I lament that we’ve stooped to talking about rights rather than caring about our neighbor.

This service project reminded me, though, to look to our children. Follow their lead. Match their zeal. These kids did not once question that people would donate. They expected it. And people came through. They collected a trunk full of food with grins on their faces, and they’re eager for their next project.

As kids head back to school (virtual, in-person, hybrid or otherwise), may we remember to look to them. They will again demonstrate their resilience, persistence, and positivity going through these current challenges. May we adopt that child-like spirit always, not allowing the world to make us cynical.

Emalee Sugano

Lord, thank you for our children. Their spirits continue to bring joy and positivity through all of our challenges. May we follow their lead, experiencing you in the simplest of ways. Show us your path to protect, honor, and bless your smallest creations.

“Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, ‘Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.’ Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.” – Exodus 1:8-12

Our schedule of Bible reading for this Summer includes the epic stories of the line of Abraham and Sarah. One theme that runs through all of these stories is that God works through adversity. To be called by God, and to be in covenant with the Creator, does not mean that life is easier. In fact, being in relationship with God often results in greater struggle and challenge. The message that becomes clear is that God is present through these times and allows for these crises to become an occasion for growth, perseverance, and change; and for God’s purpose to prevail. This doesn’t mean that the pain and struggle are not real, nor that they are somehow diminished or made palatable. It simply means that God’s intent will find a way, despite – and sometimes through – adversity.

In the story of Jacob’s children in Egypt, and the Exodus saga, we find the mechanisms for how God prevails. We receive insight to both the oppressor and the oppressed. We certainly can see how in our history, attempts to put down, exploit, and marginalize immigrants and asylum seekers (based on our own fear) will often backfire!  And we can see how working together, recognizing our common hurts and hopes, forges a common identity and provides the strength to persevere.

In our current crisis, we all experience some form of pain, struggle, discontent, and dis-ease. Many of us have been touched by unexpected death or at least the realization of our own mortality. As the meme states, “We might not all be in the same boat, but we are all in the same storm.” Perhaps this realization of our common crisis will provide the occasion for us to rediscover our common identity as children of God. Perhaps in uniting to fight this common enemy, doing our part, we will come to that day when we will escape this captivity and celebrate the fact that each of us has value.

“Do I have any value?” is the question we will deal with in church this Sunday. (Spoiler alert: Yes you do! We are sure of this only when we recognize it as God-given.)  Here are the post-sermon discussion questions:

1. What are some things you have done to try to make people like you?
2. What is one of your gifts that you can use for the glory of God?
3. How can you show another that they have value?

God of the light and the darkness, remind us that you are always with us. Help us to know that you treasure each one of us and want the best for each. Free us from a need to prove ourselves worthy to receive your mercy; instead, receiving your grace, allow us to extend that love to others. Transform our hearts and minds, so that we will focus beyond ourselves, and allow your purpose to work itself out through us. We pray this in the name of Jesus our Savior and our friend. Amen.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will not be shaken.My salvation and my honor depend on God he is my mighty rock, my refuge.Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:5-8

I have always loved looking at the night sky.  Even as a young girl I liked the feeling of the evening sky, it always felt like a hug from God to me.  During this time of living in a pandemic and social distance, I find comfort in the night sky.  Lately my family and I have been driving out to get away from some of the light pollution to see the recent comet and meteor showers.  Seeing just a small portion of God’s handiwork is utterly amazing. Looking up at all those stars, is truly comforting to me.  Knowing that God created the vastness of that sky and beyond, can bring me peace and allows my soul to rest.

Recently I found this prayer called “Lord it is Night”  I have been praying it at night and it creates in me a sense of calm and peace, knowing that God is ultimately in control and that we are a people who live in hope, not fear.  I hope this prayer does the same for you.

 Lord, it is night. The night is for stillness. Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day. What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done; let it be.

The night is dark. Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.

The night is quiet. Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn. Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys,
new possibilities.

 In your name we pray.
Amen.

Stay safe, stay well and be the hope you wish to see in the world.

Suzanne

“…and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20 Amplified

Welcome God, welcome,

Welcome into this day.

Welcome into its fears and or pain,

Welcome into its beauty unfurling.

Welcome God, welcome,

Welcome into this day.

Welcome into its struggles.

Welcome into the joy it holds.

Welcome God Welcome,

Welcome into this day.

Whatever lies before us.

Welcome into this day.

By Christine Sine

I read this prayer a couple of days ago and I thought it was a nice way to begin the day. As I was reflecting on it I thought, yes, I already do believe that God is in every moment of my life, so why would I need to invite God into my day when surely it is more a matter of God welcoming me into a new day. Then I realized how, at times, I ignore or fail to acknowledge the ever-present God in my thoughts and words and actions. I do indeed need to welcome God into my day. God never barges in, but stands at the door waiting to be invited in, waiting for me to open myself to God’s presence in each new day.

Maybe when we welcome God each morning to be present, we are simply asking God to be in our experiences and emotions that fills our days. If you are like me then you might have had a rollercoaster of emotions through these last 5 months (and not just the last 5 months), and I’m sure more to come before things return to some sort of normalcy. 

We seem to be bombarded every day with things that can be unsettling in the news, in the lives of our family and friends and our own personal lives. But in Lamentations 3:22-23 says “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

I find increasingly that, in our daily routine, I need to pause frequently and commit my experiences and my emotions to God. Only as I face the reality of who I am and what is going on in our world can I really enjoy the intimacy of a God who cares for me and welcomes me into every aspect of my day. May it be so for you too.

Comforting Lord, we come to you emptying our cares and anxieties. Most Holy Spirit, be in our experiences, fill us with renewed joy for each new day and wrap us once more in your grace and mercy. Amen.

Peace, Brenda