Gee, it feels like all we get about this virus is bad news! Last night someone shared a story on Facebook about how singing is as effective at spreading the virus as coughing, and that churches in Germany are contemplating reopening without choirs and without congregational singing!  Oh, and laughing is just as bad!  So I started thinking about how we could possibly do church without vocal music, and how I could preach without makingpeople laugh! (I mean, sometimes I even intend to cause laughter). 

We keep looking for persons to blame. Or at least people upon whom we can direct our frustration and anger. I have decided to be angry at the virus. It is almost as though this virus is the work of the devil, out to get the church. Think about it: all the things Christians love to do, all the things we do well, all the ways we make a difference in the world, seem to be in the crosshairs of this virus.

We bring loving embraces and healing touches. Nope, gotta stay six feet apart!
We gather in groups to share our burdens (“Wherever two or three are gathered…”). Not in person!
We visit the lonely, imprisoned, and ill.  Not right now!
We turn strangers into friends with a smile. Can’t see it behind a mask.
We shout to the Lord!
We sing songs of praise!
We laugh and cry with each other.

It does seem devilish, doesn’t it? And what should we as believers do? We who are Easter people, confident that God has already given us the victory over death and the powers of evil? We laugh. We laugh in the face of the devil.

Going against the wise directives of health professionals and leaders isn’t going to change anything. 

But showing the forces of darkness that they won’t prevail will change things.

And I have seen you laugh in the face of this virus:

When you learn how to communicate and share love and healing in new ways!
When you help others to learn these ways.
When you call a friend and pray together.
When you share of your bounty so that strangers can eat.
When you bring your own bread and juice to communion, and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to turn you into the body of Christ, redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
When you make space for your neighbor at the grocery store.
When you drive by someone’s home and honk your horn in celebration of their birth.
When you stay home as much as possible.
When you wash your hands and wear your mask.

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:37-39

So may it be. Amen.

Pastor George

Recently a friend posted a note about what is happening in the world while we are staying “safer at home.” The air and water appear more clean and clear. Wild animals are coming back to the places where they once freely roamed. Families are spending more time together. We are taking time to listen to each other. We are actually getting some rest.

The meme suggested a 10-20 day period each year where all the world just shuts down. This would be a time for the earth to heal, and for people to rest.

I couldn’t help myself. I had to make a snarky comment.

“Hey, instead of only 20 days each year, why not make it once each week? Perhaps on the last day of each week. It would be a day of rest. No one would work. We’d have to come up with a catchy name, though. Why not call it ‘Sabbath’?”

We all need time to rest and heal. Even in this time – especially in this time – when we have found ways to keep ourselves busy. I don’t know about you, but for me, much of that busy-ness is fretting about the things I can’t do or worrying about the fact that I am not doing enough!

What if we did take the sabbath seriously?  We could get some practice now, and then it would be a built-in habit once we get back to “normal” life. We might even begin to heal.

“For six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.”
Exodus 20: 9-11

God who took time to rest, remind us that we, too, need the opportunity to recover from our labor and reflect upon our place in your world. Help us to take time to pause and listen to those around us. Help us to find you in the quiet moment. And invigorate us for all that lies ahead. Through the love and in the name of our precious Savior we pray. Amen.

Pastor George

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.        
Psalm 43:5

While reading Prayers for Help and Healing by William Barclay this prayer entitled For Hopespoke to me and I would like to share it with you.

O God, 
It is very difficult to keep on hoping, when nothing seems to be happening.
And it is even more difficult when there seem to be more setbacks than progress.
Help me to have the hope that nothing can put out.
After all, even on the darkest night, no one ever doubts that the morning will come again; and in the hardest winter no one ever doubts that spring is never far behind.
Help me to think of the skill you have given to those whose task it is to heal, and of the essential toughness of this human body of mine.
Help me to remember that for you and with you nothing is impossible.
And help me to remember always that I have a hope that does not stop with this world, but goes on forever.

In everyday life we have our good days and our not so good days.  During these not normal times we have our good days and our not good days, that is normal.  We all need to remember that this quarantine will end, although not as soon as we would like, and we will have our normal lives again.  We need to remember that God is with us during all of this and that God is at work during all of this, in countless ways.

Our church is doing God’s work by feeding those in need, by connecting with those feeling alone and cut off, by offering a listening ear to those grieving and by offering hope, by continuing praising and worshipping a God who loves us more than life itself,  and countless other ways. What a blessing to be a part of a church that keeps the faith and walks the walk during times when it is not easy to do so. 

Remember, that we are Easter people and we live with hope even during difficult times.  God calls us to help others, and to show that hope and in turn often increases our own hope while helping others. Keep connecting with others and when God puts someone on your heart and mind give them a call or send them a note.

May you feel the love and peace of Christ, Suzanne

Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all you stars of light… You great sea creatures and all the depths; Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying fowl… Let them praise the name of the Lord, For His name alone is exalted… Praise the Lord! Psalm 148 (paraphrased)  

The other day, I was in the back room shuffling things about. Not really cleaning things out but mostly moving piles of books and music about. I came across a book I had forgotten was there, it is a book filled with hymns and the story behind why the hymn was written. The book is called “Then Sings My Soul” by Robert J. Morgan. It’s filled with wonderful songs that I’ve been singing all my life. So I picked out one that will be familiar to you and I will share the story that created it.

All Creatures of Our God and King

So many stories have arisen around St. Francis of Assisi that it’s difficult to separate the truth from fiction. We know he was born in 1182 in central Italy, son of a rich merchant. After a scanty education, Francis joined the army and was captured in war. He came to follow Christ shortly after his release, renounced his wealth, and began traveling about the countryside, preaching the gospel, living simply, seeking to make Christ real to everyone he met.

Francis loved nature, and many stories spotlight his interaction with animals. Once as he hiked through Italy’s Spoleto Valley, he came upon a flock of birds. When they didn’t fly away, he decided to preach them a little sermon: “My brother and sister birds,” he reportedly said, “you should praise your Creator and always love Him. He gave you feathers for clothes, wings to fly, and all other things you need. It is God who made your home in thin, pure air. Without sowing or reaping, you receive God’s guidance and protection.”

The flock, it is said, then flew off rejoicing. The perspective is reflected in a hymn Francis composed just before his death in 1225, called, “Cantico di fratre sole” – “Song of Brother Sun.” It exhorts all creation to worship God. The sun and moon. All birds. All the clouds. Wind and fire. All men of tender heart. All creatures of our God and King.

Though written in 1225, an English version didn’t appear until 1919, when Rev. William H. Draper decided to use it for a children’s worship festival in Leeds, England. 

 “All creatures of our God and King. Lift us your voice and with us sing, Alleluia! Alleluia! Thouing sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam, O praise Him! O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let all things their Creator bless, and worship Him in humbleness. O Praise Him! Alleluia! Praise, the Father, praise the Son. And praise the spirit three in One! O praise Him! O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

I hope the next time we sing this together it will bring you a bit of bright joy.

Blessings, Brenda