Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.Joshua 1:9   The Story of Valentino   The school year had come to an end and the kindergarten teacher was packing up her room because she was retiring.  She placed her puppet, Valentino, along with other items in a box to take home. A year later, there were some changes happening in her house and she began to unpack the boxes that she had brought home from her classroom. When she opened the box and saw Valentino sitting there, she picked up Valentino and he began to speak to her. “When you put me in the box, I thought that you would come right back and get me because I had never been in a box before. But then you didn’t, so I took a nap and then I began waiting. I thought surely, I won’t have to be in this box for long. I was wrong it became a long time.  I was lonely and then got scared because I was all by myself and I could hear my breathing. My breathing reminded me that God is as close to me as my breath. When I sat in my box alone, I could feel the air all around me and I knew that God isn’t the air but just like how the air surrounds me so does God. I was reminded that God was all around me and with me and that I wasn’t alone. Knowing that God was with me, filled me with hope that someday I would be able to get out of this box.” Way back in March when our stay at home orders began and we were put in our own boxes, we thought that we would be able to get out of our box soon.  But like Valentino our time in our box has gone on much longer than expected. We too have felt lonely and scared.  We too need to remember, like Valentino, that God is all around us just like the air and in us just like our breath. We need to remember that God is with us no matter how long we are in our box.   Gracious God, thank you for the air we breathe and feel so that we can be reminded that you surround us and are with us always. Your presence fills us with hope in times when we feel lonely, scared, and hopeless. We pray that we can do your work and reach out to others so that they may feel hopeful too.  Amen   Marty

Hebrews 11:1 ESV – Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

When we first received the letter from CUMC Preschool that classes would be starting in person, we were ecstatic. A little sad that our precious four-year-old was growing up and was somehow old enough for preschool; but proud, grateful, and thankful for the perseverance of our church’s preschool. They put in place stringent protocols, increased the number of teachers per classroom, and planned for (to the best of human ability) the safety of our precious angels.

We immediately shared the news with Brinklee, and she said, “Like with other children?” She has spent time with a grand total of four children outside of our immediate family since March (two our caregiver’s kids and two fully masked at dance class). Something like being in proximity of other living, breathing kids, once completely taken for granted, has become the event of the fall.

We had hoped this would happen, but we certainly didn’t expect it. We assumed with all the news about schools and virtual curriculum that preschool was off the table for this year. Brinklee certainly didn’t expect it, based on her reaction, but has absolutely adored her first week in preschool and excitedly runs to class everyday.

We recognize the risk, but we also trust the people at CUMC Preschool. We are excited for our little girl to return to a sense of normal. We’re cautious, of course (as are all of the rigorous guidelines put in place by the preschool); but we also believe that the world will never really be the same, and we need to start adapting to what we’re comfortable with as a new normal.

We have faith that we’re doing everything in our power to ensure our family remains safe and well. May you have that faith and comfort too, as you work to establish a new normal, whether that normal may be out in the world more or maintaining your quarantine at home. Wherever you feel safest, may you be blessed.

Emalee

Lord, The world continues to be uncertain. May we put our faith and hope in You to show us our path forward.

The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’ Exodus 16:2-3

I love that the people in the Bible are so real! Here you have a people who have just been delivered from bondage, and are now free, complaining that they are hungry. They are so overly dramatic that they cry they would rather have died at the hand of their captors in a place they knew (after a meal) than starve to death out here in the wilderness.

Apparently this same kind of sentiment was around 200+ years ago. Benjamin Franklin stated, “those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” It seems as though these people would trade full bellies for freedom.
Too often we would give up the long term good for the short term gain. We would sacrifice the good of all for our own selfish desires. Part of our maturation as human beings is learning to delay gratification. As we grow in faith, we begin to see the world through God’s eyes, rather than our own.

God hears the cry of the people. Fortunately, God is even more wise than Ben Franklin and decides to provide them both liberty and food security. God wants them to learn through this experience. They have moved from enslavement to liberty. Now God wants them to move from dependence to INTER-dependence. God wants them to learn to depend on God and upon each other. God wants them to learn to use their freedom not just for their own well-being, but for the well-being of all. God wants them to practice responsibility and obligation, not just revel in freedom.  So God provides food for them in the evening and in the morning. God provides just enough for each person for that day (with double the ration on Friday, so they can observe the Sabbath).  They can’t hoard it, or make reserves, nor is there any value in exploiting or stealing from another to get more.

“At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.” ’ – Exodus 16: 12b

When we pray, “give us today our daily bread,” we are remembering that moment in the wilderness. As we go through our days, and in these times of great change, may we remember that God provides enough for us to be secure. This happens when we also recognize that God gives us the freedom to choose to care for one another. Communities and nations exist to secure God-given rights. Let us exercise our rights in a way which expresses our interdependence.

We thank you, O God, for your many blessings. We thank you that even in this time of distress and upheaval you are showing us a way through. Guide the hands and thoughts of researchers and caregivers. Allow us to catch a glimpse through your eyes. Fill us with a vision of what might be, and how each of us can use our liberty to build you kin-dom. All of this we ask in the name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

Pastor George

Here are Suzanne’s questions for Sunday Worship:

• Paul was able to see Christ at work even during times of trouble.  When have you seen Christ at work during times of trouble?  How can you be in ministry during times of trouble? 
• What are some of the “benefits” of having faith for a good part of your life vs. coming to faith at the end of life? 
• Is the landowner’s practice unjust, generous or both?  Have you ever been on the receiving end of graciousness lie the last workers in the parable?

 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13

Reading these words from Paul’s letter to the people of Corinth has always lifted my heart and spirits, and I believe these words have never been more needed than right now.  At a time when we as a people are questioning just about everything said by the news media and our leaders, these words bring comfort to my soul.  Love is what the world needs right now and yes, I have the song by Burt Bacharach made popular by Dionne Warwick playing in my head.

This time will pass, and history will eventually see what was done right and what was done wrong, and we have done both.  However, we need to remember to have faith in God, hope in His love and promises, and love our neighbor as ourselves, like Jesus commanded us to do. Those things never change. 

The past few weeks have been difficult for me, we all have our ups and downs and I was having a down week or so.  The love of God shown through members of this church family, my church family has been what has got me through these times.  Connecting with others, even if just through a simple thing as a phone call and asking how you are really doing has been nourishment for my soul.  It is amazing how much a thank you even means now when it is said in love. Love is what is going to get us through this.  I hope that we remember that and keep some of the lessons learned during this time.  Lessons of learning how important connecting with others is, even if it is a simple as making a phone call.  Lessons about taking time to enjoy the nature right outside our window.  Lessons that we don’t have to be going places all the time and can just be at home enjoying the company of our family.  Also lessons of how important our family and friends are to us, how we miss them when we can’t be together, and how we often take it for granted that they will always be there. All these lessons center around love.  Even trying to support our local small business that are struggling so much right now, center around love. The love for those families and what they and their business mean to us and our communities.

It was such a blessing to be able to connect with all those who came for our drive thru Communion, even if it was for just a few brief minutes.  It is also a blessing to have George’s sermons now being transcribed so that our folks who are not streaming services can now read them a little later in the week.  We have volunteers that are taking sermon packets that contain the last sermon and the past weeks Daily Blessings to folks who are not electronically connected and connecting with them.  A blessing that works both ways, for the person receiving and the person delivering.

While we seem to be able to open up a bit more, we will continue to do so with love and safety in mind, so CUMC will be opening up more cautiously than other places.  We do that out of love and caring. Remember that while the campus has been mostly closely the church has still been in ministry, as Krista puts it.  We continue to have faith, hope, and love.

Gracious and Loving God, help us to have faith and trust in you when times are difficult.  Create in us eyes and hearts that see your blessings that surround us every day.  Let our hearts and spirits be lifted when we see kindness shown to others and help us to reflect you love and grace to all those that we encounter today, for we do not know what their hearts and spirits are going through. We thank you for the lessons learned during this time, lessons of how important our connection with you is, how important our family and friends are to us and for putting life into perspective. Be with us as we struggle through these times and help us to live out our faith in way that reflects your love.

Amen

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

Suzanne

¹I look up at the vast size of the mountains – from where will my help come in times of trouble?
² The Eternal Creator of heaven and earth and these mountains will send the help I need. ³ He holds you firmly in place; He will not let you fall. He who keeps you will never take His eyes off you and never drift off to sleep. ⁴ What a relief! The One who watches over Israel never leaves for rest or sleep. ⁵ The Eternal keeps you safe, so close to Him that His shadow is a cooling shade to you. ⁶ Neither bright light of sun nor dim light of moon will harm you. ⁷ The Eternal will keep you safe from all of life’s evils, ⁸ From your first breath to the last breath you breathe, from this day and forever. Psalm 121 (The Voice)

So, I have decided to begin another paint-by-number painting. It’s a delightful picture of daisies (one of my favorite flowers) against a blue sky. As I was setting up, I was reminded of what was said to me once.
This person was a Presbyterian Minister, nice guy, very self-assured and witty. I had met him at a 2-year program I was attending. After having a couple of sessions (each a week long) we all were told that this pastor had had a stroke.  As sad and tragic as that is, we heard that he planned on finishing the 6 sessions that were left. When he came back, it was clear that his right side had been affected by the stroke. His joy for life, wit, humor was still very clear, what had changed was there was no holding back on what he said to you, and I remember that with a smile on my face. I am giving you this background to lead up to what he said to me.

While we were in class listening to the speakers he would sit in the back of the room water color painting as therapy. One morning he was painting a picture that I really liked. I told him so and then said I can’t seem to paint with watercolors, I just get this watery mess. He looked straight in my eyes and said “you have to give up control!” Whomp there it is! After I swallowed hard I began to laugh, I said “ok God, I’m listening.” And I haven’t forgotten. 

There is so much that we all wish we could control right now and we can’t, but what we can do is our part to help. At the end of the day we can offer up all our anxiety, our worries, our fears to the God who made heaven and earth. I pray to the One who placed the stars in the cosmos and who keeps the planets spinning around the sun and holds all my loved ones close. I am comforted each night and in the morning when I start each day by knowing that God is in control and I am not. Thanks be to God!  Hope is the ability to hear the melody of the future. Faith is the courage to dance to it today.

Holy God, thank for being in control of all the unknown. Comforting God, thank you for loving us beyond our deepest and wildest imagination. May we find comfort and rest in your arms each day until the end of time. Amen.

Blessings,
Brenda