This Sunday is UMCOR Sunday and I have the blessing of sharing the message for worship. While preparing the message, Pastor George mentioned that it would be a good idea to have a lot of visuals in worship, especially since we are worshipping online-only for a while. So, I have had the blessing of looking through all the pictures that have been taken over the years of all the UMCOR Adult work Teams that I have had the privilege to lead over the years.
It has been a wonderful way to remember all the people that we have helped over the years and to remember all those who have helped be a blessing to others over the years. Seeing pictures with people who have passed on, or moved away and seeing the rest of us a lot younger than we are now. We had our first to the Gulf Coast to help with Katrina recovery in 2009. How wonderful it was to recall those trips, stories and people. Those teams are our church doing what the church is called to do, help others in Christ’s name. They recall a time when the church is at is best. We all participate in those teams whether we are physically on them or not. We participate by paying, praying or playing as my friend and Cal-Pac Disaster Response Task Force Chair, Judy Lewis loves to say.
During the time of this pandemic of COVID-19 the church can also be its best. We can help others. We can connect by computers, cards and phone calls. We can reach out with kindness to others and show God’s love to all. Something that is always important, but in times like these is even more important. Know that your church is here and is open even as it is closed for physical meetings, we are meeting online and by phone. We are streaming worship services and calling and checking up on one another. We are dropping off prayer quilts to those in need in our church family and keeping people encircled by our prayers. Our food closet is open with extra safety precautions. We are still reaching out to show God’s love and care.
God is still with us and we can still be God’s hands and feet even when we have to keep our social isolation of 6’. Remember that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Romans 8:38-39 New International Version (NIV)
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
See you online and keeping you all in my prayers,
Suzanne