For Such A Time As This 042320 – Bonnie Rhoads

To the Good Folk of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren, 

Congratulations! 
Slats (Clarence) Barlet turned 91 yesterday! Slats and Dolly are doing well. Feel free to call or mail congratulations. His contact information is in our 2020 directory. 

Prayers: 
Jose Aponte is anticipating transport to Conewago Synder treatment center tomorrow morning. You can send encouragements at: 

Attn: Jose Aponte 
Conewago Snyder 
18336 Rt. 522 
Beaverton PA 17813 

Last Chance for the Wave Video: 
Tomorrow is the last day to contact Bethany at bhoffer@palmyracob.org or call/text 937-417-5938 if want to be included in an updated video that will be posted next Monday.  We would love to see you! Join the fun!! 

Thank You:   
To all who call others to check in on them and share our emails and devotions. 

Today’s Devotion: 
I am thankful to Bonnie Rhoads for providing today’s devotion. As a knower of many things, Bonnie shares some history with us that offers encouragement for today. If you wish to respond to Bonnie directly, her email address is rhoads.mb@verizon.net.   

Shalom, 
Dennis 

Scripture - Acts 2: 39 
For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls…                             

Thoughts: 
There is a village in Bavaria, Germany, named Oberammergau. It was already old in 1330, and relatively sheltered. That is, until the invasion of Swedish horsemen in 1632. The good people of the area mounted a vigorous defense and repelled the potential invaders. All but one. And that one invader was the most powerful of all. It was the plague. 

The plague was an illness which attacked the lungs. [Sound familiar?] 
The people impacted by it locked themselves indoors. [Sound familiar?}   
No one came any closer than calling distance, one to another. [Sound familiar?] 

In 1633, as the illness began to retreat, the entire community - everyone, regardless of status or income - made a vow, a vow designed to praise God for a diminishing of the dreaded illness. For their survival. For God’s promise of a healthier future. The Middle Ages were a time of passion plays; productions sharing faith with the more illiterate members of the community. So, it was decided to perform such a play for the glory of and in thanksgiving to God. And it would be performed out of doors. And not just once and done, but repeated regularly every ten years. 

And so, it continues to this day. With the townspeople sharing the on-going message to “Look up to the promise of the cross! Then the Lord will heal you.” 

This brief history of the Passion Play of Oberammergau is not suggesting that the good folks of PCoB should create a similar production! But it is a reminder that earlier pandemics have also impacted society. And have also frightened people. And have also created a “new normal.”  It is a reminder that our trust in God, our sense of concern for one another, our collective expressions of hope will sustain us through this uncertain time, moving us to a brighter, more secure future as a community of faith. [To see photos of this event, do an internet image search for “Passion Play of Oberammergau.”] 

Prayer: 
 And now, as we stand together, 
   and hold on to each other, 
   may our strength be in our union. 
May we be comforted by standing together, 
   even as we are encouraged to stay apart.
May we laugh, and may we mourn;
   feeling weak, 
   feeling restored, 
   feeling nourished. 
Brothers and Sisters together, 
   engaged in this strange, new dance of life. 
Amen. 

… adapted from Steve Shelton, Deacon Manual for Caring Ministries