For Such A Time As This 042920 – Bonnie Rhoads

Same Announcements, New Devotion! 

I am repeating yesterday’s announcements for emphasis and to increase the chance that more people will read/hear them.  However, today’s devotion, as always, is new! 

Until Further Notice (from the Executive Committee): Instead of cancelling gathering activities on a month by month or week by week basis, we are taking an “Until Further Notice” position.  Until further notice all activities that involve group gatherings are cancelled.  We will continue our daily email devotions, weekly virtual worship services, zoom group gatherings and meetings, etc… until further notice.   

We are looking forward to the day we
can begin resuming more normal activities! The process for reopening the church and restarting group gatherings is likely to be slow and staggered, guided by best health practices, as well as recommendations and mandates from our health care, governmental and religious leaders.   

What Are You Thinking? 

Yesterday I watched an hour-long webcast on “Reopening the Church.” It was a good discussion among pastors of middle-sized congregations. I took lots of notes, as many excellent points were made and ideas were shared. No one thought that their church would be reopening right away or all at once, but in stages. Everyone thought that it was important to know how persons in their congregation where thinking and feeling. I agree. So, this is an invitation to share your thoughts and feelings with me about this issue. The best way is via email. Please share hopes, concerns, ideas, questions, etc…  If you are in phone contact with someone who doesn’t have email, with their permission, please share anything they want to tell me.  Hoping for lots of feedback, I will not be able to respond to each person, but I will share basic responses with other church leaders. Thank you for your love and commitment to our congregation! 

Joys, Concerns and Prayers 

If you have a joy or concern you would like us to share and pray about, please call, text or email it to me.  If you would like it included in our Sunday Worship sharing and prayer time, please share it with me that week by Friday morning. 

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.  Bonnie encourages us to hold onto the positive things we are learning and experiencing in these challenging times.  If you wish to respond to Bonnie directly, her email address
is rhoads.mb@verizon.net.  

Shalom, 
Dennis 

Scripture - Lamentations 3: 17-24
My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say “Gone is my glory, and all that I had hoped for from the Lord.”  My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, [God’s]  mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is  my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope…” 

Thoughts: 

Therefore, I will hope…..that in our post-pandemic world we… 

will continue to experience an enhanced sense of community, where help is offered to everyone in need will know when we have enough for ourselves and are willing to leave more for others. 

will show on-going appreciation to the medical professionals who have been instrumental in managing our monumental health issues. 

will rethink and revalue an array of jobs which have proven to be absolutely essential during this crisis: grocery store workers, mail carriers, truck drivers, custodians, sanitation workers, first responders…and many more. 

will reflect on our limited grocery store visits, knowing that we can live comfortably while consuming less.  Perhaps it’s a matter of what we NEED versus what we WANT. 

will remember that sheltering at home created less pollution, thus allowing our earth to heal a bit.  And will continue to be intentional in caring for our environment. 

will take time to reassure each other as we learn to define a “new normal.” 

will continue to pray together. 

Prayer: 
Lord, we know you are present, but we don’t share the sense of your presence.  Help us feel you walking close beside us during this difficult time.  As you led your people through the desert with a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, help us to see clearly the markers you have placed in our lives, so we may follow you through the dry places of discipleship, and on to the promised land of your kingdom.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen. 

……Frank Ramirez