For Such A Time As This 4-4-20 – Dennis Lohr
o the Good Folk of the Palmyra Church of the Brethren,
The Center for Disease Control is now recommending that we all wear some sort of mask or face covering when we leave our homes. All medical grade masks should be sent to hospitals, care facilities and those caring for positive COVID-19 patients. Those wanting to make washable homemade masks can find directions by referencing our 03/23/20 email: Urgent Appeal from Londonderry Village.
Tomorrow morning, which is Palm Sunday, around 8am, you will receive an email with a link to this Sunday's worship service. The service has been prerecorded this week, and continues our Lenten journey "Guided by Women.” Rachel Witkovsky will be our worship leader. Elaine Hoffer will be presenting the Story of Wonder. I will bring the sermon based on “The Widow with Mite: An Inspiration to Jesus.” Our music will include some favorite footage from previous Palm Sunday services, so that we can remember and relive our awesome Palm Sunday processions. We hope it will be a blessing to all.
We are planning virtual worship services for our Maundy Thursday Love Feast and for Easter Morning. In next week’s emails, we will be sharing instructions to help you prepare for and participate in these services. Stay tuned.
Did you know that for the past two weeks Missy has been having a ZOOM meeting with some of her church kids at 10:30am on Sunday mornings, ages ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. If you have a child in this age range that would like to join in, contact Missy to find out how. Also check with Missy for details about her midweek YouTube story time.
Reminder:
If you know someone who does not have email, please call them and offer to read this email to them and share this devotion with them. And, check in on how they are doing.
I have written today’s devotion. I hope it inspires us all to be safe and help keep others safe.
Shalom,
Dennis
Scripture - Esther 4:13-14
Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.’
Thoughts
“For Such A Time as This.” Weeks ago, I quoted this text from Esther in titling our daily devotions. It seemed appropriate, as this part of a verse invites us to think about the moment that is at hand. But when you look at the larger story, the situation was quite serious. Esther’s people were in grave peril. Esther had every reason to think that she could survive, even if others perished. But her uncle Mordecai points out to her that she may not be as safe as she thinks, and reminds her that she is in a unique position to make a difference, a difference that could save others.
Esther probably never thought of herself as a leader. But, aren’t we all leaders? We may not be politicians, or captains of industry, or business leaders, or church and community leaders, or even recognized leaders within our families. But we are all leaders. Anyone who influences how another thinks or acts is a leader.
This afternoon I needed to get a few things at Walmart. Should I wear a mask or not? I did. Why? At least one reason is because people see what we do, and it has influence. I was nervous. Would I be the only one? Would someone make fun of me? But, I wasn’t the only one. And, no one made fun of me. Not as many people were wearing masks as I hoped, but more were wearing masks than I expected. I was thankful for those who had the courage to lead by example and wear a mask. They made me feel better, safer. My mask was a simple homemade one fashioned out of a folded bandana, a paper towel and a couple of rubber bands. Maybe, because I wore a mask, someone who was a little scared to do so today will put one on next time. Or maybe someone who was dismissing the dangers today will reconsider and decide to act tomorrow in a way that helps keep us all safer.
I like Mordecai’s assurance that deliverance will come one way or another. This gives me hope. The only thing that is left for us to decide is will we be part of the solution? What would Jesus do? Jesus said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done.” Of course, he was talking about feet washing, but I think it applies more broadly. Besides, isn’t feet washing about caring for others? Shouldn’t we always make decisions that inspire (lead) others to care for others. I think so.
Prayer
Gracious God, give us the wisdom and the courage to be good leaders, so that all who hear our words or see our actions will be led toward life and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Center for Disease Control is now recommending that we all wear some sort of mask or face covering when we leave our homes. All medical grade masks should be sent to hospitals, care facilities and those caring for positive COVID-19 patients. Those wanting to make washable homemade masks can find directions by referencing our 03/23/20 email: Urgent Appeal from Londonderry Village.
Tomorrow morning, which is Palm Sunday, around 8am, you will receive an email with a link to this Sunday's worship service. The service has been prerecorded this week, and continues our Lenten journey "Guided by Women.” Rachel Witkovsky will be our worship leader. Elaine Hoffer will be presenting the Story of Wonder. I will bring the sermon based on “The Widow with Mite: An Inspiration to Jesus.” Our music will include some favorite footage from previous Palm Sunday services, so that we can remember and relive our awesome Palm Sunday processions. We hope it will be a blessing to all.
We are planning virtual worship services for our Maundy Thursday Love Feast and for Easter Morning. In next week’s emails, we will be sharing instructions to help you prepare for and participate in these services. Stay tuned.
Did you know that for the past two weeks Missy has been having a ZOOM meeting with some of her church kids at 10:30am on Sunday mornings, ages ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. If you have a child in this age range that would like to join in, contact Missy to find out how. Also check with Missy for details about her midweek YouTube story time.
Reminder:
If you know someone who does not have email, please call them and offer to read this email to them and share this devotion with them. And, check in on how they are doing.
I have written today’s devotion. I hope it inspires us all to be safe and help keep others safe.
Shalom,
Dennis
Scripture - Esther 4:13-14
Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.’
Thoughts
“For Such A Time as This.” Weeks ago, I quoted this text from Esther in titling our daily devotions. It seemed appropriate, as this part of a verse invites us to think about the moment that is at hand. But when you look at the larger story, the situation was quite serious. Esther’s people were in grave peril. Esther had every reason to think that she could survive, even if others perished. But her uncle Mordecai points out to her that she may not be as safe as she thinks, and reminds her that she is in a unique position to make a difference, a difference that could save others.
Esther probably never thought of herself as a leader. But, aren’t we all leaders? We may not be politicians, or captains of industry, or business leaders, or church and community leaders, or even recognized leaders within our families. But we are all leaders. Anyone who influences how another thinks or acts is a leader.
This afternoon I needed to get a few things at Walmart. Should I wear a mask or not? I did. Why? At least one reason is because people see what we do, and it has influence. I was nervous. Would I be the only one? Would someone make fun of me? But, I wasn’t the only one. And, no one made fun of me. Not as many people were wearing masks as I hoped, but more were wearing masks than I expected. I was thankful for those who had the courage to lead by example and wear a mask. They made me feel better, safer. My mask was a simple homemade one fashioned out of a folded bandana, a paper towel and a couple of rubber bands. Maybe, because I wore a mask, someone who was a little scared to do so today will put one on next time. Or maybe someone who was dismissing the dangers today will reconsider and decide to act tomorrow in a way that helps keep us all safer.
I like Mordecai’s assurance that deliverance will come one way or another. This gives me hope. The only thing that is left for us to decide is will we be part of the solution? What would Jesus do? Jesus said, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done.” Of course, he was talking about feet washing, but I think it applies more broadly. Besides, isn’t feet washing about caring for others? Shouldn’t we always make decisions that inspire (lead) others to care for others. I think so.
Prayer
Gracious God, give us the wisdom and the courage to be good leaders, so that all who hear our words or see our actions will be led toward life and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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