For Such A Time as This May 23, 2020– John Grace

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

Chalk the Lot!

Missing the ritual of coming to the church building to worship? Us too! You are invited to come to the church lot anytime to leave a message of love, hope, and positivity anywhere in our parking lot! And then walk around and see what others have left and spend a few moments in prayer for our church community. 

If you have chalk, feel free to bring your own! Otherwise, there are baggies of chalk in a container by the back door. Once used, please keep it as your own and bring it with you if you come back. 

Please remember that we are practicing social distancing. If others are in the lot, respect their space by keeping at least 6ft distance. Masks are requested as well. 

Sunday Worship Service:

Tomorrow morning, around 8am, you will receive an email with a link to this Sunday's Worship service.  Our worship times in May will hopefully remind, challenge, and encourage us as we continue this journey through a COVID-19 world.  This Sunday I will be preaching on the topic “We Will Adapt.” The service includes some great music, a time of sharing, and prayers.  Please join us as we gather in spirit through our virtual worship service. 

Praying for Each Other

Everyone in our church is given a special day to receive prayers from their fellow Christians. Let us take a moment this week to hold the following persons in our prayers. 

Sunday – Bonnie Rhoads

Monday – Greyson Smith

Tuesday – Dave & Gail Wagner

Wednesday – Rane & Deb Wilson

Thursday – Sully Bortner

Friday – Russ & Sue Collins

Saturday – Robert Feeman

Joys and Concerns

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.

Prayers for:

•     Jose’ Aponte, Millie Rein, Jill Speicher, and Jean Summers
•     For those alone in hospitals and those who have lost their jobs
•     For all people, no matter what their circumstances, challenges, or joys

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 John Grace for providing today’s devotion.  John reflects on the meaning of a song he will sing in tomorrow’s worship service.  If you wish to respond to John directly, his email address is djgrace@comcast.net.

Shalom,                                                                                                            
Dennis

Scripture: Psalm 91:1-6 (NSRV)

 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
 will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”
 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence;
 he will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    or the arrow that flies by day,
 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    or the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Thoughts:

On May 17, a column I read every week in the Sunday Patriot News entitled The God Squad was devoted entirely to Psalm 91. Just three days earlier I had come out of hiding to record On Eagles Wings, a song based very closely on Psalm 91, to be used in our Sunday service for May 24. As I was getting set to record the solo, Pastor Lohr asked me why I had suggested that song. I said that I thought it was appropriate for these times since it was about God’s protection. Apparently, Rabbi Gelman who writes the Sunday column thought the same thing.

Not that I totally agree with the idea that God protects us from all harm. I am personally more inclined to think that bad stuff can happen to anyone. But Psalm 91 may be helpful to those who believe that God will raise us up on eagles’ wings, bear us on the breath of dawn and hold us in the palm of his hand. Maybe not protect us from all problems but be with us and give us the strength to deal with what comes our way.

Prayer:

Gracious and Merciful God, we long for your protection and help for the situations that we experience as we live our lives. Be with us. Help us to be strong. Help us to be unafraid. Amen.