“Sower of life, tiller of grace, we have been born anew from imperishable seed. Through your eyes we see clearly; through your teaching we act rightly; through your sacrificial love we know dearly and truly that love is stronger than death.
In the breaking open of our routines, in the disruption of our patterns, reveal your greater light and knowledge to us. In any sadness, depression, and despair of ours, or anyone who is with us, reveal again your hope and your strength. We offer to you the sacrifice and service of our teachers, our public health officials, of our hospital staffs, our ambulance drivers, our Governor, and the researchers who are working to hold the broken hearts together.
For those ill in our families, and those who are feeling low, let your touch be gentle and loving. Heal them and us of anything that harms. For you have said we are not destined for calamity, but for an inheritance of mercy and life. Be known to us in the breaking of our bread, and the sharing of our love, and in this moment of prayer. This is our road prayer. This is our traveling hope: that you will share the road with us, and open our eyes. In the name of the risen and rising Christ: Amen.”
Dearest Friends and Family,
This prayer was the one offered in our worship service by the Shearer family, and as I reread it today, I have been meditating on the “breaking open of all our routines.” So much has had to change, and yet breaking through the trials I hope there are also hidden strengths. Perhaps for some there are even shoots of unexpected life from those “imperishable seeds” the author of 1 Peter speaks to us about. I hope so. And if not for you, let us pray that it is “not YET.” There is life and living to do, even if it must be much changed from our original expectations. And yet, rise we will: to the occasion, to the need, and to a future still in the seed, yet to be revealed. Together we will rise.
One way we can keep each other in view is to share time together. Please join me tomorrow for a virtual “Coffee Hour!” If you have never joined before you can do it by phone, by computer, by tablet or smartphone. We use Zoom and all the instructions are below. Click the link, fill out the registration form (it’s quick), and you’ll get back a link for the meeting. In that email, just click the link: the software will open and we’ll be able to see and hear each other! If you use the telephone, just dial one of the provided numbers and enter the provided numbers and you’ll be patched right in.
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: Apr 22, 2020 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/uJEqcuyurzouyJBWoiHpJJIQW1r7XWPcEw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Gov. Beshear Meeting and Church Re-Opening.
Some of you will know that I have a role with the Kentucky Council of Churches. Many questions have arisen about when churches will be allowed to hold in-person worship services. We have been actively working with Dr. Stack and the Covid-19 team on these questions. I want to urge you to strengthen yourselves and others for the long haul, though. Despite what you hear about some services and and other states opening up, this is still not safe. And it may not be safe for large groups like congregations and choirs for many more weeks and possibly months to come.
I have reached out to the Governor and he has agreed to a weekly call with church leaders, including myself, to help develop guidance about that. His scheduling office and I are arranging the time now and once established I’ll be able to share what we learn. I can share already that we cannot even begin to think about ANY openings until at least 2 weeks of declining deaths and infections. Then there may be some meetings of 10 or less possible but still with mask and still with 6′ of space between. After several weeks of that, there MAY (and I stress the word MAY) be some larger groups, again with social distancing and none of that recommended for those over 60 or with illnesses making them susceptible.
So, that means your endurance, creativity and persistance is still required in order to save the lives of your neighbors and friends. This is the sacrificial love called for by our Gospel tradition and Christian teaching. I know it may be hard and I wish I could tell you it will be over soon. That seems unlikely. What is not in question, however, is the goodwill of you, and all others who are keeping safe and saving those around you by your careful practices. This is the church in action right now. This is justice and love rolled together in this moment. So hang in and hang on. You are doing it right and we will ABSOLUTELY get through this together. Remember: in you there is already planted an imperishable seed of all that is needed.
Many blessings,
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