This is an interesting time for us, as we adjust to life in the time of COVID-19. Our church building is closed, our worship is streaming on Facebook, and we are all practicing “social distancing.” This is a challenging time for people and churches across the world, as we all figure out how to keep on being the people of God despite the necessary precautions we must take to help defeat the current pandemic.
Many of us are anxious and concerned about not only our health, but about the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus on our lives and our communities. Our businesses, our jobs, and our retirement accounts feel more insecure, as our questions of how things are going to play out become more urgent. We are adjusting to being stuck at home – dealing with boredom and cabin fever, and in my case trying to figure out how to homeschool 2 teenagers!
And yet, this is a perfect time for us to reflect on how we see things and to practice seeing things through the eyes of faith. A time for us to be open to the unexpected ways that God is at work and try to see what God wants us to see, instead of getting caught up in our frustrations, doubts, and anxiety.
It is a time for us to look for the possibilities and blessings and especially the hope that exist despite our worries, because God is at work in this situation and there is more going on than meets the eye. The birds
are still singing, the trees and flowers are still blooming, and God’s love is still the strongest force in all of creation.
My prayer for all of us is that we will be able to rest and grow strong in God’s love and grace, so that we will have the strength and trust in God that we will need to face any challenges in our path.
Even though we are not able to come together physically, our faith still binds us together in Christian community. Let us continue to support one another and lift up one another in prayer in the coming weeks. Please call one another and check in with one another, so that this can be a time when we grow in our fellowship despite the limitations of “social distancing!”
May each of you experience the peace and grace of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Pastor Carolyn