April 19 2020
Bulletins
Greetings
Promise Church,
One of the scriptures from the lectionary for this week is
1 Peter:3-9, which reads:
------
A Living Hope
“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that is
imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being
protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice,[ a] even if now for a little
while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your
faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by
fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is
revealed. 8 Although you have not seen[ b] him, you love him; and even though
you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable
and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the
salvation of your souls.”
-----
As we read this, we remember that there were people of
faith who came long before us, and who faced some terrifying circumstances,
including death. Yet many of them had an incredible, unshakable faith in God,
believing that God was with them through all things, even unto death. Somehow,
it seems, they were even able to rejoice in times of great trial and suffering.
During these times, it is easy for us to get caught up in
feelings of fear, exhaustion, separateness, isolation, and doubt. When we
notice ourselves lost in these feelings, we must attempt to take a step back
and see if it is possible for us to find God in our midst. This is not easy,
and we need help from one another.
Take what time you can for self-care. Do the things that
nourish you spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Take care not to let your
self-talk spiral down into fear and negativity. If it works for you, you might
try saying a simple prayer throughout the day, such as “You are here with me.”
As difficult as it is during these times, we can view this as an opportunity
for us to practice trusting God. All of life, it seems, is always offering us
opportunities to practice and grow in many different ways. Now is a time for us
to practice trust, patience, grace, and compassion for ourselves and our
neighbors. What else might you practice in the coming days and weeks?
Prayer
for our community
Loving God, we pray for the whole world as it deals with
this virus, especially for those who have become infected, for the overwhelmed
doctors, nurses, and essential workers. We also pray for those who have lost
their jobs and who are unable to meet their needs. We also pray for those who
are lonely and isolated during this time. Loving God, be with all of them. Give
them hope and strength.
At the same time, Holy God, we are grateful that some of us
are getting the opportunity to rest, and to spend more time with our families.
May we become more aware of your Presence, now and in all the rest of our days.
Please bring healing to the world quickly. Amen.