April 3, 2020
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23
Dear Ones,
I continue my regular practice of driving to the Samoa beach most weekdays close to sunrise, and then walking along the shore. Almost every morning I walk there song words come into my head and “play” for the duration of my walk. Yesterday morning those words were, “Morning Has broken like the first morning,” from a familiar hymn. The song is a celebration of the natural world and concludes with, “Praise with elation, praise every morning, God’s recreation of the new day!” Yesterday morning was sunny and bright, making it easier to feel praise, but the writer of Lamentations reminds us that “God’s mercies. . . are new every morning.” Every morning, even on mornings when the sun is hidden behind the clouds, even on mornings when we don’t know how many more mornings we will wake up under “Shelter in Place” orders, the never-ending love and presence of God is with us.
This time of isolation poses varying levels of difficulty for us all. For some this is a time of rest and welcome quiet, but for most of us there is some level of anxiety and tension, and the desire to return to “normal.” My sense is that when the threat of Covid-19 is reduced and “Shelter in Place” orders are removed that we will be living in some kind of “new normal.” Truthfully, I hope there are changes in how we relate to one another, to God and to the entirety of creation. Some questions to ask yourself:
– “What am I grateful for?”
– “What am I learning during this time?”
– “What attitudes do I need to examine?”
– “How is God changing me?”
– “Where do I see God at work in changing the world?”
Rest in the promise of God’s presence and love with us!
We are about to enter into Holy week, beginning with Palm Sunday and the celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem greeted by welcoming shouts of “Hosanna,” but by Friday the crowd was shouting, “Let him be crucified!” This is a week when Christians everywhere have traditionally come together to commemorate these events as they look forward to a grand celebration of Christ’s Resurrection on Easter Sunday. This year is different. In addition to participating in our live stream worship opportunities if you are able to, I encourage us all to spend time with the scriptures related to Holy week from the Gospel of Matthew (21:1-11 and 26:14 – 27:66) and contemplate how God is and will be at work in the midst of all that is before us. “Great is God’s faithfulness!”
In Love,
Pastor Kathryn
PS. We have palms we would love to get to you, and directions to make crosses.
Call me (707) 599-2295 for delivery.
Also, for Palm Sunday, hang a branch, any kind, on your front door.
Have some form of bread and drink for our worship service this Sunday for Communion