End of the week thoughts --- 20 March 2020

Yes, "The Church has left the building." We cannot worship in community as we'd like, but we are still the church. We may not gather as we have a few weeks ago, but we are still the church. We are in separate buildings for the most part, but we are still the church. The Church is the people... and we are still around!

Christ the Physician, Healer of the World; have mercy on us!

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations  (Revelation 22:1-2)

"Justified and sinful at the same time." a Reformation touch-stone.
Rarely seen as a playing card.

 

Meister Eckhardt was a German church teacher in the Middle Ages before the Renaissance. Some of his teachings were less than orthodox... but I don't think we can argue with this one.

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is 'Thank You',

that will be enough." 

Is this what Heaven is like? Who knows? But why not! I think it'd like it!

We attempt to control things all the time, ALL the time. Maybe in the midst of all our fears,
we might use this time to re-learn faith and un-learn control.

And for Pastor Bonhoeffer, it did... literally.

From the Celtic Christian tradition of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and Cornwall.
It is my heritage and lineage. I often use this as my night prayer.
(That first letter is a "G" in Gaelic script.)

One last little thought, one that I'll include every time I send this. The times are troubled and in fact, they've ALWAYS been troubled. We might as well laugh. Talk to each other - over the fence or over the phone. Watch out for each other. Bake, think, read, and pray. Remember our shut-ins and the folks who live alone. Remember the medical professionals, the fire fighters, the police, and the ambulance crews who must face uncertain situations every day. Remember the workers at grocery stores who are working hard and facing the virus in anybody who might come in. Remember the truck drivers who continue to deliver our food and other necessities. Remember the people in the military and the border services in all they do. Please pray a brief prayer for your pastor once in a while.

Pray... wash your hands... and laugh.