Weekly Worship
Everything has changed and it happened so quickly. We have been changed in big ways. There are no large gatherings, all types of entertainment have been canceled, we cannot attend church together. And it can be found in the little changes that cause us to feel uncomfortable. We took our granddaughters to the neighborhood park which had signs saying “use at your own risk. This has not been sanitized since March 11th.” Here I am talking from the lectern which I never do. We cannot touch anyone. I find myself very anxious and concerned. I alternate between wanting to know the latest news about the coronavirus outbreak and being so depressed that I don’t want to follow the news at all anymore. I worry about what will happen to our society and how we will come out of this? How can I stay in touch with people and do the…
I remember a scene from movies many years ago. When a new baby was born, the doctor would lift the baby up by its legs and spank the child lightly as it came out of its mother’s womb. The child would shriek, crying very loudly. The doctor then knew that the child could breathe on its own. I read that a baby should begin crying within the first 30 seconds to one minute of life. But doctors no longer perform that spanking technique. We have learned a better way. To get a baby to breathe, gentle stimulation is usually required and accomplished these days by rubbing the baby's back or gently stimulating its feet. Whichever way a baby starts breathing we know that baby has received God’s gift of life given through the breath of God. Once again scripture speaks directly to us in times of crisis. I think about…
I am sure that you figured out already that the theme for today is water. We listen to the story of Moses providing water to the Israelites. The Israelites were unhappy. They were thirsty for the water that keeps us alive. The Israelites quarreled with each other and with Moses. They tested God and Moses to see whether God would take care of them. Their quarreling and testing were so loud that they gave the names Massah and Meribah to the place where this happened. And God did provide. When Moses struck the rock water poured forth and the thirst of the people was satisfied. Most specifically the theme is about the living water, the gift that Jesus gives us. Jesus gives us grace and love to nurture our spiritual thirst, to carry us through the tough times, to keep us steadfast in the Way of Truth and to bring…