Month: March 2020

It’s Saturday.  If things were normal, I’d be slaving away on tomorrow’s sermon, trying to remember why I chose that title, and wondering if you all would really like that hymn (some will, some won’t, that’s life).

But things aren’t normal.  There’s a run on yeast at the grocery store, and the woman behind me in line is wearing fetching purple plastic gloves and a matching mask.  And there will be no public worship tomorrow.

Yet, we know that worshipping together honors God and is good for us.  We need that time together.  The reading from Ephesians for tomorrow says “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.”  Isn’t that true?  And then the author goes on:  “.  . . be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (from Ephesians 5:8-14)

But we can’t gather at our church, we say.  Here’s the thing:  while we can’t go to our church, we can go to church.  We can go on-line, watching the pastors at the Old South Church in Boston, attending their worship service, maybe seeing Katherine Schofield, as if we are all on a field trip to our Boston home.  And afterwards, we have the satisfaction of having gone as a group, even though we are separated by circumstance.  You can close your eyes and see Hazel Taber sitting up there on the right… and isn’t that Margaret Wood over nearer the wall?  Afterwards, send an email to someone to talk about the music or the sermon, to reinforce that sense that we really were all there.

Last week, after Old South’s service was over, I decided to explore different services, and ended up attending about five of them – all on-line, each different.  I’m not suggesting you do that, though it was fun to hear all the different music.  But you might take advantage of the numbers of churches which are doing this, and see what appeals to you.  If you’re interested, but want some suggestions, let me know and I’ll pass along some web addresses.

In the meantime, at 9:55 tomorrow – just a little early to hear the prelude, I’ll be in front of my computer, tuned to www.oldsouth.org, ready to worship God, with you all as my companions.  Hope to see you there!

Blessings, Pastor Virginia

On October 2, 1918, my great-aunt, Lidie Kelly married Thomas Montague.  They each went to their own homes after the wedding instead of heading off on a honeymoon.  You see, Thomas was Irish Catholic, Lidie was Irish Protestant, and they weren’t ready to admit to family that they were married.

Then, on October 14, Thomas died from the Spanish Flu. They never even got to announce their marriage.

They lived in Philadelphia, just blocks from Broad Street, where there was a big Liberty Bond parade on the Saturday before their wedding, on September 28.  By October 1, there were 635 new cases of the flu.  In six weeks, 12,000 people died in Philadelphia.  One of them was my great-uncle Thomas.  

St. Louis cancelled their Liberty Bond parade, and there only 700 people died.

I hear from our Florida members that there people are struggling to understand what staying home can mean.  The beach is great, the sun is wonderful, it’s spring break everywhere.  People want to go out to eat.  Back here on the Southcoast, we’re getting a little stir crazy.  We want to see one another! Now!!!

It’s hard, but it’s the right thing to do.  Go home.  Stay home.  If/when you go shopping, stay away from others.  This is our sacrifice, our duty.  Christ tells us not to turn away from the hard stuff, even if the hard stuff is something as unexciting as staying home, staying away.

Yesterday, I asked if you wanted daily meditations to continue or if you’d rather go to twice a week.  Every response I got was for daily – so long as it wasn’t a burden on me.  And it isn’t. 

I also asked about interest in a weekly on-line meeting, a kind of conference call with video, to allow us to meet together. I’ve only had one person respond to that offer.  If I get a few more responses (email to pastorchild02914@gmail.com) I’ll put something together.  In the meantime, don’t hesitate to be in touch.

Rich Cotton tells me that Tobey says that Donald Hall is improving; let’s continue those prayers for healing.  

God of compassion,
be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross,
but reigns with you in glory,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

I hesitate to say things are settling into a new normal, but in some ways that’s what’s happening.  What seemed unthinkable two weeks ago – no church services!! – now seems almost reasonable.  I sit in my house and think about where to go for groceries where I will see the fewest people… just not even on my radar last week.  

Nancy MacNeill and I met yesterday and agreed that we’re now understanding that worship is suspended “for the time being”.  We no longer expect to meet together for Palm Sunday or Easter and it looks to me as though it might well be May before we begin to see us back together.   Our Thrift Shop is closed, the Wednesday Breakfasts have stopped and even Laughing Yoga is taking time off.  The office is still open on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with Ann Marie Luciano there to answer questions.

My grandnieces are having school at home at “Casa Child School” because their parents don’t think the girls will be back in school this spring.  They’re lucky – their mom is a college professor and so she knows what she’s doing (and both parents are working from home).  But not everyone is so fortunate.  As we contemplate the difficulties of our own lives right now, let’s not forget those for whom this is nothing more or less than a total unmitigated disaster – no job, no money, no food. nothing.

Nancy and I talked about the frequency of these emails, and now I want to ask you – we’re proposing one of two alternatives:  do you want to continue receiving a daily email, some devotional, some with news like this one;  or would you rather receive an email twice a week, including news.   The daily email will continue through next Monday; any changes will start then.

In addition, would you like to try out a weekly Zoom meeting where we could talk with one another?  Let me know by email to <pastorchild02914@gmail> or text/phone to 774-218-0738.

Finally, Rich Cotton has asked me to tell you all that Donald Hall is at Tobey Hospital in critical condition after a heart attack and with problems with his kidneys.  Rich is asking for our prayers for Donald:  

“Loving God, protect our brother Donald.  Surround him with your love.  Bring him your healing power and peace.  Support those who care for him in this very challenging time.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.”

May God bless us in the living of these days.

Pastor Virginia

John 4:5-42

¹⁹ The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.”

I don’t know what you did on Sunday morning, but I “attended” the Old South Church’s livestream broadcast.  I chose it because it’s right up in Boston, and I knew I’d hear a word for our situation.  In the midst of a lovely service, I heard the Rev. Nancy Taylor say, “who would have thought that this morning’s lesson would be about where it was possible to worship?”   She reminded us that worship can take place wherever we are. 

Nancy Taylor also reminded me that in the midst of life that is often marked by strain and stress, we can always give thanks for God’s unconditional love.  So, take that thought with you today – you are loved.  You are loved in the quiet of home.  You are loved in the stress of difficult situations.  You are loved even if you have a cough and a fever.  You are loved, today, tomorrow, and forever.

Here’s a prayer for today, from the Church of England:

Keep us, good Lord, 
under the shadow of your mercy 
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love 
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.

Blessings, Pastor Virginia

3/16/20

Psalm 1  

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners treat or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.

What is this “law of the Lord” that we are supposed to think about all the time?  Is it a law like a traffic law that we must obey?  Is it a rule, with $250 tickets if we miss a day?  Do we go to God’s jail, automatically, if we skip out entirely?  

The fact of the matter is that God’s “law” isn’t the usual kind of law, clear, with set out penalties.  Think of God’s law more as if it were (as it is) the wisdom which shows us how to form our lives as fulfilling, community-building, rewarding, useful, filled with love.  

God’s “law”, God’s guidance, says to us, choose that which is best for your church, even when it’s difficult for you.  It helps us choose what is best for our community, even when it means we don’t meet for a while, to keep our world safer than it would be otherwise.

In our separation, let us none the less be happy, because – even though we are missing being in worship or coming to Wednesday breakfast or staying home to be safe – we are doing what is needful in this stressful time.

Here’s a link to beautiful piece of music, played by Yo Yo Ma, the celebrated cellist.  Take a moment to end this meditation by listening to it – and keep it on hand when life feels stress-filled in the days to come, so you can listen to the peace over and over.

With deepest blessings, 

Pastor Virginia