April 1, 2020

April 1, 2020

I see a lot of reports in the papers that “this huge number of people” or “that huge number of people” are going to die as a result of this pandemic.  Some of the articles suggest that since so many will die, all the sacrifices we are making right now are worthless.  Some say those sacrifices aren’t enough.  And I even hear some who say this is a government plot to do destroy churches by telling us we can’t meet. 

What we’re doing is hard, but it’s making a difference.  (and the “we” in this case, is all the US, not just you and I)  We are flattening the curve.  Sure, it’s likely most of us will get this virus, sometime or another.  But we’re delaying what might, or even will, happen, and delaying saves lives, because it spreads out the number of people who need hospitalization.

In other words, what we’re doing, by staying home, giving up big celebrations and so on, is making a difference.  Someone said recently, “if at the end of this, people are saying  ‘you made too big a thing of this virus’, then we will  have succeeded beyond our wildest dreams.”

It strikes me that what’s happening is a time-compressed version of a life.  Throughout our lives we do small things that don’t seem to make a difference, but by the time we’re in our sixties, we can see the net effects of our choices.  I read this one today in an alumni magazine:  “We went on to get Married in 2018 and couldn’t be happier. All because we by chance signed up for the same 9am lecture and lab”  Today, we’re seeing those little choices playing out in just a few weeks, rather than an entire lifetime.

The Bible has a lot to say, in any number of places, about the importance of little choices.  In fact, I don’t think that the authors of the Bible really thought any choice was little.  You go to the town well at 9am instead of  10 and meet your spouse.  You offer a morsel of bread to a beggar, help a sick man to the healing pool at Bethsaida, offer a room at the inn, and the Son of God is born in your barn.  Little choices make a big difference – then and now. 

And now for the local news:

Nancy MacNeill wants to thank those of you who’ve sent in your checks to help keep our church going.  Our building is closed, but we are still operating, and your offerings are welcome.  Ann Marie, our church secretary is no longer coming into the office, but David is still deep cleaning in the Hall.  The building is doing well.

We will NOT be distributing palms at the church on Palm Sunday.  It is simply not safe enough.  However, look for another kind of palm later this week.

Prayer List:

• As always, Donald Hall remains in our prayers.  He’s at Nemasket Healthcare Center, 314 Marion Road, Middleboro MA  02346 and his cell phone number is 508-930-0051.  His kidneys are failing and he is on hospice care.  In this holy time, he welcomes your cards.

• Ron and Mary Westgate ask that we pray for Michael Layman, who has the covid virus.  He is the brother of their daughter-in-law.

If you have a prayer concern feel free to send it in to be included in this daily email. 

Blessings, Pastor Virginia