April 23, 2020 – To Believe is to Care. . . To Care is to Do

Psalm 18:1-3

I love you, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,

my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

so I shall be saved from my enemies.

I shall be saved from my enemies. Well, yes, but still… I’m stuck in my house; God may save me, but I might still get the coronavirus. God may save me, but I will still die; if not now, from this, then surely at some time in the future. Most of the time we can avoid thinking about that paradox – what does it mean that God saves us when, no matter what, we’re all going to die? Sometimes we go so far as to fool ourselves into thinking that God offers us universal perpetual protection and when it turns out that we weren’t protected, we blame God. It’s a puzzlement (or so said the King in the musical “The King and I”).

Here’s the thing: what God protects us from is not stubbing our toes: God protects us from wasting our lives. More than that, God protects us from dying wastefully or for nothing. Here’s what I mean.

God provides us with the means to protect our community’s health. God provides us with good food, ways to make our world safe, health care, and so on. God provides us, for instance, with excellent vaccines to protect us from the dangers of disease. We take proper precautions by using those gifts God provides, so that we don’t die from something we didn’t need to catch. Wearing masks, avoiding crowd – all fall into that same category. When we do those things, when we take proper and appropriate care of ourselves, we are living in God’s way and allowing God to protect us.

So, someday, we’ll all die. But not today, not this week, not from this coronavirus, not if we are able to protect ourselves, to avoid those who take foolish chances, who can’t bear to be inside, who won’t wear masks when they should, who insist on standing too close.

Best of all, God has provided, and continues to provide ways for us to spend each day doing good for others, caring for our world. We won’t be here forever, but we can spend every one of our days in ways which make our lives worth living.

Easter blessings, Pastor Virginia

NEWS

Nine of us gathered for yesterday’s Tea With the Pastor, and had a delightful time sharing news of our community with one another. There’s always room for more, so join us next week on Wednesday from 1 to 2 in the afternoon.

We’re going to try having an informal Church Council meeting every Wednesday evening via Zoom, because we realized how much we were missing those informal opportunities to talk things over at Coffee Hours or during the week. With those opportunities gone for the time being, it seems like it will be good to gather this way. Invitations will go out every Wednesday morning. If you have something you want to put on the discussion list, email Pastor Virginia or any Council member.

As you know, our Thrift Shop is closed, and we are losing that income. If you could send in additional money this month, we’d really appreciate it. All our staff is still on the payroll, we still have utility bills. Your gifts make it possible for us to continue. Checks may be mailed to the church at 5 Gibbs Avenue, Wareham MA 02571.

NEED SHOPPING HELP? Nancy MacNeill reports that her two granddaughters are offering to do shopping for anyone who can’t get out. Just contact Nancy at 508-280-3716 or <nlmacneill@comcast.net

PRAYER LIST

Want to add a concern or joy to the list? Email me at pastorchild02914@gmail.com

Wareham Week Today reports that 26 people at Tremont Rehab, right down the street from the church, have tested positive for COVID-19. Let’s keep them and the folks who work at Tremont in our prayers!
School is closed for the rest of the school year. Remember teachers, parents and children in this stressful time.
from Susan Ryan: Lori Benson reports that Tim has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, but is asymptomatic. Please keep Tim and Lori in your prayers.
from Oonagh Brault: Please add my friend Lindsay to the prayer list. She has just been diagnosed with COVID-19.
from Oonagh Brault: my sister-in-law, Kathy, and her father, Jim, to the prayer list. Jim was diagnosed with COVID-19. He is now on hospice care. Kathy is suffering because she cannot be with her father during this trying time.
from Elaine Johnson: (Elaine reports Janice is better, but still needs our prayers) Please add my sister Janice to the prayer list. She fell and has a small brain bleed and concussion and severed her ear which needed to be stitched back into place. She is home recovering.
Prayers for all who work in the medical field as they deal with this crisis.
from Nancy MacNeill, prayers for her cousin Pam Bergeron
from Lydia Sherman: Please add Carrie Andrews to the prayer list. She’s the cousin to my nephew Christopher’s wife… She currently is on life-support and is only in her 30’s.