Minister’s Message March - April 2020 Greetings in the name of Christ!
First of all, I hope you are healthy and feeling fine!
We are living in a very trying and difficult time. COVID-19 has really isolated us from each other, with the closure of our churches. I find for me, there is a lot more administrative work to do, and looking at other ways to do pastoral care. It means phone calls and e-mails, which never were really good practices of pastoral care, are turning out to be working just fine. I hope you can help your friends and neighbors, who may need a little help, with a phone call or an e-mail, to let them know you care about them. Surprising how it goes a long way.
It's a tough time. I fear we will be out (of worship services) for some time. On our Genesis website, we continue to post our church bulletin that would take place, should we have gathered together. If you are a person without computer access, perhaps a neighbor or family member can tell you what we have posted. As well, our United Church Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Richard Bott has a message every week on the United Church of Canada website (united-church.ca).
Are you frightened of all of this? I am, but I have found solace in this isolating time, to increase the time I spend in prayer. I find I have a prayer before I get out of bed; one before I leave the house to go to the office; one as I come home; one after I turn off the TV, listening to all of the news. I am stopping to do this, as I find it settles me, but especially now, I have all this extra time.
Take the time to remember folk beyond yourselves. Our Christian work isn't over--it's just somewhat different. Eat well, get your sleep, stay home, and try to follow the two-meter distance rule. Let's do our part.