Honey on My Heart

April 7, 2020 ~ Holy Week

Beloved:
            Ash Wednesday seems far longer than six weeks ago, amen?  In the same way Jesus’ disciples had no idea what he was up to when he turned his face toward Jerusalem, we couldn’t have imagined celebrating Easter so isolated from one another.  Still, grace we could not have imagined has also bloomed among us.  In our physical absence has bloomed intentional connection and a new tenderness that is good for my soul, and yours too I bet.  I am profoundly aware of a deep and wide degree of patience and encouragement among family, friends, neighbors and strangers.

            Easter marks the destruction of the divide between time and eternity – the propulsion of eternal grace into temporal time – so that even while we are separated physically, we can more fully experience our spiritual unity.  This is why I love our visits on Life Together Live – the Sunday Zoom meetings at 4 PM.  Yes, they are loud and crazy as everyone talks at once and kids show each other their latest artwork, but I still love it!  If you haven’t joined in yet, I hope you will next week.

            My plan is to continue doing church this way until the scientists say it’s safe to gather once again.  Your patience, encouragement and good humor these last three weeks are like honey on my heart, and I’ve no doubt we can do it as long as is necessary.*  The effort, extra hours and creativity of this part-time church staff to create online worship and church programming humbles me more than I have words to say.  I am in technology kindergarten while Rob and Laura Beth guide me with the patience of a thousand preschool teachers.  Fan has her eyes everywhere so that nothing essential falls through the cracks.

            Be sure and take advantage of the extra Holy Week offerings they are delivering each day this week on Facebook and YouTube!  Rob has a family Easter activity and Laura Beth a Holy Week Reflection drawn from our usual Good Friday service.  And thank you, thank you, thank you for putting your offering in the mail to the church office!  More honey on my heart as it makes sure our bills are paid, especially our amazing church staff!  An online giving mechanism should be ready for use on Sunday too.

            Keep in touch.  Stay connected to each other, and remember that you are so very dear to me.
 
~ peace & prayers, 
pastor annette

*Like honey on my heart  is a phrase I learned from Dalia O., who called this week to check on her UBC friends and say she is doing well.