Opening Churches

May 26, 2020
 
Beloved:
            Last week’s news cycle included some silly chatter on the subject of opening churches.  Silly because opening churches is, as all church people know, a redundant term, along with the term church people.  The Church has not closed since the wind of Pentecost first blew through them two thousand years ago and is as alive, if not more so today, as it has been in my lifetime.  You are taking care of each other with renewed intention and deeper generosity.  Our worship is collaboratively and thoughtfully planned.  Organizational tasks are dutifully managed.  Our building is shuttered and our gatherings are virtual and our life together carries on, suspended by the same grace, faith and joy that has carried the people of God forever.

            I am not grateful for a pandemic.  But I am grateful to be in this place at this time with the community of which I am part.  I am grateful for the moments when fear and frustration leave me alone to enjoy an ordinary Indiana springtime.  I am grateful for your faith, your generosity and your good humor.  I am grateful for the sense of purpose you put to your lives right now, your determination to be kind and patient with one another and with yourselves.  I am grateful for your good sense to look to science for the necessary information and to God for the necessary wisdom to act according to our faith.

I am grateful that faith found me, for the way that faith has kept me and is keeping me now when so much else seems so uncertain.  I am grateful for your prayers and for your kind care toward me.  Whatever tomorrow brings, I am grateful that we shall face it like the church always has, together and with hearts alive in faith.