Be at Peace, God is in Control
I have used digital technology more in the last two weeks than I have used in a year. This has become the new normal for us in the age of Coronavirus and COVID-19. This pandemic has forced us to find new
ways to communicate and build community, and many of us
technology-impaired people
are having to learn a new set of skills we never imagined having to learn. This may be a good thing. This crisis is pushing us out of our comfort zones and into uncharted territory. I suspect that by the time this virus is nothing but a bad memory, most of us will have caught up with our tech-savvy kids. In the meantime, we will continue to learn together how to stay connected virtually.
The question for me as a preacher is how to contextualize the Gospel message of Jesus of Nazareth using these virtual tools. In a way, this is not a new problem. From the very start, the Church has had to find creative ways to bring the Good News to the world, using the tools provided by specific contexts. This is how Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 9: 20-22,
“To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”
Today, Paul might have added,
“To the socially-distanced, I became an expert at Zoom, Skype, and Texting, that by the grace of God I might bring a word of comfort to those who feel scared of the future and isolated from the communities they love.”
The incredible staff of St. Dunstan’s has been crucial to this effort of learning this technology. They have done a phenomenal job keeping us engaged in liturgy, Bible study, and fellowship gatherings. If your small group hasn’t yet experimented with Zoom meetings, I encourage you to contact Sarah Quiroga via
email
. She will guide you expertly on how to set-up these meetings.
I know that some of us miss the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
I am planning a Rite-2 service via Facebook Live for this coming Wednesday, March 25, at 12:00 Noon.
I hope you can join me as I transform my living room into an impromptu chapel. An email with a reminder and a digital leaflet will be sent out 15 minutes prior to the start of the service or you can follow along in the Book of Common Prayer. If you are unable to tune in at noon, you can always watch it later as Facebook Live will record this service.
Please continue to visit our website and Facebook page often as resources are uploaded daily. I pray that you will also develop a daily routine to stay busy: Pray, call family and friends, visit our virtual church, read a good book, or simply write a card to a friend. Routines organize our day and give us a sense of purpose. I am here to speak to any of you at any time. Simply send me a quick email at
frroman@saintdustans.org
and leave me a preferred contact number.
Remember that God loves you dearly. He will see us through this crisis, and we will gather as a body again soon. I can’t wait to meet all of you! Be at peace and know that God is in control. I am praying for you all.
Blessings,
Fr. Roman
