Dear Friends,
Thank you for the responses you shared a few weeks about what you have found to be “good” and what you have found to be “hard” during the pandemic.
Many of you noted that the restrictions on where you can go, what you can do, who you can spend time with, and especially, who you get to hug are hard to deal with. While it seems most MUMC folks are continuing bravely and faithfully with adhering to the restrictions that are intended to keep everyone safe, there are people in our country who are chafing against these restrictions
Freedom is highly valued in our country, and, I believe, rightfully so. But long before the U.S. came into being, the Bible has had something to say about freedom. Galatians 5: 1 says, “For freedom, Christ set us free.” What does that mean? Is that passage telling us that we can do anything we want? Does it mean that it’s wrong to insist that people restrict social activities and wear masks when they are in public during a pandemic? How can we be set free by Christ and still be stuck in our houses most of the time?
I hope you feel free to join the people of Maplewood UMC for worship this Sunday to learn more about our faith in Jesus and freedom.
God’s grace and peace be with you,
Pastor Kim
