Greetings folks of St. Peters,
Our local elected and health leaders have asked that non-essential people stay in-place to flatten the curve of the virus spread. I believe as we are able, we should all heed this call to action for the sake of our neighbor. The article in the
DailyTrib
gave a list of essential organizations, but did not list the church. Yet, I can't help but hear the call of God to us through the waters of our baptism..."
You ARE a child of God. You ARE essential
to God's plan to bring life to your community and our world."
I wonder if the church didn't make the list because we have become accustomed to calling "church" what we do when we gather on Sunday mornings in large groups in a building. There was a wonderful meme the other day on Facebook that said, "
with church doors shutting across America, it is time for us to show that church has never been about the building.
"
Grace Groups is all about saying to others,
you are essential
in this crisis. Worshipping from home is our witness to our neighbor that
they are essential
to our life together. Getting more take-out than usual is how we let others businesses know
they are essential
to what we love about the Highland Lakes. Saying thank you to workers at grocery stores and hospitals is the theological equivalent of saying, "
You are essential!
" Making face masks from home, sharing toilet paper, and helping an older neighbors run an errand or two is well...
doing the essential in this time
...BEING the church...EMBODYING God's love for someone else in need.
Blessings on being essential these days.
Look for the weekend worship email Saturday afternoon. May your day be filled with the moving of the Spirit of God.
Peace,
Pastor Vanicek