Mid-March of this year marks the one year anniversary when most, if not all our churches went online to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ in their perspective mission fields. Many of you had less than one week to do so. Several tried to maintain the status quo, however discovered to do so would put many family members and friends’ health in danger. Leslie had a doctor’s appointment in Houston, and we traveled there rather than attend a wedding in California, thinking we may not be able to fly back due to the onset of Covid-19. Little did any of us know that the pandemic would last for more than a few weeks or months.
I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the many accomplishments of both clergy and lay members responding to the crisis in our midst. Despite the context and situation, many of our churches adapted their current practices to meet together online. I witnessed flexibility in handling the church’s business and outreach. Giving remained strong for many of you and several discovered new ways to connect with friends and family beyond the local church and its setting. As your bishop, I am humbled and proud of the congregations and leadership within the New Mexico Conference of the United Methodist Church. You are a great blessing and Christian witness to the world!
As we experience the Lenten season and look forward to resurrection Sunday, I was reminded of a scripture in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” During that time, the people of God were not experiencing a pandemic nor isolated from one another due to health concerns. However, they were facing a very uncertain future. The prophet Jeremiah was “confined in the court of the guard,” (33:1) i.e., locked up in jail. God reminds Jeremiah and all of us that God not only hears and answers our prayers, but that God is with us in our struggles and isolation. Let us continue to pray for one another and for God’s will to be accomplished through our many congregations.
The season of Lent reminds us to begin the process of introspection whereby we focus on Jesus Christ, his life, death, and burial, as well as his suffering and sacrifice. Why? Because Easter still comes! No matter how difficult the situation or what we are going through, God is present with us reminding us to call on God (pray) and the God of our present situation will not only hear those prayers but share good news that we “could never figure out on our own.” [The Message]
I know many of you are tired and exhausted and I want to encourage and remind you that Easter still comes. Leslie and I look forward to the day when we will gather together in person, praising and worshiping God, who not only hears us and answers us but is present with us. I thank God for your witness and your faithfulness and look forward to seeing you in person real soon!
Bishop W. Earl & Leslie J. Bledsoe
