Are you taking care of yourself? No, seriously, are you? Are you being safe? One of the most disappointing things I have heard this week is that churches have encouraged and even transported people to worship this past Sunday. It did not end well for some pastors who were arrested for "reckless disregard for human life." Some pastors have argued that they have a fundamental freedom to gather for worship and that people need to congregate at times like this.

Here's the thing though. We may have the right to gather for worship, but we also have a responsibility to care for our neighbors. As a Christian, I believe the second truth supersedes the first. So while I know that God is with us and cares for us, I also believe God expects us to use the smarts we've been given. Please, for your health and the well being of others, don't leave home unless it is essential.

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The appointed psalm for this past Sunday was Psalm 130. The last few verses are dear to my heart.

I wait for the  Lord , my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;

my soul waits for the Lord
    more than those who watch for the morning,
    more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the  Lord !
    For with the Lord there is steadfast love-

The imagery of those who watch for the morning refers to the watchmen of a city or village. Large watchtowers were built to overlook the fields or a city's borders. Men would stand watch, serving as guards to their assigned area. They were to be alert all night, until morning came, when they were relieved of their duties.

 

If you've ever had to stay up all night on a job, you know that the last hour can seem like the longest. It can make you antsy or agitated, waiting for morning to come and it is with this kind of passion that we are to hope in the Lord.

 

There have been times over the last few weeks when it has been harder to wait. Harder to hope. But God's love is steadfast. Unwavering. Unfaltering. The Lord is trustworthy and true. While we don't know when our waiting will be over, we do know that God's love is constant and we can lean into the Lord for comfort and strength.

 

God's blessings to you and yours!  +Pastor Heidi

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Thursday's Strategies for Being Church

Please pray. Our Prayer Circle continues to grow and is a good resource for sharing our concerns and our joys with one another.

Let's fill that truck!  Pennridge FISH, like all food pantries, is currently experiencing serious shortages due to increased need and fewer donations. On this Saturday, April 4th from 10:00am to 2:00pm you can bring donations to Trinity Lutheran Church and safely deposit your gifts in a truck yourself or have a volunteer unload the items from your trunk. You can keep up your social distancing while sharing what you can with others.

Make sure your neighbors are okay.  Some clever person designed a system for an elderly friend. Every morning they put a colored sheet of paper in the window. Green means all is well. Yellow means the person needs help with an errand and Red means they are suffering an emergency and need help. You might also schedule a daily check-in phone call.

Thursday and Saturday will be Bible Story Time at 1:00pm on Facebook Live.