The news articles are sprinkled here and there, amid all the other news about the pandemic. Just below the coverage that counts the number of new cases, the number of deaths, and job losses. Stories about the more vulnerable among us. A writer takes notice of how a...
Some people, organizations, and companies are accumulating a lot more debt as part of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trying to keep the doors open, to keep people employed, and to keep on doing things we do, costs money. And most money comes with strings...
There is a lot of togetherness going on as we all try our best to stay home and stay with whoever is under the same roof. Each day we gain a little more experience with the limitations of FaceTime and online meeting technology. Meanwhile, political posturing and...
Easter is over. I can usually tell by the clearance sales on Easter candy the Monday after. Was there Easter candy on the shelves this year? My avoidance of shopping during the pandemic kept me from impulse buying Easter candy. A small blessing in the midst of so much...
Planning for Easter Sunday this year is a lot different. Like plans for celebrating birthdays and other milestone events, in-person gatherings are a terrible idea. I suspect a lot of pastors worry that Easter may come and go unnoticed. I struggled in my articulation...
What makes water holy? Some believe that words from an ancient ritual in preparation for baptism said by clergy cause water to be holy. Some say that water is holy when it is infused with God’s Spirit. When I wash my hands several times each day to avoid spreading or...
All norms are now abnormal when it comes to worship. No greeters standing at the door. At least not physically. Hmmm? Should we have greeters for a webinar? Greeters for the Facebook live portion? Someone to say, “Hi. Welcome. My name is …” when folks join the...
I am sure that I am not the only one that is turning to scripture for comfort during this time of pandemic responses. This morning, my search took me immediately to Psalm 77, which begins with, “My voice goes up to God, and I will cry out.” This is our “go-to” for...
I read an article this morning in the New York Times with the headline, A Sunday without Church: In Crisis, a Nations Asks, ‘What is Community?’ Great question. Is it possible to be in community and still adhere to social distancing? At Asbury, we have been talking...
It was a summer day in Sychar. The women in the village made their daily trips to the public well early when the temperatures are cooler. Mornings around the well were as much a social club as a place to fill water jugs. The well was dug by ancestors of some of the...