Fellowship "Elbow Bump" for March 17
Dear Fellowship:
Thank you for your many wonderful responses from yesterday’s post. It is clear this “new normal” of living apart from society is already beginning to settle in. Even so, we continue to receive new directives from our government and health leaders which change how we go about our daily lives. To think, only a week ago “social distancing” was not a part of our vocabulary, and now we are living it.
It is important that we help one another to remember that, even though we are separated physically from one another, we don’t have to be separated from one another’s love. We just have to find more creative ways to show our love to one another! And most importantly, we are reminded that we are never separated from God’s love for us in Jesus. Paul has given us these amazing words of confidence in Romans 8:
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This time of physical separation gives us more time to spend with God. Maybe this will mean breaking some old habits and developing some new ones. Take some time today to marvel at this fact that nothing, not even this nasty virus, can separate you from God’s love in Jesus. Find this with Scripture in prayer. A good place to start would be to pray this passage.
This Scripture from Romans 8 was very much on Bill’s mind as he wrote out the prayer which was to be delivered this past Sunday at Fellowship. You will find it as an attachment on this page. Please open it and pray it with us.
Our song for today is “Jesus, Strong and Kind” and it comes from Johanna, accompanied by her mother Susanne, the grand-daughter and daughter of two of our members: https://tinyurl.com/vtoh5h3 (I found the original on Youtube, but I have not checked copyrights so I am not linking it. Besides, it’s not nearly as cute!) Remember, Jesus wants us to come to him! What song has been our your lips this week?
Pease pray:
· Please pray for front-line health care workers who are bearing an ever-increasing load.
· We are so thankful to have Judy’s experience and wisdom on Council at this time; pray for strength and courage for her as she leads the community health response.
· Please pray for wisdom and unity for your church Council as we meet this evening (Tuesday). Yes, we are meeting online instead of face-to-face!
NEEDS: A person on this distribution list has surgery coming soon and so is in urgent need of an electric can opener; if you have one to give, please let me know.
In closing, let’s pray together as our Lord taught us to pray,
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
May God keep you safe and well, Fellowship!
Pastor Mark