Fellowship "Elbow Bump" for May 18

Last week a single volunteer daffodil brightened to walkway to the office doors of our church building. Beautiful!

"Our World Belongs to God" 18

This week "Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimony”  turns from sin and the Fall, to God's loving plan to deal with it: Jesus.

Paragraphs 1-6: Preamble (April 11-29)
Paragraphs 7-12: Creation (April 30-May 8)
Paragraphs 13-17: Fall (May 11-15)
Paragraphs 18-22: Redemption (May 18-22)

Paragraph 18 (Today)
While justly angry,
God did not turn away
from a world bent on destruction
but turned to face it in love.
With patience and tender care
the Lord set out
on the long road of redemption
to reclaim the lost as his people
and the world as his kingdom.

[For God’s response to sin, see Genesis 3:9-15, John 3:16, and Luke 1:68-75; for the aim to restore the kingdom, see Revelation 11:15.]

It's a holiday so I will not write much of my own thoughts today. Instead, please have a look at this David Brooks article, "The Moral Meaning of the Plague," which Bill vG shared.  In the article, Brooks says that this time we are in with COVID-19 can be redemptive.  He goes further, in fact, and says it can be a source of the very meaning of life: " It’s the way we tie our moment of suffering to a larger narrative of redemption." 

What do you think? Does Brooks overstate things, or are you seeing signs of redemption during this pandemic? If so, where? Share your thoughts below, or send me an email at mark_broadus@fellowshipchurchto.org.

Let's pray: "Dear Lord, thank you for setting out on that long road of redemption, and doing so in love. Thank you for your restoring, reclaiming, redemptive plan. Thank you for Jesus."

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.
Forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen.

Our song and blessing for today come from Pearl - a Canadian, quarantine recording of "The Blessing." Do you know any people or churches who contributed to this beautiful version?

Pastor Mark

PS – My online office hours tomorrow are 11-noon and 1-2pm.  Drop in if you'd like to chat, or just say hi! 

PSS - I'm repeating a great reminder from Nellie- "I really strongly encourage people to  sing out loud (with the links or other songs they know and love) ) even if they feel  they can't sing, or feel weird when alone-  singing aloud can help to elevate the positive effects of music  and sense of worship."