Fellowship "Elbow Bump" for September 4
Our World Belongs to God 50
We continue on this week with the "Contemporary Testimony: Our World Belongs to God."
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)
Paragraphs 23-27: Jesus Christ (May 25-29)
Paragraphs 28-30: Holy Spirit (June 1-2, 5)
Paragraphs 31-33: Revelation (June 8-10)
Paragraphs 34-40: God's New People (June 11-19)
Paragraphs 41-54 The Mission of God's People (June 23-)
Paragraph 50 (Today)
Grateful for advances
in science and technology,
we participate in their development,
fostering care for creation
and respect for the gift of life.
We welcome discoveries that prevent or cure diseases
and that help support healthy lives.
We respect embryonic life,
approaching each new discovery,
whether of science or of medical technique,
with careful thought,
seeking the will of God.
[In Genesis 1:28-31 and 9:1-7, God gives to humanity the right and responsibility to develop and care for creation; for a reflection on the limitations of human technology and need for divine wisdom, see Job 28; for the continuing goodness of creation and the need for a prayerful approach to what we use of it, see 1 Timothy 4:4-5.]
This paragraph 50, written with no thought of pandemics, is particularly poignant today as we await a vaxxine for COVID-19. We are reminded of our dependence on technology--it often feels like we are living through a very long power outage.
ReFrame Media's thinkChristian wrote these words about the anti-vax movement 6 years ago, worth reading again now because the movement has gone from the fringes to the front page:
Worry is choosing to stay in a place of fear - even when overwhelming evidence tells you the threat has passed, that you can make a better choice or you can’t obtain the kind of control you’re trying to establish. ... Christians are called to live differently - with wisdom, sobriety, care for the common good and trust in a God who is completely capable and has this world well in hand.
Let's not give into fear, whether that fear is of the virus or the vaxxine. Schools open next week, and the vast majority of kids will be back in school. We are entering our new normal. Let's support healthy lives now, not giving in to fear, even while we wait for that discovery that will prevent or cure this disease. And most of all, let's keep our trust and dependence on God.
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Please continue to pray for our students, their parents, their teachers, and school administrators as they restart this most unusual and stressful school year.
Today's song is also our prayer, suggested by Judi: The Lord's Prayer as performed by Andrea Bocelli.
Go with this blessing:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.