Reformer Martin Luther challenged us to be “little Christs” to each other centuries ago. Now is an unprecedented time to imagine how to meet that challenge.
Our world has been turned upside down. We can’t go through our church doors for worship and meetings as usual. Many of us may have lost employment or much of our invested savings, or we know of neighbors out of work temporarily or perhaps permanently. Some of us have medical conditions that cause them to feel at risk because of Covid 19. College students are being displaced from campuses. A press report today described the plight of a Tanzanian student at Penn who has been told to leave the campus but has no way to get home. Gun and ammunition sales are setting records. We can’t comprehend the totality of the virus’s impact and the forecasts are for matters to get worse. Some of us believe the whole situation is overblown. In such a time it is easy to focus on what we no longer have.
But it is also a time to recall that our God is an abundant, enduring and fiercely caring God who responds to our prayers by reminding us we are all ministers capable of serving our neighbors and the common good at ANY time.
Where we live in Valley Forge, we learned a couple of days ago that the Upper Merion Food Pantry is desperate for children’s snacks because students are out of school and not receiving their subsidized school breakfasts and lunches. We organized a campaign and received gifts of snacks and money from our apartment neighbors here in what has become a meaningful interfaith initiative. The response to this effort has reminded me that opportunity presents itself in the darkest of times.
So, what ideas do you have for new ways to be the church at a time like this? Here are some thoughts that may trigger some ideas for you.
- Take care of yourself. Read. Try to relax. I’ve rekindled a new music listening habit that had gone away because of a busy life. Restoring the practice has been such a gift. Exercise 30 minutes a day if you can. Taking a walk works.
- Reach out to others in new ways. Social distancing does not have to mean social absence. Yesterday we conducted our Lenten small group book study the best we could online. At the end of a surprisingly engaging discussion about the book, we carried on for another 20 minutes talking about how we were doing and agreed as a group to be in touch again before the end of the week to check up on each other. Stay in touch with Trinity friends by cell phone, email or by writing a compassionate note.
- Renew or energize family relationships and relationships with other friends with whom you’ve lost touch. You may have “forced” free time now to build on relationships that have lagged.
- Check on your neighbors. You can still knock on a door and give the gift of a smile, showing that you care. (That would be a group of less than 10, right?)
- Have a grudge against someone? No time like the present to mend fences.
- Say thanks to a doctor or nurse or EMT volunteer you know who may be having a tough time right now. A dear family friend who works at Harlem Hospital told me the hospital had run out of masks for health care workers to wear.
- Keep your offerings to the church going. Thanks to you, the ministry of Trinity continues in the hardest of times. Remember Trinity, its pastors and faithful staff and leaders in your prayers.
Stay safe!