And now, Lord, what is my hope?
Truly my hope is even in You.
In You, O Lord, have I trusted;
let me never be confounded. Amen
Lancelot Andrewses (1555-1626)
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Him, so that, with the eyes of our heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which He has called, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance among the saints…. Ephesians 1:17-18 (NRSV)
Here we are almost a month into the stay-at-home routine in our effort to fight COVID-19. How are you doing? Have you gotten into a daily rhythm? Some of my days flow smoothly and I feel like I accomplished something. Other days, like today, I just want to curl up next to the fireplace and watch the fire (probably has something to do with the drop in temperatures and the wind)! I had gotten use to the warmer spring like temps and forgot THIS IS INDIANA! Where the weather can change in an instant. I know spring is coming as I see the evidence in the blooming flowers my mother planted in the flower beds years ago!
As we continue to live into a new normal, remember we are bound together in a community of faith even without our weekly gatherings together. Let us continue to pray for each other and our neighbors, far and near.
A prayer to combat the Coronavirus pandemic:
Most Merciful and Triune God,
We come to You in our weakness.
We come to You in our fear.
We come to You with trust.
For You alone are our hope.
We place before You the disease present in our world.
We turn to You in our time of need.
Bring wisdom to doctors.
Give understanding to scientists.
Endow caregivers with compassion and generosity.
Bring healing to those who are ill.
Protect those who are most at risk.
Give comfort to those who have lost a loved one.
Welcome those who have died into Your Eternal Home.
Stabilize our communities.
Unite us in our compassion.
Remove all fear from our hearts.
Fill us with confidence in Your care. Amen
