November 2, 2020

​Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

Joshua 4:1-24
I read today that the Kent District Library next to Wesley Park will be closed until November 9.  An employee working at the Wyoming and Kelloggsville KDL's has been diagnosed with Covid-19.  It takes time to clean and disinfect to make the library space safe from this contagious virus.  The prayers are accelerating for people who have been infected or in contact and are now in quarantine.  Nancy Spalenka asks for prayers today for her daughter Joy.  A few people at her work have the coronavirus and they are praying it doesn't pass to more people, and to their homes and families and into the community.  I ask your prayers for my friends Rebecca and Jeff.  When we decided to postpone in-person worship last month, the positivity rate was 5.5%.  As of Saturday, that had increased to 9.4%.  We will see when the Kent County Health Department posts their data for the weekend after 3:30 today what the numbers are now.

All this to say that we are not through this pandemic yet.  And the experts say the worst of it ahead of us.

So, we will continue to wander this wilderness because it is not yet safe to enter the promised land.  God knows our cries and our complaints and will supply our needs.  We will reach out and connect with one another with calls and cards and prayers.  I just had the overwhelming feeling of opening up an avalanche of cards for my 50th birthday.  I miss you all so much.  But as I read each card I felt a love and connection that increased my joy in this faith in Christ that we share.  Thank you for being so kind, thoughtful, funny, and faithful!  I will never forget it.  

In this time ahead, how can kids and grandkids, neighbors and friends, help us worship together?  How can those who do not have computers be adopted by a family that does and spend an hour in worship together?  How can we pray, study, and even grieve together in this wandering time?  Advent is coming soon.  What can we do in the season of Advent that will honor this season of waiting and preparing?

I know it is difficult, but some day when it is safe God will part the waters and we will cross over to the place we have been yearning to be.  Can you imagine the joy of finding ourselves safe and together again?  I can understand why God told Joshua to send 12 people to the center of the river and take from there 12 stones.  The river stones would be placed on dry land and act as a reminder to all who will follow what God's people endured, and how God saved them once again.  

What are the stories you will tell to the generations that follow us of the ways that God was with us in this wilderness?  

Peace,
Dean