~in a world right now that is hurting~
~Saturday morning in Kay County, Oklahoma~
It was cold yesterday morning and the porch had a glaze of ice upon it as Mike and I ventured down to the church and picked up some things for delivery to our St. John Lutheran church members. Holy Week is about to start and our pastor asked if we would mind helping to deliver some hymnals, weekly bulletins, daily devotional booklets, and the sermon notes to our fellow parishioners. Three other members took care of folks who live outside of Newkirk as well as those who reside in the Blackwell, Oklahoma area. A text went out to all who would find them placed upon their porches so they would know to look for them sometime Friday morning. It didn't take us long to do our part here in Newkirk and gave us the blessing of being able to do something for another person in these times when there is little to do but wait, be patient, and stay at least 6 feet away from one another.
I wish I could do more to help but now at least those who "virtually" attend church have a hymnal to follow along with and for those who do not have internet access, the sermon notes of what is being preached are there to read. On a cold and kind of icy April morning, I know one thing.
Although Mike and I couldn't do much, we did what we could.
When we got back home, I started to put away the names and addresses of our Newkirk and Blackwell members. As I read down the list, I thought how wonderful it would have been to see all of those people sitting in the pews on Palm Sunday, Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, Easter morning, and beyond to every single Sunday. I thought about how it must feel to be a pastor of any congregation and look out into the sanctuary to see no one, realizing that the word of God is being preached to a virtual audience instead. In its own way, that seemed kind of lonely.
It tugged at my heart and so I did something about it.
I sat at the computer and used the list of names to type in each and every member who belongs to our church. Mike helped me to take them over to the sanctuary and we quietly slipped in to start putting those "names" in the pews. With smiles on our faces, we were sure to place them with their own families, keeping in mind not to crowd too many into one pew. It didn't take us long to get them all arranged, providing a visual for our dear pastor, a reminder that he is the earthly shepherd of a whole lot of folks who love him.
In the nearly 7 years that we have been married, St. John Lutheran is the first real church home we have ever found. Mike and I were so thankful to have joined the members there. Last fall, Mike went through the adult confirmation class and received his first communion on Reformation Sunday. The congregation is a small one but that's actually a plus in my way of looking at things. The people stick together, work as a strong body of believers, and know each other by name. Hopefully soon the virus will subside and go away, once again allowing groups to join together for worship each Sunday.
And in the meantime, as we continue to wait, may all of us out there find some good to do for others each day. Many small acts of kindness when combined together, can make the difference in a world that right now is hurting beyond measure.
Be safe and well everyone!
The virus cannot last forever.
It only seems like it will.
It was cold yesterday morning and the porch had a glaze of ice upon it as Mike and I ventured down to the church and picked up some things for delivery to our St. John Lutheran church members. Holy Week is about to start and our pastor asked if we would mind helping to deliver some hymnals, weekly bulletins, daily devotional booklets, and the sermon notes to our fellow parishioners. Three other members took care of folks who live outside of Newkirk as well as those who reside in the Blackwell, Oklahoma area. A text went out to all who would find them placed upon their porches so they would know to look for them sometime Friday morning. It didn't take us long to do our part here in Newkirk and gave us the blessing of being able to do something for another person in these times when there is little to do but wait, be patient, and stay at least 6 feet away from one another.
I wish I could do more to help but now at least those who "virtually" attend church have a hymnal to follow along with and for those who do not have internet access, the sermon notes of what is being preached are there to read. On a cold and kind of icy April morning, I know one thing.
Although Mike and I couldn't do much, we did what we could.
When we got back home, I started to put away the names and addresses of our Newkirk and Blackwell members. As I read down the list, I thought how wonderful it would have been to see all of those people sitting in the pews on Palm Sunday, Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, Easter morning, and beyond to every single Sunday. I thought about how it must feel to be a pastor of any congregation and look out into the sanctuary to see no one, realizing that the word of God is being preached to a virtual audience instead. In its own way, that seemed kind of lonely.
It tugged at my heart and so I did something about it.
I sat at the computer and used the list of names to type in each and every member who belongs to our church. Mike helped me to take them over to the sanctuary and we quietly slipped in to start putting those "names" in the pews. With smiles on our faces, we were sure to place them with their own families, keeping in mind not to crowd too many into one pew. It didn't take us long to get them all arranged, providing a visual for our dear pastor, a reminder that he is the earthly shepherd of a whole lot of folks who love him.
In the nearly 7 years that we have been married, St. John Lutheran is the first real church home we have ever found. Mike and I were so thankful to have joined the members there. Last fall, Mike went through the adult confirmation class and received his first communion on Reformation Sunday. The congregation is a small one but that's actually a plus in my way of looking at things. The people stick together, work as a strong body of believers, and know each other by name. Hopefully soon the virus will subside and go away, once again allowing groups to join together for worship each Sunday.
And in the meantime, as we continue to wait, may all of us out there find some good to do for others each day. Many small acts of kindness when combined together, can make the difference in a world that right now is hurting beyond measure.
Be safe and well everyone!
The virus cannot last forever.
It only seems like it will.
I've been a Lutheran since I was 16 years old.
I love St. John Lutheran of Newkirk, Oklahoma!
Reformation Sunday~2019
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