SERMON SNAPSHOT: Sunday, May 10, 2020

Dear Friends in Christ –

In past years we would be looking forward to Seersucker Suit and Fancy Hat Sunday. Men, women and children would don their seersucker. We would savor Sunday Dinner in the park. Dozens of children cavorting, and familiar stories of this grand old church re-told for so many new ears that are here to be bent!

But here in The Spring of the Pandemic, we remain apart.

As we face these moments with no clear way forward, I believe scripture speaks.

The first line in the text of our Gospel this Sunday reveals Jesus seeking to comfort his friends even as in the next breath he reminds them he is leaving. What follows is a few men asking hard questions. Not mean, nor accusatory, but sincere and heartfelt.

We get to see Jesus, the rabbi, lover of their souls pass the baton. Really? Who else to continue the reclamation of the cosmos? Who else has seen up close the day to day, sunshine and the rain.

We are not the disciples of that day. We’ve read the book. It’s up to us to lean into God’s word.

An exasperated Jesus tells Philip, who has just asked Jesus to show him the Father, “If you can’t believe that I am in my Father and my Father is in me, then believe what you see – these works!”

Men and women, we have read of the works. We have seen modern miracles. We watch now as Christ’s love and Godly truth are the only agents that can penetrate these clouds. Do we have questions? Sure, and all are welcome.

The session and other leaders will meet this coming week. We have been speaking with colleagues and friends, gathering recommendation from agencies and our insurers, and we will prayerfully make plans that will be tempered as we go forward towards gathering and maybe someday sharing a hug?

Let’s continue to care for each other and God’s people (everyone) as we navigate these waters together!