Wednesday Update, April 8

Family,

It is Wednesday of Holy Week. Today’s online gathering is Wednesday Morning Prayer and Bible Study. Ally will be leading as I will be leading the graveside service for Doris Evans’ daughter, Charlotte. At 12:30 a few of us will gather in the Sanctuary to tape a short “Easter is Coming” worship service. It will be available on YouTube later in the week and we will post it on Facebook.

Our Maundy Thursday worship, led be Carolyn and Sandra, will be tomorrow evening at 6:00. There will be a time of Communion in the service so please, like this past Sunday, have some bread and juice with you.

The Password for all online gatherings is the same as it was on Sunday. If you need it please contact Ally, Carolyn or me.

Today I would like to share messages from Jeff Woods, the Acting General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches USA and Doug Avilesbernal, the Regional Minister of the Evergreen Baptist Assoiciation. Jeff’s word is to all, Doug’s is specifically to clergy but I thought you would benefit from seeing what he is saying to us.

Peace,

Jim H.

From Jeff – https://www.abc-usa.org/2020/04/a-video-message-from-acting-general-secretary-dr-c-jeff-woods/

From Doug – How could we possibly do Easter online? How can we celebrate resurrection when death hangs on everything? I suppose these questions might be mainly mine. I know most of you are well on your way with your plans for this coming Sunday.

So I write to you in thankful expectation of the wisdom, joy, celebration, and so much more each of you will bring to our world and churches this coming Sunday. I pray you take comfort in God’s presence, the guiding of the Spirit, wisdom of Scripture and the abundant gifts with which God has blessed you. You are each exactly what your churches and our world needs right now.

Your remarkable gifts will be the tools that will bring a profoundly meaningful Easter to a world that needs the promise of the Resurrection more than it has in decades. Your mistakes and imperfections will bring comfort and hope to the many who are feeling inadequate and not up to the demands of a world under siege from this Pandemic.

Now, more than ever, we need the fullness of who you are. Teach your people. Challenge their prejudices. Comfort them in pain and affliction. Cry with them. Bring hope and inspire them. Allow yourself to be supported by them. for that and more is your call to ministry.

Blessings to you this week. Never forget that God’s promise of presence and support is as real today as it has ever been. Thank you for your faithfulness during these dark times.
“I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:20

Shine the light!