by Karen Boyd
Lately there has been a song running through my mind. Remember the old Bob Dylan song, The Times They Are A Changin’? Granted, I don’t remember many of the lyrics, but I sure remember that line and it feels very much like it might be a tagline for today. Who would have guessed, just three months ago that we might go to the grocery store and be unable to buy basic items? Who would have ever expected that sports events would be canceled, that houses of worship would be shuttered, that we would be unable to get a hair cut? Our world has turned upside down. I feel like it is a common impulse for all of us that when a terrible thing happens, we want to do something, anything, but in this crisis we are told to stay home and stay away from each other. We are told to do nothing. But people still need us and each other, probably much more now than in any of our memories. And yet, through all of this, God is still in Heaven and Jesus has been resurrected and we are still God’s people who are called to care for each other. We are still the church, the repository of grace and hope and love in our world.
As essential employees in all walks of life continue to get up and go to work each day to keep the engine of our common life from stalling, there has been a cry for homemade masks. Many of us are answering that call, churning out cloth masks that are donated to many places in our community such as hospitals, the Fire Department, care facilities and helping out members of our parish. We have followed the example of Jesus to care for each other in new ways.
Hands on Outreach continues to feed the hungry but in addition has opened ‘virtual doors’ where those in need can email in a bill and get the help that they need.
As this world changes, we must find new ways to change with it and continue to reach out in new ways and maintain our necessary physical distancing so that all might be safe. The times they are a changin’ and with God’s help we can continue the mission of our church as we seek to know the reconciling love of God and to share that love with others.
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