“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God”
Corrie Ten Boom
If we had to be confined to “shelter-in-place”, Thursday was the day to enjoy it. I hope you took advantage of the spring like weather and enjoyed the outdoors (Maintaining “social distance” of course). Perhaps Mother Nature is trying to trick us into putting away the heavy winter coats, boots, scarfs and gloves. I suspect we are not finished with the cold. For sure COVID-19 is no trick. It is for real! We are experiencing unprecedented drastic measures. As we look at the closings of schools, cancellations of sporting events, celebrations being rescheduled and even churches closing, we perhaps begin to grasp the wide spread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are many fearful aspects to this phenomenon but perhaps one of the most disturbing is the fact that we have no control over what is happening to us. Our vacation plans to Florida, other exotic destinations, and the theaters have all changed with no input from us. As spectators were turned away from the Big Ten Tournament, a local news reporter interviewed a couple who were incensed that they were denied entrance to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis responding, “I think we should have the choice to attend if we want.” But they were not in control. I suspect that beyond not being able to go to the game was the gnawing realization that they were being denied the right to choose: to be in control of what they wanted to do or not to do. For all the boasting of what we were going to do and how we were going to do it, has now been changed. James 4:13-15 reminds us that we should be humble. 13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." I’m not sure that world leaders are humbled by the reality of the current medical crisis, but I am confident that even now God is in control. Until we can meet again in the security of our beloved CUMC, I will serve as your “on-line” pastor. To that end there are some things I would like to do so that we can remain in community, not only with me but with each other:
- Let’s have an online Bible Study. (YEAH!!)
• For the immediate future I will post thoughts on the 23rd Psalm. I’ve chosen this Psalm because it really speaks to us in times of uncertainty.
• I will post early each week so that you all have time to read, reflect, and respond.
• Because we are all connected via the same email group, we will be able to communicate with each other. (This sounds like FUN!!) - As your pastor I will be available to talk to you by phone or email about any questions or concerns.
- Finally, until we can be face-to-face in worship, please consider on-line worship with one of the
following United Methodist Churches.
Blessings in the name of the one who first loved us,
Pastor B.J.
• St. Luke’s UMC https://www.stlukesumc.com/worship/watch-live
• Zionsville UMC https://www.zumc.org/livestream
• Blue Grass UMC http://www.bluegrassumc.org/video-archives/
• Tell City First UMC (Facebook Live) https://www.facebook.com/TellCityUMC/
• Newburgh UMC https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRfCMBbZbCiIkjO84lKDnvA
• Evansville Trinity https://www.evvtrinityumc.org/watch-live.html
• Boonville Main Street https://www.facebook.com/MainStreetUMCBoonville/
• Evansville Aldersgate https://aldersgateum.org/story.aspx?storyid=50
• Mackey Salem (Facebook Live) https://www.facebook.com/Mackey-Salem-United-Methodist-Church-127709463934454/
• Evangelical Hunting UMC (Facebook Live) https://www.facebook.com/evangelicalumc/videos/?ref=page_internal
• Plainfield UMC https://pumc.org/live
• St. Andrew UMC, LaFayette https://livestream.com/saumc
• Monticello UMC (Facebook Live) https://www.facebook.com/groups/237998406251361/