“Gathering Around the Word”
Sharing thoughts through a weekly devotional article can be an opportunity for growth and learning for the writer. It’s also a humbling activity, as it often becomes obvious that I’m quite limited in knowledge and insight. Fortunately, a variety of sources for a meditation seem to turn up to provide a theme, and it happened again this week.
Stephen Nilsen, son of St. Andrew and second-year student at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque recently shared an article written by the Rev. Dr. Sam Giere, professor of preaching. Addressing the new way of “gathering” around our screens in order to gather around the proclamation of God’s Word, he described how a senior student preached to a camera. As a Distance Learning student, she has done her required preaching online, so she is already experienced in communicating in what is becoming a “new normal.” She chose Romans 5:1-11 as her text, and with that focus, proclaimed the promise of God’s grace and peace through Jesus Christ.
“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” (1-6)
There’s nothing easy about coping with the fears and anxieties we experience during a crisis of this magnitude, and it would be inappropriate to treat them with superficial answers. As we experience various degrees of isolation and distancing, it’s understandable that we feel deprived and as if we are being punished even though we did nothing wrong. It’s frustrating to be prevented from going about our usual activities, but we can express thoughtfulness and concern for one another, and by so doing, we demonstrate God’s love for all.
Whether we are gathered in a sanctuary, watching an online service of worship, or reading and listening to other forms of worship, we are still part of a community of faith. Let’s reach out to one another, communicate in the ways that work best for us, and remember that the Holy Spirit continues to be at work in both our faith community and the wider community as well. We are stronger and more able than we might realize, because we aren’t doing anything alone.
Our weekly devotions are available via e mail and Facebook, as well as printed copies, so the effort is being made to be as accessible as possible. During these unusual and trying times, let’s make the most of the resources we have available, finding ways to feel “gathered together” as God’s people. Please feel welcome to comment or start a discussion about any devotions, and always remember that however we are “together” we have our Lord’s assurance: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers