Today’s Word from Pastor Jim…
“My grace is sufficient for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
It has been eight weeks now since I asked you to circle a date on your calendar. At that time, May 17th seemed like a long way off. The Center for Disease Control had just announced that gatherings of more than 50 people would be forbidden until the second week of May. The news that we would not be gathering for worship and fellowship was distressing. We needed to do something to lift our spirits. Circling that date on the calendar seemed to be a hopeful reminder that this season of disruption would not last forever.
The disruption and isolation will not last forever. The history of Covid-19 will soon be written. The successes and failures of politicians will be chronicled, the bravery and foolishness of our citizens will be remembered, and science will triumph. I can guarantee you that this virus will not stop human achievement. The defeat of this virus is the only possible outcome.
Having said that, the circled date of May 17th joins dozens of other circled dates that grace our pre-pandemic calendars. Weddings, graduations, and retirement parties have been postponed or erased. Dates that marked arrivals or departures are mostly forgotten now. It is clear that we will not be worshiping together in our sanctuary for an extended period of time. Will we gather in June? Probably not. July? Who knows?
Let me tell you what I do know. We have continued to be people of hope. We are the church together, though we are apart. Thanks to our online presence, we are reaching more people than ever before. This virus cannot crush our spirit or break our will. We are, and will continue to be, the church together; caring for friends, neighbors, and strangers. We are the church together, collecting food for local food banks, and providing more than $30,000 for Covid-19 disaster relief locally and nationally. We are people of hope.
It may be premature to circle another date on the calendar, but this I can tell you for sure: we are one day closer to the end of this crisis. We will be together again. The world, and our community, will undoubtedly change, but God’s love will not change. Grace will see us through this season of disruption.
Be safe, keep smiling, wear your mask, and know that you are loved.
Pastor Jim
To make a donation to Trinity, follow this link: https://
