LEADER: O God, my heart is not lifted, my eyes are not raised too high;
PEOPLE: I do not occupy myself with things too great and marvelous for me.
LEADER: But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; My soul within me is like a weaned child.
ALL: O Israel, hope in God from this time on and forevermore.
The virus continues to dominate world news and I regret subjecting you to more of it with the above graphic but, as stated, it is the lead story. I am still hoping we may be together for Palm Sunday or at least Easter but I am not counting on it.
So, let’s do what we can to stay in touch! I’ve heard from several of you with prayer requests, joys, and just daily news of your families. These communications bring me great joy! And three members have asked for my assistance in organizing them to make phone calls to other members to make sure everyone is doing OK. Don’t feel like you have to get my permission or a list, though — go ahead and call your friends from GSBC! I suspect that you and they will feel much better for it.
We will be again, posting videos of the Lenten Candle Litany, my sermon, and links to appropriate hymns, as we did last week. Look for all these on www.gsbchurch.com. Connie and I are working on “live streaming” future services.
Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy the nuggets of news below. I’m missing all of you and look forward to hearing from you by e-mail, phone, or Facebook.
Peace,
Pastor Chris
LEADER: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
PEOPLE: According to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
LEADER: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
PEOPLE: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is very ever before me.
LEADER: Create in me a clean heart, O God
PEOPLE: And put a new and right spirit within me.
LEADER: Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
PEOPLE: Restore me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me a willing spirit.
LEADER: Then I will teach transgression your ways, and sinners will return to you.
ALL: O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.
A Special Message from Pastor Chris
Well, friends, I am missing you all and grieving that we will not be able to be together again this Sunday. But I would grieve even more if we came together as usual and ended up spreading the virus. For our younger members, COVID-19 would likely be no worse than a bad case of the flu. But for any over 60 or with a compromised immune system, COVID-19 could be deadly. I’ll forego the pleasure of your company for a few weeks in the cause of keeping us all healthy.
I wanted you to know that we’re making plans to keep everyone spiritually healthy, as well. Pastor Stephen will be delivering his sermon on Numbers 27 to a camera one day this week and we will post that on our website along with a recording of our Lenten candle litany for the week and links to YouTube videos of the hymns we would have sung together. I plan to do the same for this coming Sunday’s sermon, litany, and hymns.
I’m also researching websites offering daily devotionals with readings and prayer suggestions. I’ll be sending you all links of the good ones I find.
Meanwhile, please send me any prayer requests, especially joys, by e-mail, so we can all stay current with each other.
It’s mighty quiet at GSBC with no preschoolers at the building during the week. They, too, are being kept safe by staying home. Our recovery groups are proceeding cautiously with their meetings. I’ve asked them to pay particular attention to cleaning the building after they meet.
I continue to monitor the news of the spread of the virus and recommendations of how to help limit it. I’m not yet ready to cancel more Sundays but please keep in mind that this is a very real possibility.
Let’s all stay safe and well and we’ll get back to our normal way of doing things soon!
Pastor Chris