Let This Be Our Finest Hour

Margaret Mead wrote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

In the wake of so much fear, confusion, disquiet, and sickness, as members of a network of thriving and dynamic, spirit-filled churches up and down New England, we have in the power of God, a great opportunity to transform our culture. As Jesus’ agents of His peace, hope, love, and healing we have the gift to re-shape troubled and harried hearts. In the outbreak of sickness, we can be the carriers of the greater outbreak of Jesus’ love. Please, let’s not look back at this time and lament that we missed such an opportunity. Indeed, let us take such action, that we might recall with godly pride (where we celebrate the glory of God in each other’s lives) that, by His grace, this was our finest hour!

Andy Crouch (executive editor of Christianity Today) gives this helpful direction, “This crisis presents an extraordinary opportunity to fortify small communities of love and care for our neighbors. That will only happen if we lead in a way that reduces fear, increases faith, and reorients all of us from self-protection to serving others.” I am receiving the most remarkable calls from our ordained and lay leaders whose testimony is that this is indeed happening.

Father Len Cowan and his wife Hallie are leading the way to be salt and light in their neighborhood. The Abbey of the Way hosted the community in a Q&A session with local doctors and medical experts who were able to provide a balanced and reasonable account of the health crisis. “Like the Celtic houses of prayer and hospitality, The Abbey of the Way is a refuge.” commented Father Len, “It was a good opportunity to serve the neighborhood with reliable medical testimony and for us to assure residents that, as followers of Jesus, we are praying for them. We intend to open our home in this way on a weekly basis and if people are troubled by coming inside – we shall meet on the lawn!”

Reverend Craig Vickerman in Attleboro is working with his church on plans to provide daycare for local children whose schools have been temporarily closed but whose parents still have jobs they need to attend to. They are also considering ways to bring food and provisions to older members of the local community. These innovative and spirit-led projects are typical of the servant heart that is pervading the Diocese.

Andy Crouch continues, “We have become accustomed to culture being shaped “somewhere else” — by elected officials, especially national ones; by celebrities; by media. But we are dealing with a virus that is transmitted person to person, in small and large groups of actual people. This is not a virtual crisis — it is a local, embodied one.” What we need, therefore, are local, embodied responses to the wider community. I am so encouraged by what I see across New England through the agency of our Diocese.

This week I wrote to the Diocese about the implications of the virus, our responsibility to conform to recommended hygiene practices, our call to serve in love and the reality, that on a community by community basis, we may find ourselves having to close our church doors for Sunday worship and larger gatherings. I will not repeat that letter but suffice to say, if we have no choice but to suspend Sunday worship let us not imagine that we are suspending the ongoing life and ministry of the church.  “Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:24–25). Crouch comments. “The author of these words, who lived in a world that knew the danger of plagues very well (though not the exact mechanism), who urged his congregation to meet even when they expected an imminent Day of Judgment, would hardly have said that we ought to stop meeting for worship under the conditions of an infectious disease.”

So, if we must suspend our larger gatherings, let us be intentional and creative about how we might continue to worship and pray together. Let us re-imagine small groups, the family unit and let’s not forget the plethora of social media that makes worship and virtual prayer meetings not only possible but free of any risk of infection. Reverend Michael Kafeero of St. Paul’s Waltham has, for a very long time, led his congregation in conference call prayer meetings, twice a day, Monday to Friday. These are well attended, lively worship and prayer events that provide real sustenance to his church family members through the week.

Let us not forget that worship is an integral and vital piece of our human flourishing. We were made for His presence. We cannot take the difficult decision to close our doors on Sundays and then imagine that, as followers of Jesus, we are on some kind of extended “Snow-day.” In these circumstances, we must be ready to ask God how He might have us use our resources and time to demonstrate His presence in service and to draw us into His presence in worship. Have no doubt, He has great plans for us, and they will be life to us. [LINK TO LETTER – WITH LIST OF WAYS TO SERVE]

COVID-19 is the cause of much pain and suffering but it is not the end of the world. It is, however, exactly the kind of event that Jesus prepared us for in these end times. (Matthew 24:6). So, by His grace and in the power of His Spirit, let us be the non-anxious presence in the community distinguished by His presence in our worship and in service to others. When we allow Jesus to lead us in the reality that He will never leave us nor forsake us, we can rise above anxiety and we can stretch out our hand draw others into His embrace. It is never helpful to say, “You are overreacting.” Jesus would say and does say, “…fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10).

We have every reason to trust that this epidemic will pass. By God’s grace, the human immune system has a remarkable capacity to adapt and resist viral threat. Furthermore, the grace of modern medicine is not a second-class miracle. Pray for all those globally in the medical field including those in research programs. This is indeed good news, but it is not the focus of the hope we have in Jesus. The Apostle Paul reassures us, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)