A Word from the Pastors
A Word from the Pastors
We are awake.
Sleep is still in our eyes.
but at once on our lips
shall be your praise.
We glorify, praise, and adore you.
We – that is, the earth,
the water, and the sky;
that is, the grasses and bushes and trees;
that is, the birds and all the other animals;
that is, the people here on earth.
Everything that you have created
enjoys the sun
and your grace
and becomes warm in it.
Dawn glistens on the grasses.
Mist is still hanging from the trees,
and a soft wind
promises a fine day.
Should we not enjoy everything
that you have created?
We are meant to.
That is why we are so joyful
this dawn,
O Lord.
Grant that the hours and minutes
do not slip away in our hands,
but that we may live in your time.
Amen.
Greetings, sisters and brothers who bear the name, spirit, and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ! On one of our bookshelves at home, Pastor Neil was looking for a particular book, which, of course, he could not find in any of the cluttered bookshelves he explored. But he found another book that had been missing, and was dearly missed, for probably years. It is a small book of poems written by Ghana’s young Christians and published in 1964. They are very simple prayers, prayed from full hearts, and offered by these young Christians to their pale and their darker Christian brothers (and sisters) in America. The poem above is titled “Dawn Glistens on the Grasses”. Pastor Gwen and I are praying that, in the midst of much misery and discord all over the face of the earth… in the times of whatever personal aches and anxieties you are facing… you might have the blessing of a sanctified moment to experience joy and meaning and renewed strength in your life’s walk. Let us remember each other in our hearts and in our prayers. Let us pray for those in our world who are also suffering, searching, and perhaps at the edge of despair. The Lord is our strength, our redeemer, our friend!
The St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Council gathered together for another Zoom meeting on September 14 (previous Zoom meetings were May 26, June 15, August 10). Once again we discussed the possibility of a “restart” for physical worship in our sanctuary and the renewal of other activities in our buildings. Unless there is some dramatic change in the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic all around and even among us, or in medical prevention or treatment, we now do not envision attempting “restart” for the balance of 2020. It still seems too risky. Perhaps, for example, you heard about the wedding held at a church up in Maine followed by a reception at “Big Moose Inn”, a nearby campground. About 65 people attended the wedding and the reception on August 7. Now, about a month later, there are 7 deaths and at least 175 coronavirus cases that have been traced back to those two events. None of those who died and not many of tho0se who “caught” it actually attended either event. And the latest report said that there was ongoing investigation of about 10 additional COVID-19 cases in the congregation of persons who had not attended the wedding or reception. We must continue to be as careful as we can! Don’t let anyone, no matter how high they sit or how boldly they speak, “play down” the severity of this coronavirus pandemic.
Some additional notes from our meeting:
- Finances. At the end of May, our 2020 Budget Expenses were $5,088.67 more than our 2020 Budget Income. At the end of July, our deficit was $3,831.00. At the end of August, our deficit is $1,085.00. Glory to God! We are so very grateful for the passionate and supportive giving of members, friends, and neighbors both near and far! As you might guess, most of our continuing expenses have been for salaries, insurance, and limited utilities. As of August 31, those expenses were about $6,200 less than what we anticipated when we approved our 2020 Budget.
- Property. Floor tiles for the two areas where asbestos was removed have been ordered. A junk room was cleaned out. Annual termite inspection showed no infestation issues. Outdoor cement work was completed. And there were two plumbing repairs.
- Use of building. The Church Council is still holding off on currently allowing the Oak Lane cheerleading squad or the Unstoppable Movement dance group to return to practices or classes in Rhoda Hall until there is more progress in moving beyond COVID-19. There was an “exploratory visit” of Rhoda Hall by Sacred Spaces, which is in search of space throughout the city for schooling activities of limited numbers of children – not directly connected to the Philadelphia School District and lasting until June even if children physically return to school buildings. Sacred Spaces is still applying for funding from United Way… and we aren’t sure that it is something we can do… but we wanted to wrestle with the possibility of serving our community in a time of need.
- Women’s Ministry is continuing to prepare for a virtual Annual Women’s Day weekend on October 10-11! Our Bishop, the Rev. Patricia Davenport, will be our guest Zoom preacher on October 11.
- Worship. The Pastors solicit your comments and suggestions about our current Zoom Worship (we are holding at about 60-70 households each week). And we are thinking and talking about what the next step might look like, when physical worship together seems more safe. How might we continue to include those who are health-compromised and might not be able to attend, as well as those who are far away but have been tuning in?
Pastor Neil & Pastor Gwen
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Mr. Beck would remind us each week that Superman was “a strange visitor from another planet who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men”. He was “Faster than a speeding bullet! More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!” Pastor David is not a strange visitor to us but a “son” of this congregation and a son to Frances and David Maddox. And, though he does not have the “super” powers of a pretend hero, he does have a humble and genuine faith, the solid character and integrity of someone who has heard and followed that man Jesus, and also both a pastor’s heart and a preacher’s articulate word.