Covid 19 — Invitation: Be Heard, Listen, Give Help. Be Creative.

But safely apart at home,

If you have one.

19:00 hours: One Minute to Be Silent, Then One Minute to Be Connected –
Separate yet Together

Covid-19 has separated us physically from one another, or rather
we have separated ourselves in order to protect ourselves from SARS-Cov2.

But we need not be socially or spiritually separated from one another.

Take a minute at 19:00 hours (7 pm) to say a prayer or keep silence or remember others.

None of us are in this alone. Most all of us can reach out to others. Do what you can, for yourselves and for others. Be careful, respectful, and courageously hopeful.

Take a minute at 19:01 hours (7:01 pm) to say, by making noise, creative and loud noise (so that others know), you are there and well.

If you are in a car, honk!

If you are at home, set up music to play very loudly!

Or set off your smoke alarm (test button only, not smoke- be smart!)

Or have the children join you in loud singing their favourite song, or hooping and hollering!

Be creative, coordinate your noise making with neighbours, so that there’s cooperation in the music or noise.

Then at 19:15 listen in quiet, unless …

At 19:15 (or later when the noise stops) if you need help now it’s your turn to make some noise.

If you need help urgently, if it is an emergency, make the three long noises, three short noises, and finally three more short noises for the Morse code for SOS.

Listen, and respond, with care to keep from passing contagions between people, households, or neighbours.

Be Respectful. Remember how everyone is challenged.

Be Heard. No one is alone, really.

Provide Help. We are in this together.

Also

Take a minute at 07:00 hours, or the beginning of your day, as at 19:00 hours, to say a prayer or keep silence or remember others.

Colour the beginning of each of your days with Courage, with Compassion, with Creativity, and with Hope.

Know that you are not alone as you do this.

Invite others to keep these minutes as well.

Let our paths virtually cross.

Facing Covid 19: Daily Words of Grace – Apr 4

Saturday, April 4, 2020

Where is God? Where are We?

Where is God? Where are We?

Psalms 115:2-3

Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.

Romans 1:20

Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.

Words of Grace For Today

In these days many can desperately ask, “Where is God!?!” Since before time and creation, God is invisible … and yet seen in all of God’s works. This beautiful creation speaks volumes of its Creator. Isolated we were encouraged to go outside. So we did in droves (making our togetherness outside a risk to everyone’s health). We humans seek being in nature because there is at the core of each human created in God’s image a deep connection to the pieces of creation. It heals us like music and art, reaching deep inside to what is not well in us, allowing it to heal. This is God at work for us, in us: that God’s creation heals us, if not completely physically, then always and completely in our souls. All is well with us, because God chooses it to be so.

Covid 19 – Invitation to Be Together

But safely apart at home,

If you have one.

19:00 hours: One Minute to Be Silent, Then One Minute to Be Connected –
Separate yet Together

Covid-19 has separated us physically from one another, or rather
we have separated ourselves in order to protect ourselves from SARS-Cov2.

But we need not be socially or spiritually separated from one another.

Take a minute at 19:00 hours (7 pm) to say a prayer or keep silence or remember others.

None of us are in this alone. Most all of us can reach out to others. Do what you can, for yourselves and for others. Be careful, respectful, and courageously hopeful.

Take a minute at 19:01 hours (7:01 pm) to say, by making noise, creative and loud noise (so that others know), you are there and well.

If you are in a car, honk!

If you are at home, set up music to play loudly!

Or set off your smoke alarm (test button only, not smoke- be smart!)

Or have the children join you in loud singing their favourite song, or hooping and hollering!

Be creative, coordinate your noise making with neighbours, so that there’s cooperation in the music or noise.

Then at 19:15 listen in quiet, unless …

At 19:15 if you need help now it’s your turn to make some noise.

If you need help urgently, if it is an emergency, make the three long noises, three short noises, and finally three more short noises for the Morse code for SOS.

Listen, and respond, with care to keep from passing contagions between people, households, or neighbours.

Consider that every day we are inundated with Covid-19 news, most of it alarming. To keep this in perspective, perhaps limit one’s news gathering/listening to the news to shorter periods at most 2 to 3 times each day.

And

Take a minute at 07:00 hours, or the beginning of your day, as at 19:00 hours, to say a prayer or keep silence or remember others.

Colour the beginning of each of your days with Courage, with Compassion, with Creativity, and with Hope.

Know that you are not alone as you do this.

Invite others to keep these minutes as well.

Let our paths virtually cross.

Facing Covid 19: Daily Words of Grace – Apr 3

Friday, April 3, 2020

Fruit or Frost

Fruit or Frost

Psalms 89:16

They exult in your name all day long, and extol your righteousness.

Ephesians 5:8-9

For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.

Words of Grace For Today

If you have ever lived or visited where fresh citrus fruit can be harvested from a tree in the backyard you know what is like to pick a fresh orange or mango off the tree and sit to peel it, juice flowing unavoidably freely over your hands and chin as the goodness quenches your thirst before breakfast. Our grocery store fruit, picked still green to survive shipping to us, is better than none, but simply does not compare. We know what darkness is. It is unavoidably part of everyone’s life. Since Christ claims us and makes us into saints, we also know how marvellous Christ’s light is. Like tree-fresh-picked fruit it flows unavoidably freely over us, and over all of life. We are Holy-Spirit-equipped to share the fresh fruit of Christ’s light with everyone. Be bold (and health safe) as you share the light of Christ with someone caught in darkness.

Facing Covid 19: Daily Words of Grace – Apr 2

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Seeing Salvation … Daily

Seeing Salvation … Daily

Psalms 71:17

O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

Luke 2:28-30

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation.

Words of Grace For Today

When we live a long life, we know how life is: there are times of full colour, loud celebration, and overwhelming exuberance; there are also times of deadening greys, stifled sobs, and oppressive despair; and there are times of everything in between. As the Holy Spirit leads us, we continue to proclaim God’s great deeds in our lives, in lives around us, and in the lives of saints before us. Simeon, knowing his days were coming to an end, rejoiced that he was able to imagine and know, hear and see, touch and be touched by the infant Jesus, the Saviour of all ages. Whether we are close to our end … or expecting years and decades more of this wondrous life, filled with God’s marvellous deeds, we too can lift our voices in thanks for all God is, and all God has given us to experience in our days on earth. What a marvellous gift we have … to share with others!

Facing Covid 19: Daily Words of Grace – Apr 1

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Small Steps to Healing: Listening

Small Steps to Healing: Listening

Isaiah 65:19

I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.

John 16:22

So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Words of Grace For Today

Where does it hurt? This question has been asked for eons of children and adults alike when they are injured. The point is to find out what is damaged, what the damage is, and how it can be addressed. Today we ask it of each other in a different way. We ask one another to pause, to breathe … slowly and deeply. Then reflecting on your own past few days, where does it hurt? We ask this of each other, and then we listen attentively, graciously. For we know the joy that Christ gives us is never taken away from us. It has the power to help our bodies, minds, and souls heal. First though we listen, where and how does it hurt, so that we can be the salve of blessed oil that Christ has poured over us for those who are hurting, so that our cries and weeping in distress may find their end in Christ’s love and joy for us.