Hope in a Time of Uncertainty

March 21, 2020

Christine E. Burns

Welcome—today is our first virtual church experience. I’m recording this message in my study. Our music will be provided by Steve Gregory recording in his home office. I invite you to pray, laugh, cry, sing, listen or do whatever your spirit needs to worship.

Lighting of the Candle of hope—

Scripture Reading— I chose a very short passage from the Letter to the Romans to focus on. Here it is: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:12

Let’s begin with three deep breaths. As we inhale, let us say these words (From Romans 8:38-39)

Inhale: Nothing can separate me,

Exhale: from the love of God. (Repeat 3x)

As I began to prepare my message for you today, I opened up my Bible, given to me by this church on the day of my ordination and signed by all the people who began Saturday service and I found this sticky note from Dr. Mary that she dropped off for Reed when he was frustrated and struggling in the hospital after his heart attack in November. We were terrified. The waiting was interminable and we longed for answers. This passage from Romans 12:12 told us to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” Somehow, reading those words, knowing that we had a church family who loved us and cared helped us endure the next few days. We never know how much an encouraging word, action or prayer can help another. Let’s endeavor to be that spirit of hope in this time of anxiety.

Let’s begin with learning how we can practice patience in the face of affliction. First of all, we all have cabin fever! It’s terribly difficult to stay in our homes. Our teenagers and children may be angry or disappointed with us when we keep saying no to playdates and hanging out with their friends, especially if everyone else seems to be saying yes. Let me encourage you in the importance of saying no to these group gatherings. We miss our friends. It’s important to recognize that this is hard. We have a big job, that job is to stay home so that

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we can flatten the curve and allow our healthcare workers to do their jobs and stay healthy. We cannot afford to lose any of them. They matter to the entire world. Let’s do our best by staying home and washing our hands. We want to slow down the rate of infection. If we can slow the rate of infection, we will make a huge difference in the process of controlling the spread of Covid-19.

I invite all of us to pray for the safety of all healthcare workers, especially those who we love and worship with us at West Parish. We lift up Matt, Bill, Katie, Heather, Mary, Krista, Andrea, Michael, Megan, all those I failed to mention and everyone else who supports them. We ask for protection and hope for all healthcare workers everywhere. May they be safe. May we find and create sufficient protection supplies to enable them to do their work. Give them time to rest, recover and stay healthy.

For those of us who are called to stay home in this time of crisis. God, we ask for patience in this time. Help us to be patient with our families. Let us find ways to divide up our living spaces so we don’t bother one another all the time. Help us to find ways to keep our brains and bodies, our spirit and mental health healthy. Remind us to get outside and exercise. Move our bodies. Stretch. Bend. Jump and play.

Music heals. We know this. Let’s make up dance parties, even if we are dancing alone. Let us lift up all those who live alone and are isolated. This is such a difficult time for those who live alone. Let’s listen to good music that makes us laugh, dance, cry and sing aloud.

While we are physically distanced, we do not have to be isolated. Let’s make sure we pick up the phone and call one another. We can be part of a community of care.

I invite each of you to light a candle of hope in your home today or in the coming days. May that light penetrate the darkness as we endeavor to stay in the present moment. We do not know how long we will have to stay home so let us focus on the light of hope.

In the meantime, where do you see signs of hope?

I see signs of hope in people slowing down. Although, let’s be real, it’s a struggle to find out how to do all the things virtually. WE don’t know how to do everything that is required in

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this new technology. Teaching our kids online is hard. Our children and we are lonely for community. So, let’s be patient with everyone.

I see hope in the pictures posted of clearer skies and waters with human movement stopped. Pollution is clearing. Dolphins have returned to the waters around Venice. It’s got to be a good thing when the dolphins return.

I see hope in the advance of telemedicine. Our own Heather, a Nurse Practitioner, is practicing telemedicine from her home and she is a great example of how we can take good care of people in their homes so that only the very sick need to enter our hospitals.

For a final story of hope, let me tell you about a local couple in Cotuit who are going to be married at the beach on Monday afternoon before the groom is sent out to sea for 3-6 months. The bride has a challenging cancer diagnosis. The pastor will stand 6 feet away and the guests will remain in their cars and honk at the end. It’s not your typical love story, maybe it’s the perfect one for this time and place. Let’s hold onto love. Love is what we need right now.

Let me close this message with a poem of hope for a time when this is over by Laura Fanucci.

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