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Welcome to St. Cyprian’s
Extraordinary times sometimes demand extra ordinary efforts. Yesterday, one of our parishioner with whom a number of the music and production team have had contact this week, woke up with a fever. They have been tested for COVID19 but we do not yet have the results of that test. So, in an abundance of caution I decided that we would do our service this morning without the production and music team, thus minimizing the possibility that any of us might transmit the disease to another person.
The parishioner who was tested for COVID was asymptomatic at the time of the testing … their body temperature was normal. We include them in our prayers as we adapt to some extra ordinary circumstances.
Welcome to St. Cyprian’s
Extraordinary times sometimes demand extra ordinary efforts. Yesterday, one of our parishioner with whom a number of the music and production team have had contact this week, woke up with a fever. They have been tested for COVID19 but we do not yet have the results of that test. So, in an abundance of caution I decided that we would do our service this morning without the production and music team, thus minimizing the possibility that any of us might transmit the disease to another person.
The parishioner who was tested for COVID was asymptomatic at the time of the testing … their body temperature was normal. We include them in our prayers as we adapt to some extra ordinary circumstances.
In the name of the God of all Creation,
The God alive in each of us as God was alive in Jesus
And the power of God known in the Spirit.
Amen.
The God alive in each of us as God was alive in Jesus
And the power of God known in the Spirit.
Amen.
Welcome to St. Cyprian’s
Extraordinary times sometimes demand extra ordinary efforts. Yesterday, one of our parishioner with whom a number of the music and production team have had contact this week, woke up with a fever. They have been tested for COVID19 but we do not yet have the results of that test. So, in an abundance of caution I decided that we would do our service this morning without the production and music team, thus minimizing the possibility that any of us might transmit the disease to another person.
The parishioner who was tested for COVID was asymptomatic at the time of the testing … their body temperature was normal. We include them in our prayers as we adapt to some extra ordinary circumstances.
(The sermon that was preached from these notes)
Extraordinary times sometimes demand extra ordinary efforts. Yesterday, one of our parishioner with whom a number of the music and production team have had contact this week, woke up with a fever. They have been tested for COVID19 but we do not yet have the results of that test. So, in an abundance of caution I decided that we would do our service this morning without the production and music team, thus minimizing the possibility that any of us might transmit the disease to another person.
The parishioner who was tested for COVID was asymptomatic at the time of the testing … their body temperature was normal. We include them in our prayers as we adapt to some extra ordinary circumstances.
(The sermon that was preached from these notes)
- As I mentioned, this is a day outside of our normal situation in circumstances that are not normal to begin with.
- Today is the 5th Sunday of Pentecost. It is also the day after Independence Day.
- I have sermon that I spent a long time working on about the Declaration of Independence
- About its vision statement of “All men are created equal”
- And about how we have failed to fully live into that vision
- It is another sermon about white privledge at the founding of this country, and white privledge today
- However, there is an old adage which says “afflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted.” Its origins are in the newspaper industry, but I believe it applies to the Church and sermons today.
- For the past few Sundays that I have preached I have attempted to “afflict the comfortable” by looking at our responsibility in systemic racism.
- Today, I believe it is time to “comfort the afflicted” especially when the COVID19 virus may be close to our doorstep.
- You have seen the numbers of cases rise as I have. Many of us respond with some degree of fear … not just for our own personal safety, but for the safety of our community and the world around us.
- That fear has a long-term effect upon us. It is like driving a car with one foot on the brake while the other is trying to accelerate.
- When I learned to drive it was on a standard transmission car. The left foot was for the clutch, and the right foot alternated between the gas pedal to accelerate, and the brake pedal to slow down.
- However, some people learned to drive an automatic transmission car … without a clutch … and they would sometimes use the left foot for the brake, and the right foot for the gas pedal.
- I remember driving down the Ohio Turnpike following a car at 80 mph and the brake lights were bright red. You could smell the unmistakable odor of brake pads burning.
- That is how it is for us when we live with this overriding fear, and at the same time try to live life in some degree of normalcy.
- Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
- We who take seriously what Jesus took seriously can find the strength to humbly learn from Jesus and find rest for our souls … even in the midst of this pandemic … even in the midst of our fears.
- For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
