When you pray, pray in this way…….Give us this day our daily bread.
What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.
We are in the midst of an extraordinary time. It is not a time we would choose but it is a time for which we have been called. It is a time of uncertainty. It is a season through which we are being asked to live into the future differently that we ever could have imagined.
The recommendation of the Center for Disease Control is that public gatherings of more 10 people in the vulnerable population, which is anyone over the age of 60, be suspended in the midst of this global health crisis to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Your Parish Council met on Monday, March 16 and passed a unanimous motion to suspend worship and activities in the Goodridge Parish through May 2 unless the ban on public gatherings is lifted before then. The situation will be monitored and the suspension may be extended longer if required.
When the disciples were in doubt, they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. He gave them the Lord’s Prayer. At the heart of this prayer, we are gifted with a word of hope. Jesus told his friends to pray for daily bread. God has promised to be with us and care for us.
Psalm 121:
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed,
he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
We have a God who has promised that wherever we are and what ever we are doing, we will be blessed with safety and provision. God doesn’t sleep so we might be able to lay down our heads and rest. God doesn’t ignore our needs and cries for mercy, God gives us what we need today.
I would not be honest if I gave this impression that I wasn’t worried. I have doubts. I feel uncertainty. What will church look like moving forward if we aren’t gathered together? There are financial implications and consequences for us personally and as a community. There are some things we can do to set aside some of our fears and come together and be church in a new way. We have daily bread.
The gifts of daily bread include our telecommunications system. We will be able to talk to one another. Pick up your phone and call your neighbor. Check on those who are most vulnerable and isolated, ask if they need anything. Call parents who are navigating this new normal with children young and old not attending school. Reach out and connect in any way you can as we observe physical distance.
The gifts of daily bread will include opportunities to study God’s Word together. We will read the daily texts and say our prayers. I will lead a daily devotion on our Parish FaceBook page. On Wednesdays I will share a story for the Parish Children. There will be a longer message on Sunday mornings.
In the coming weeks, I will be working on options for home based study for our confirmation students and first communion classes.
Julie and I will be in the church office together on Tuesdays and we will share information as it becomes available. It will take some time to navigate through the needs of our community. We are asked to be patient with one another.
Please remember the financial needs of the congregations of the Parish. We offer electronic giving and personally, I find it helpful in making my tithe to the church. Forms are available and we can help you sign up. You can also mail donations to the Parish Office and we will forward them to the Financial Secretaries of each church.
God will give us what we need. We will get through this season. Christ will come and we will rejoice. May God bless and keep you and your families. May you know peace and hope. May God grant you peace as you are gifted with your daily bread.
Pastor Kristin Ostercamp
