When the pandemic started escalating in the U.S., I thought without thinking of it through the lens of my privilege. When someone wrote to me and asked why we hadn’t commented on the racism inherent in the spread of the virus, my first thought – I am embarrassed to say and yet readily admit –
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:18 (NRSV) The news won’t stop and the death tolls climb.Light dims on another dream.Lab tests say it’s time to stop.The withdrawal can’t happen because the money isn’t there.Job applications keep receiving a “no.”Bed seems the only safe space. Circumstance
The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson couldn’t find joy on Easter Sunday. The United Church of Christ associate general minister, mourning the death of her father and recovering from, most likely, COVID-19, said she got stuck on Good Friday, struggling with death and grief. “The empty tomb made me think about my own mortality. It was
“But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you.” – Jonah 2:9 (NRSV) Jonah spoke those words from the belly of a whale. He’d been inside the creature for three days and three nights, after being thrown off a ship bound for Tarshish. Jonah wanted to escape from God’s call to go to
As soon as it became apparent that the COVID-19 pandemic would change the way congregations gather and function, the United Church of Christ Cornerstone Fund decided to offer relief to some of its customers. Founded in 1993 as a UCC-related nonprofit which offers both lending and investment opportunities, the Cornerstone Fund is deferring payments on loans and
God provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed… – Jonah 1:17-2:1 (NRSV) Jonah was in a time-out. He was supposed to convert a city chock-full of notorious heathens, but decided it was mission impossible. So he got
In Pennsylvania, a retired United Church of Christ minister saw his 100-tree donation as something he could do for God’s creation while sheltering at home during the coronavirus pandemic. In Wisconsin, a congregation gave money to plant 200 trees to encourage its members to “do one thing” for the environment. In Colorado, a church chipped
Jesus told them, “The realm of heaven is like yeast…” – Matthew 13:33 87% of what Jesus had to say was about choosing how to react to your feelings. Have an enemy you hate? Choose to act lovingly toward them. That sort of thing. In the language of 90s-era pop psychology, it’s about moving our
In the past few weeks, it has become apparent that the present moment necessitates a war on inequality as much as a war on the coronavirus. Members of the working class bear disproportionate dangers from virus exposure – whether they are riding the subway to work, serving as nurses lacking recommended protective gear, or working
So the other disciples told Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” – John 20:25 (NIV) I was in a severely emotionally abusive