Greetings all…
I am passing on to everyone a portion of Bishop McAlilly’s blog which he posted yesterday. If you desire to read the whole message, please go to the United Methodist Church, Memphis Conference web site and check it out:
“Based on the best information I have been able to receive from multiple sources, I have determined that it will be in the best interest of our communities for worship services to be suspended through April 26. Should it become necessary to continue that suspension after April 26, we will notify you.”
This is our Bishop’s guidance – it reflects also the guidance of governmental and medical authorities and experts. Grace UMC will continue following and adhering to these guidelines. The safety and health of all of us and the community we live in depends on this. As your pastor, I am committed to doing all I can to keep us all informed and encouraged to remain faithful, trusting in our God who loves and cares for us all. I thank all of you so very much for your encouragement of each other and me during this time. We are still the Church Jesus established, and as He said, “…the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it!”
Since we will not be meeting together for our first Sunday (Palm Sunday, April 5th) – I plan to offer a “virtual” consecration and communion offering during our regular time of worship “on-line” at the 10 am hour. Basically it will work like this: on the video, Palm Sunday, I will consecrate the elements – at home, you will commune just as though we were in the church building together. Janna Hellums and I are working on a way to distribute “at home” self contained and sealed individual communion elements containing a wafer and thimble of juice which can be picked up at the church office during office hours, Monday – Wednesday, 8-4 and Thursday, 8-Noon. They will be in individual plastic baggies – one to a bag. Please make arrangements to pick up however many “baggies” you need during that time. Those needing the “baggies” to be delivered to your home, must call or email me no later than Thursday noon of next week (April 2nd).
As to Holy Week and Easter – it is, of course, a great disappointment to all of us that we must suspend services. But remember – in a sense, every Sunday is Easter for believers! Here is what I plan to do. When this pandemic is over, and we are safe to gather again – hopefully sooner than later!! – I and our Worship Committee will meet to plan “Easter in August” – or whenever. There is no reason whatsoever that we cannot simply postpone this year’s Holy Week to another time later in the year.
Blessings…
Pastor Bruce
MESSAGES OF THE HYMNS
Hearing the Words We Sing
Saturday, March 28, 2020
“God of Grace and God of Glory”
During the 1930’s, Harry Emerson Fosdick was considered one of the nation’s leading preachers. During the summer of 1930, thanks to a gift of $5,000,000 from John D. Rockefeller Jr., Riverside Church in New York City was under construction. Fosdick, the pastor, wrote the words of this hymn which was sung as the processional hymn on the day Riverside opened its doors to worship on October 5, 1930. Dr. Carlton Young, editor of the United Methodist Hymnal, wrote “Under his (Fosdick’s) leadership, Riverside Church was interdenominational, interracial, without a creed, and astonishingly for Baptists, required no specific mode of baptism. At the center of Fosdick’s ministry was urban social ministry.” The words of this great hymn reflect Fosdick’s passion for reaching “the least, the last, and the lost.”
God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy power;
crown the ancient church’s story;
bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.
Lo! the hosts of evil round us,
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us,
free our hearts to love and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.
Cure thy children’s warring madness,
bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.
Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore;
let the search for thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore,
serving thee whom we adore.
Interestingly, by no accident, the refrain with each stanza, “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage…” emphasizes the time in which this hymn was written. The Great Depression was taking it toll. Fosdick called to Christians of his day to hear and respond to the plight of poor and the “have-nots” who were struggling to survive those desperate times. During these days, I am encouraged to hear of the many ways people are reaching out creatively to others. We are, indeed, “all in this together.” And together, with God’s favor, we shall all overcome this unsettling time.
Shalom (God’s Peace)…
Pastor Bruce
