May

Dear Trinity Family,

We can’t believe we are now about six weeks into social distancing. We have never had anything happen like this in our lifetime and I am sure that is true for most of you. Too often in our own minds we try to turn away from the awful reality of this virus – but the truth is that tens of thousands are dying from this disease and hundreds of thousands are suffering from it. Economies are taking hard hits. People are losing jobs and certain groups are constantly at risk of either disease or of financial ruin.

And yet for us Christians the power of the Easter message has not dimmed, Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! How can the message of a risen savior give us hope in all this pain and loss? Some would say that we are indulging in a fantasy. And yet, in our household, we have seen over and over the power of the risen Lord touching us and giving us life in the darkest times.

Both of us lost our mothers around Easter and the pain of those moments was nearly overwhelming. Their loss still shapes us today. And yet the power of the Good News of life amidst death lifted us up. We knew that even though we could not hold on to our mothers, Christ was there to give them new life. And we were strengthened and encouraged by the life of God’s people. That moment of death was also filled with new life.

Five people of Cross Lutheran Church have died of Covid-19. From a distance we have watched Nick and the amazing ministry team of that congregation bring hope and strength into moments of death- made more difficult by social distancing. We have watched that congregation work on keeping their food program functioning to care for the most vulnerable. Lifted up by a risen Lord the Church refuses to give in to despair or resignation in the face of this disease.

We have watched all of you caring for each other, calling and lifting each other up. You refuse to isolate yourself in the face of this physical distancing. We have watched as people of faith continue to work for the good of all when some members of society look out only for themselves in the face of the impact of this disease. You know that life is abundant because of the risen Lord and you let that reality shape your response. You are not afraid of the future but enter it with hope and prayer and compassion.

If what we believe is a fantasy then give us the fantasy over reality. But we don’t believe it is fantasy because we have experienced the power of our risen Lord and savior.

Our call as minsters and our call as members of the body of Christ is to never let the world forget this Good News. In the midst of Covid-19, in the midst of social distance, in the midst of financial hardship, in the midst of illness and loss of life we cling to this glorious truth and continue to trust that God can bring new life even from this difficult time.

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia. This truth continues to shape all we do, both during the pandemic and beyond. Thanks be to God.

Pastors Cris and Dave