Light From The Hill May, 2020...The Pastor’s Corner…Rev. Dr. Yunho Eo We Belong to the Body of Christ as One! It was a Tuesday lunch time on September 11, 2001, when we got the news. I was a Doctoral student at Wesley Seminary in Washington DC, and the first terrorist hit one of twin buildings and in hours, the second one was hit too. We were watching all of these horrible evil things at the student hall with deep sighs, nervous moaning, and crying. Within hours, gathering at the chapel, we worshiped, praised and prayed to the Lord with our crying, deep sighs and grievous moaning. I hurried to drive to Richmond and called a special worship service that evening. I picked up words from Lamentations of Jeremiah. Our city was ruined by people unknown. There was uncertainty and fear in the people’s hearts. We knew that no words would make this better. Now, about 20 years have passed and I have a dumb feeling about this global COVID-19 pandemic. There is uncertainty and fear the same as I felt at 9.11. But different. 9.11 was done in a distance while this global crisis could happen everywhere. 9.11 happened during a limited time of one day, while this pandemic stopped people on a global level for months and months. As the pastor of Laurel Hill, I was seeking for measures to connect to the congregation because all of a sudden we could not gather together in person. Bishop Sharma Lewis sent a letter with comfort and advice recommending not to have in-person service until June 10. Even in the crisis, we are fortunate to have the ability to livestream Sunday worship. So at least we can share the time together through Facebook. Thanks be to God! But that presents the problem of what to do with the sacrament. Do we celebrate communion when those watching cannot partake? The answer is mixed in our denomination now. In 2013, a group of United Methodist leaders demanded that our bishops call a moratorium on online Communion. With in-depth study of online Communion, in 2016, Bishop Carter reaffirmed it again. We can’t presume to give an answer for all time. But it seems that right now, since the body is prevented from meeting together, we need some sort of resolution. As UMC Discipleship Ministries suggests, I want to begin with the Love Feast. The Love Feast has historical precedence in the early church and was recaptured by the Wesleys from the Moravians and used frequently in the movement. The Love Feast often substituted for the sacrament where there were no clergy present as a way of experiencing the grace of Jesus Christ and the fellowship of community by sharing together. The Love Feast could easily be done virtually, as folks in their homes can find the elements (usually water and some bread, or crackers or wafers of some sort) and share them with those in the household at the same time as those in the wider online community. Before beginning the service, gather a candle and matches (or a small lamp), a Bible, a piece of bread, and a small glass of water. And then I will serve the Liturgy through Power Point. Remember we are connected to the Body of Christ. Hallelujah! THINGS TO REMEMBER… MAY SERMON SCHEDULE 5/3 Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:4-8) 5/10 The Noble Character of Our Mothers (Proverbs 31:10-15, 29-31) Happy Mother’s Day 5/17 Beginning of the Tribulation (Rev. 6:1-14) 5/24 The Great Multitude of White Robe (Rev. 7:9-17) 5/31 Rev. Ed. Johnson Preaching FISH is collecting canned tomatoes and canned greens (any kind) for May. You may bring them to church and leave them on the porch where you enter the offices if it is not during our regular office hours. Pam will take them the FISH collection location. Also, if you have other items to donate, it is also good to bring them. OUR WORSHIP SERVICE will continue to be on Sunday morning at 11 A.M. live on the Laurel Hill UMC Facebook page and later on Youtube at Yunho Eo. Thanks to all who have been watching. It is a big encouragement to be with each other even if it is on the computer. Also, you have been so generous with bringing or sending your contributions in the mail. Thank you! If any of you have a need for food or pick up of medications, etc. and we can help, please call the office at 795- 2772 or Barbara at home at 222-9223. We miss you all and love you. We will continue to keep in touch. FACE MASKS-we have been blessed by Pam Wilson, Meade Welch, Ann Hechler and Janet Stoneman who have used all those quilt scraps to make face masks for our congregation. We have passed out quite a few to very happy recipients. If you need a mask, please let us know in the office. HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all our mother’s, grandmothers, great- grandmothers, aunts, sisters and other women who love and mentor us throughout our life. May you all be blessed. Take time to send a card or note to the women that have made your life more special with their steadfast love, devotion and concern over the years. Say thank you! Thought you all would enjoy this testimony from Sean Wayland. He and Nancy Nelson Wayland and family are our missionaries through CRU. Nancy grew up at Laurel Hill and graduated from Varina High School and Virginia Tech. We are so proud of the work that they do each day to further the Kingdom of God. Testimony, It's the little things Wed, Apr 29, 12:13 PM (22 Sean Wayland <[email protected]> hours ago) In this edition of our update, I am including my testimony and an email of thanks that I received from our director in Mexico. If you have a moment and can send me your testimony as well, I would love to receive it. Sometimes, just the act of thinking through and writing down our testimony can remind us of what God has done and prepare us to share it with others. Wouldn't that be amazing if God gave you an opportunity to share yours with someone this week? It also encourages me to hear how God has worked in the lives of others. When I was young, my loving and kind mother made sure that my sister and I went to church every Sunday. In that small church, I heard the Gospel repeated from the pulpit several times. When I was 9 years old, I remember being at my grandmother's house and my sister asking me if I had received Jesus into my heart. She was especially concerned for me, but I wasn't sure that I was ready at the time. Later that year, we had a revival service at church, and I went forward to publicly say that I wanted to accept Christ. In our church, you walked the aisle to the front to show that you were making that commitment. My simple understanding at the time was that if I trusted in Christ, I would go to heaven when I died. Throughout the rest of my school years, I was a bit confused. Even though I tried to be a good Christian sometimes, it wasn't that easy. I read the entire Bible when I was 16, but it really didn't do much for me except that I learned some facts that I didn't know before. Of course, I was also trying to get the most out of life and was doing things that I knew were not pleasing to God. I also had a tendency to try and please people which made it difficult for me to stay firm in my faith. Plus, our home life was a bit of a wreck. Sadly, my dad struggled with alcoholism and although he was a good father overall, it was chaos and a lot of pain when he was drunk. I struggled with anger and resentment toward God for allowing me to be brought up like that. My high school quote kind of summed up my life at that point when I chose a quote from a popular song by U2 at the time, "...but I still haven't found what I'm looking for." Arriving at college, I thought, would solve all my problems. I would be away from home and the chaos. I would be able to do what I wanted and pursue all the things that could make me happy. My mindset was to succeed, party, chase girls, and go to church. That was my formula for happiness. What a shock that after a very short time, I was empty and miserable. The most important question in my life then was what was the purpose of life. It was at that time that God brought two people into my life. First, I met and became friends with Mike, another engineering student who lived in my dorm. Second, I filled out a survey being done by Cru and was visited by Brian, a Cru staff member. Mike was a strong Christian, and he and I clicked right away. We had conversations sometimes late into the night about God. Brian asked me questions that challenged my shallow understanding of the Gospel.