PRAYERS FOR A PANDEMIC October 2020 Peace Lutheran Church 6362 Lincolnia Road Alexandria, Va 22312 Phone: 703-354-5233 Email: [email protected] Web: www.sharingpeace.org Cover watercolor design: Neverending Hope by Marni Maree ©2020 CONTENTS Barbro Gendell 17 More Thought Than Prayer For A Pandemic Introduction 1 Karen Grubbs 18 Appreciations 2 My Mary and Martha Story Karen Ager 3 Pastor Vincent Guss 19 Friendship Spiritual Caregiving In The Natalie Cain 4 Pan demic The Rescue Pastor Terry Hannon 21 Phyllis Carson 5 Untitled Untitled Allison Hansgate 22 Sue Clark 6 Eight Circuit Labyrinth Reflections Exploring the Labyrinth Tom and Carol Crouse 7 Christine Howlett 24 God Is Our Refuge and Strength In Breaking of the Bread Sue Czarnetzky 8 Hanna Kebbede 25 Untitled Step Into The Light Communicate with Collage Kay Dameron 9 Untitled Nadine Krutzky Mitchell 27 Untitled Susan DeHaven 10 Reflection Joan Malcolm 28 Untitled Dan and Mary Dosé 11 Untitled Marni Maree 29 Untitled Mary Downs 12 God’s Work, Our Hands Karin Old 30 Green Screen of the World Marcia Dursi 13 Covid Tears Pastor Mark Olsen 31 What Is Something God Has Nancy Eggert 14 Revealed To You During Untitled This Pandemic? Nadia Fitzcharles 15 Peace Family Members 34 Hope Signs of the Spirit Nadia Fitzcharles 16 Adel a Peeva 35 "Alleluia" Butterfly Mosaic Prayer for Protection - Easter 2020 Norm Philion 36 Marissa Wilson 54 The Call Reflection and Prayer Carol Randall 37 Pastor Bill Woldt 55 Untitled Prayers for Peace Kris Rinnert 38 Diane Yeager 56 Pentecost Quilt Untitled Randy Ruchti 39 CONCLUSION 57 Thoughts on Composing Music Wind Stephanie Running 41 Untitled Niels Running 42 Untitled Pastor Sarah Scherschligt 43 71st Day Blog Post Sarah Schill 44 In the Stillness Kurt Schultz 45 Untitled Martha Siles-Munoz 46 Untitled Martha Siles-Munoz 47 Untitled Susan Sticha 48 Welcome To My Garden Paul Sticha 50 Spirit of Gentleness Gary and Donna Thiessen 51 Untitled Beth Westerberg 52 Untitled Stu Whitehead 53 Untitled INTRODUCTION March 16, 2020 God holds you, Day 1 This thought came to mind as I cuddled my little one to sleep tonight: God will hold you. I barely recognize this world, not only because of the virus – though I can hardly go there – but also because of the economy and politics and fear. The suffering is bound to be massive, even if we manage to stop the viral spread. It’s like all at once, everything that gave life its basic structure is up for grabs. Still. I believe God holds us. As foundation and bedrock. As the force that keeps us in place when the world is swirling. As a mother soothes a restless child. God holds you. Tonight you feel God’s arms around you tonight. Sleep well world. Pastor Sarah Scherschligt In early May of this year, at Pastor Sarah’s request, a small group met to explore how to encourage creativity among our Peace family during the pandemic. We decided to ask individual family members to provide examples of their means of creative expression. Creative Offerings seemed an appropriate name for this time of sharing during the offertory portion of the 10:30am worship service. In addition to prepare for Pentecost, the entire Peace family would be invited to participate in a virtually led art class via Zoom. Each attendee would learn how to create his/her own drawing with the theme Spirit is Moving. Finally, Prayers for a Pandemic would be initiated. This project would involve inviting Peace family members to explore then share, how they were/were not being held by God during the pandemic. The results of that project, along with “snapshots” of the Creative Offerings are contained in this collection. It is truly the product of what became a living project representing untold contributions of time and numerous suggestions and ideas. In fact, Praying – Our Way, suggested by a planning group member, would have been a fitting alternative title. 1 APPRECIATIONS PLANNING GROUP Pastor Sarah Scherschligt, Sue Czarnetzky, Marcia Dursi, Marni Maree, Susan Sticha and Diane Yeager PRAYERS FOR A PANDEMIC CONTRIBUTORS SUNDAY CREATIVE OFFERINGS May 10 Marcia Dursi – Covid Tears May 10 Sean Marnee – I Know That My Redeemer Lives – Bassoon Solo May 17 Marni Maree – A Spiritual Signature May 24 Martha Siles-Munoz – Origami Flowers To Honor Peace Lutheran Church May 31 Peace Family Members – Signs Of The Spirit May 31 Paul Sticha w/Peace Handbell Choirs – Spirit Of Gentleness June 07 Allison Hansgate – Exploring The Labyrinth June 14 Kris Rinnert – Pentecost Quilt June 21 Randy Ruchti – Thoughts On Composing Music /Wind June 28 Hanna Kebbede – Communicating Through Collage July 12 Susan Sticha Welcome to My Garden July 26 Sean Marni (Bassoon)/Joelle Kee (Violin)/Tyler Wilkins (Clarinet and Contraforte) – My Jesus, I Love Thee August 09 Wynter Ruchti – Healing Artwork August 16 Laura Santos – Classical Guitar – Mighty Fortress Is Our God September 06 Martha Silez-Munoz – God’s Blessings To Me Through a Garden SUPPORTERS Thrivent Financial Pam Holmes – Next Page Design George Reaves – Nokesville Printing Services Danielle Neville – DaniMariNeville 2 FRIENDSHIP This period has been frustrating and spiritually dry. Our church had services via Zoom, but I only watched part of one service. It was hard to keep focused without being there. Sitting in front of a computer was like being a spectator. I found it not very engaging. Several things may not have contributed to strengthening my faith, but did contribute to supporting my sanity. First, our vintage motorcycle club meets for breakfast on Saturdays. Throughout this entire time we have not stopped meeting. When the restaurant closed except for takeout, we met in the parking lot for takeout; ostensibly to support our favorite restaurant owner. The first socially distant "tailgate" session was so successful that we continued. It was so helpful to actually see people and talk to them. Here I am with the vintage bikes. Second, my Huntsville knitting group which met prior to the pandemic at the Chocolate Café and the group at Peace Lutheran now meet via Zoom. Although it is not as nice as actually being together, it is helpful to have a set time and a group of friends with whom to "meet". So here it is. I am continuing to find strength and comfort in friends, Christian and not, especially when the original goal includes helping others. Colossians 3:12-14 12 Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Missing our friends at Peace! Karen Ager – Huntsville, AL 3 This is a Bible passage that I recently read in a devotional and it struck me as timely. I like in particular the way the verses are translated in The Message which offers the Bible written in “contemporary language”. The Rescue 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. The verses are quoted from The Message (MSG), copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Natalie Cain – Springfield, VA 4 The following words were found on a brochure for a local hospice, thirty years ago. They were written by a patient there. I have them posted on my refrigerator door and read them frequently. They always make me feel better. Phyllis Carson – Alexandria, VA These things I wish for you and me for the new year and always. The delight of meeting a new friend and joy of discovering yet another good thing about an old friend . An appreciation of the gift of life and love and living and sharing and giving and receiving . And even perhaps the occasional sorrow and pain that comes from remembrance things well loved and lost. May these things be yours and mine to share and remember with gentleness of heart. 5 REFLECTIONS Many days I don’t know if I’m praying or remembering the words of a hymn. I also wonder, am I praying or just marveling over the opening of the first flower on my blue lace-cap hydrangea? I think I’m praying when I cry out, Oh God, what is going on in this country? I know I’m praying when I simply cry. I was taught and told to pray before meals and do so even when with friends who are not believers; I say, thanks be to God, before eating. But the words of hymns are the basis for many of my prayers. Robert Lowry (1825- 1899) wrote “My Life Flows on in Endless Song” and many other well-known hymns. He lived through the Civil War, although Wikipedia says nothing about his life during the war. The words seem perfect for many of my days and it is my prayer today. My life flows on in endless song, Above earth’s lamentation.