Faith in a Time of Pandemic – Saying Thanks!

Last updated on: March 25, 2020 at 5:19 am By Bruce Epperly

XII. Saying Thanks! In everything with prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests known to God. (Philippians 4:6) This morning on Facebook, a friend posted an article, entitled, “Immigrant farm workers feed us despite the Coronavirus epidemic. They deserve better.” Those words provoked me to ponder all those persons, whether citizens or not, legal or not, who support us every day. Thanksgiving is the virtue of connection and affirmation. When we are thankful, we are affirming that we need... Read more

Faith in a Time of Pandemic – Avoiding Cabin Fever

Last updated on: March 24, 2020 at 7:16 am By Bruce Epperly

XI. ON AVOIDING CABIN FEVER I’ve heard the words “cabin fever” invoked several times this week. The counsel to keep physical – or social – distance has led to many of us being confined to our homes, except for shopping. Over the past two weeks, my world has been a triangle between my home, my son’s and daughter-in-law’s to pick up our grandchildren, and Craigville Beach. Like many, I’m used to getting out whenever I want and going wherever I... Read more

Faith in a Time of Pandemic – Need, Not Greed

Last updated on: March 23, 2020 at 7:49 am By Bruce Epperly

X. NEED, NOT GREED Cast your bread on the waters, for you shall find it after many days. (Ecclesiastes 11:1) Yesterday I had an interesting conversation with two carpenters, rebuilding a house on Craigville Beach. We have gotten to know each other, saying “hello” as I pass by on my morning walks. As I went by, the men were standing by the port-a-potty. I quipped, “At least no one’s tipped over your outhouse.” To which one of them replied, “Last... Read more

Faith in a Time of Pandemic – It’s A Beautiful Day!

Last updated on: March 21, 2020 at 6:36 am By Bruce Epperly

VIII. REJOICE IN BEAUTY This is the day that God has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24) These days I am homeschooling my two grands, age nine and seven During a break time, I decided to turn on some songs from my well-spent youth. Songs like Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On,” Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find my Way Home,” and then a song from my thirties, U2’s “It’s a Beautiful Day” in which Bono describes a lively,... Read more

Faith in a Time of Pandemic – You can pray!

Last updated on: March 20, 2020 at 5:36 am By Bruce Epperly

YOU CAN PRAY Pray without ceasing. (I Thessalonians 5:17) One of the great social activists of our time, Dorothy Day, was sidelined in her mid-seventies as a result of serious illnesses. The founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, along with Peter Maurin, however, was not daunted. She asserted that now her calling was to pray rather than picket! She could still pray for justice and social transformation even though she was confined to her home. She could even protest in... Read more

The Adventurous Lectionary: Fifth Sunday in Lent -March 29, 2020

Last updated on: March 19, 2020 at 11:04 am By Bruce Epperly

The Adventurous Lectionary – The Fifth Sunday in Lent – March 29, 2020 Ezekiel 17:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45 I recognize that most of us will be having “virtual church,” this Sunday. We are in a wholly new time, one that few of us could imagine a month ago. Our churches have come to a standstill in terms of person to person programs and the foremost issues on most of our congregants’ minds will the impact of the... Read more

Faith in a Pandemic – Washing Your Hands

Last updated on: March 19, 2020 at 5:05 am By Bruce Epperly

VI. WASHING YOUR HANDS Righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24) Everywhere we are getting advice to wash our hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds. Many of us have been doing this all along. For others of us this is a new practice. The Buddhists say “before enlightenment I chopped wood and carried water and after enlightenment I chopped wood and carried water.” We can do ordinary things in a holy way, making everyday practices prayer... Read more

Faith in a Time of Pandemic – Encircled with Love

Last updated on: March 18, 2020 at 5:33 am By Bruce Epperly

V. A CIRCLE OF LOVE AND PROTECTION Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover... Read more

Faith in a Time of Pandemic – St. Patrick’s Prayer

Last updated on: March 17, 2020 at 6:55 am By Bruce Epperly

IV. St. Patrick’s Prayer Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down. Caught up in stocking up with groceries in preparation for the self-sequestering with my family, I forgot to buy traditional St. Patrick’s meal of corned beef and cabbage. Like a lot of you, I’m a little distracted these days. St.... Read more