I received an email from the Director of Spiritual Health at Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Tim Park, on Monday of Holy week. The hospital is facing an uphill battle with Covid-19 and they need masks, hundreds of them, to fight the good fight. Tim asked if our Knit Wits would consider making masks for EJCH. I reached out to Brenda Thompson, a member of the Knit Wits and an elder on our Session with the request. Within minutes Brenda responded. By Thursday a group from JCPC made and delivered 25 masks and promised more were on the way. I delivered them to EJCH.

During our Solace Zoom meeting on Easter morning we examined two of the resurrection stories; one from Matthew and the other from John. Working together as a group we discovered the dynamics of fear, grief, and the hope of starting over. In times like these where fear and grief seem to be ever-present, the gospel speaks of hope, the hope of starting over through the resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord.

As a group we discussed what we were missing this Easter and we spoke of what we hope for going forward in our starting over resurrection faith. Sharon Shuler mentioned that she hoped that we would be more kind and helpful to each other. I mentioned how JCPC Knit-Wits and others were already doing just that by making the masks. In fact, groups from Johns Creek United Methodist Church and Johns Creek Baptist Church are making masks. Also, I posted Tim's request on the Montvale Ladies Facebook page, my neighborhood, and immediately women were volunteering to make masks.

Could it be that the hope shared through the making of masks is spreading faster than the virus?!!

In light of the empty tomb, I wouldn't look past this possibility. God is working to make all things new.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Prayer for Today

God of hope and new beginnings, we praise you for the gift of the Risen Lord, and ask that you bring his hope in our lives, our community and our world. Amen.

Recently, I came across a sermon I preached 20 years ago on Easter Sunday. Part of it went this way:

Last week, one of our church members sent me an email and an article from The Silicon Valley news, an informal newsletter. The article appeared last Monday morning right after the major stock market drop of last Friday. The subtitle of the article read, "Battered by market plunge, valley shareholders find solace in church, [and] core values." The article began by saying, "With today's market opening many hours away, Silicon Valley residents, over Sunday scones and cappuccino, were taking stock of their portfolios -- and their lives." The article went on to describe those who were considering their net worth beyond their financial gains. According to one source, there was a remarkable increase in church attendance last week. One person commented, "It's a reminder that I shouldn't get caught up in material things. . . . It's a good reminder to me of where to keep my heart." To sum it, the article said, "In this go-go-go valley, some are beginning to conclude the sum of their lives is not equal to the sum of their portfolio. Another person said, "It's just money. On our deathbeds, we're not going to think about how much money we have in the bank."

This Easter Sunday, some twenty years later, some things have changed, but some remain the same. Because we must shelter in place, there will not be "a remarkable increase in church attendance" - at least not in person, but I wonder how many will be looking for some kind of online worship service to give meaning to life in the face of this pandemic and the wild stock market fluctuations?

This Sunday's message is called "How Will This Change Us?" "This" refers both the pandemic and Easter. I hope you will plan to worship with us online -- and have some bread and grape juice or wine on hand as we will celebrate communion. My hope is that you will be changed - in a good way!

Prayer for Today

Loving God, we remember that on Good Friday, Jesus gave his life on a cross for the whole world. Thank you for the depth of your love for each one of us. May we live this day as faithful followers of the Risen Christ, whom we will worship this Easter Sunday. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus, the Risen Christ. Amen.

Don't worry about this Philistine," David told Saul. "I'll go fight him!"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Saul replied. "There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth."

I Samuel 17:32-33

When David showed up and offered to take on Goliath, he didn't look like the hero they were hoping for or expecting. It didn't matter that he'd tended his flock and kept them safe. It didn't matter that he was the hero they needed. He didn't have the look. He looked even sillier when they put the armor on him. They mocked him and called him foolish. He went out to face certain death, even as they discouraged him. He was just from a little town called Bethlehem. But he was a direct descendant of Abraham - 14 generations removed. And as we know, God had plans for David.

So when we read the story of Holy Week, we shouldn't then be surprised. A man of the house and lineage of David, 14 generations after him, in the city now known as the City of David, the Great King, the Giant slayer, the once shepherd, comes to the Holy city of Jerusalem to face certain death, riding a donkey. And the praises of Palm Sunday turned quickly to mockery. He wasn't the King they expected or wanted. They couldn't see that the Great Shepherd calling to his sheep was the hero and King they needed. But God had plans for his son and for us.

So we shouldn't be surprised that while we hail heroes of the sports arenas and political stage, of silver screen and fame, we often fail to recognize the real heroes among us, the ones we need. We take little notice of our first responders and healthcare workers, our grocery clerks and drive-thru cashiers, our truckers and other essential workers. At least until they face the giant pandemic that we face in fear, until they are willing to walk toward death for us to be servant leaders who risk it all. Heroes rarely look like we expect. We often don't recognize them till after the fact. Ours are serving us each day in this crisis. They are the hands and feet of Christ. They head to work each day like David did, saying, "If no one else will face the giant, I will. God is with me." Let us pray for them, support them by staying home, and following the recommended precautions they give us, and let us thank them.

Prayer for Today

Lord, thank you for the essential workers, the heroes we need. Help us to see them and support them fully each day. Amen.

Yesterday, I was reading a column by sportswriter Jason Gay about the spring baseball ritual for little leaguers -- Opening Day -- that's been cancelled. He also talked about his new ritual with his two children - a 7-year-old and a five-year-old. They found a place for batting practice on a little concrete strip behind their building. He's got a bucket of foam balls that he hopes won't break any of the neighbors' windows. He describes it this way:

We look like lunatics, a father and two small children back in this alleyway, foam baseballs bouncing all over the place, but it's my favorite part of the day. It's our ritual. Everyone has rituals now. . . . The thing about these rituals is, they're comforting. . . . For now, we make do with rituals, along with strange new habits. . . . I have a feeling it's going to be a good long while for us to return to normal. I wonder what the normal will be -- if life will forever change after this. (The Wall Street Journal, April 7, 2020, A16)

Jason Gay touches on two things I'm thinking about in preparation for Easter Sunday. The first has to do with wondering "if life will forever change after this." The title of this Sunday's message is "How Will This Change Us?" It is a question I find many of us are asking. I hope we can find some guidance, and maybe even some answers, from scripture this Sunday.

Jason Gay also talks about rituals -- that everyone has them now, in part because they are "comforting." One person talked about the importance of ritual in worship, saying that ritual is what we rely on when we run out of words to say.

This Easter Sunday we will be celebrating Communion or the Lord's Supper. In the church we call it a sacrament, but it is also a ritual. And yet it is a ritual that is not simply "made up." As Christians, we believe this ritual is connected to something very real that took place in history. We believe Jesus not only celebrated a Last Supper with his disciples the night before his arrest, but that he died on a Roman cross for the sins of the world. This was God's way of entering into the suffering of the world in order to save it from the sin and brokenness. It was God's way of making things right -- the way they're supposed to be.

Our sacrament of Communion or the Lord's Supper is not a ritual that ends with the death of Jesus from crucifixion. No, it also looks forward to a time when we as believers will come "from East and West and North and South" and gather at the table in the Kingdom of God. It looks forward to the time when God will set everything right, in the new heaven and the new earth, where there will be no more tears, or death, or pandemics. So, plan to have some bread and grape juice or wine on hand as we celebrate Communion together online this Easter Sunday.

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, we thank you for the sacrifice Jesus made for us all up on the cross, and for the resurrection hope we have in Christ. May we live into that resurrection hope. In the strong name have God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Close your eyes and picture a family dinner. What do you remember from these meals? Is it what you ate, a favorite dish that your mother used to make? A funny mishap on a holiday with one of your siblings or children? Words of wisdom from your dad?

Each of us probably has a memory that we could recount from a family meal together. What an important ritual family meals and table fellowship have on the growth and development of each one of us. For many of you, family meals may have transitioned to as many as three times a day now that we are at home together. For others, this may be a time when you long for the big family meals for holidays and special occasions.

I believe that it's a practice that God calls us to take part in as a church family as well. The disciples and other believers that gathered together in the early church knew the importance of fellowship together around a meal. "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people." (Acts 2:46-47a)

As we grow in our faith together, spending time in fellowship and conversation around a meal is a valuable experience for each of us to learn from one another. This week on Thursday, we remember the special meal that Jesus had with the disciples in his last days. I would invite you to join me in a Maundy Thursday at home experience with prayers, baking bread (or other baked good) and connecting with God and one another. If you are not with your family or close friends during this time, I would invite you to call them, video chat, or connect in some way even if not in person. Click here for the guide.

I believe that our souls are longing for some time to slow down for a few moments, enjoy some nourishment for our body, and engage in some meaningful conversations.

Prayer for Today

Creator God and Giver to all things, as we gather for this meal, we give thanks that we are again able to gather in this fellowship. May our friendships be strengthened and our lives be broadened. We give thanks for this food. Please bless it to our use and guide us so that we may help others be the best they can be. Amen.

During this time of sheltering in place it is important to keep daily routines. I've been diligent in making sure I practice as many of my old routines such as walking Cowboy and Walker. It brings me great joy to see them happy; especially when they meet up with friends. Here Walker is saying hello to his buddy Winston. It looks like they are dancing with joy! No canine social distancing.

Early Sunday morning I combined my routine of walking with the ritual of worship by watching our JCPC worship on my phone. If you are like me you feel worshipful hearing the uplifting music, inspired by the preaching and moved by the prayers. As I was listening to worship one of my neighbors walked down his driveway so I took out my ear buds to greet him. "Same ole, same ole!" he quipped. Normally I would have responded in a similar fashion but this time was different. "Not for me, I said with a smile, I'm worshipping with my church on-line!" He tilted his head with surprise and then he said something he hadn't said in the 20 years that I've known him. "Okay, will you say a prayer for me?" he asked. "I sure will," I responded and then I prayed for him and his wife. The ritual of worship opened up a new reality in my daily dog walking routine.

This is Holy Week and our worship rituals have been affected by shelter in place. Our Good Friday ritual at JCPC has been to open the sanctuary for prayer. As we shelter in place we will still be observing the sanctity of Good Friday but in a different space because of safety concerns. We will be meeting virtually, on-line, for a Good Friday prayer service beginning at noon. The prayer service will last one hour and you can attend by using Zoom. We will be using the last seven words of Christ with which to structure our prayer time. Relax! You won't be ask to pray out loud and you will be moved! Please join us to pray!

Here is a link with the log-in information:

You can go to our JCPC Facebook page  for login information and to access Zoom, or email me at nealk@jcpcusa.org.

Prayer for Today

During this our Holy Week, Loving God, may we feel the presence of your Spirit, ask for your merciful forgiveness of our sin and receive the gift of hope that we will persevere through these challenging times through the knowledge that in all things you are working for good. Amen.

"Necessity is the mother of invention." While that may sound like it should be in the Bible, it's not! It's Plato and it comes from his Republic. It is a proverb, and like the book of Proverbs found in our Bible, it conveys some wisdom. With the recent pandemic, the resulting social distancing, and shelter-at-home orders -- I have seen many examples of creative invention simply because it was needed.

I have had first-hand experience with our Online Worship Team and observed our Co-directors of Music Ministries, Christian and Heidi, creating some amazing music for worship. I hope you appreciate all the creativity and planning that goes into the selection of each piece of music. Heidi and Christian choose music not only because it sounds good, but also because it's appropriate for the season of Lent, as well as for the challenging times in which we find ourselves. In addition to music for this upcoming Palm/Passion Sunday, they have created five "Holy Week Musical Meditations" that you will be able to watch and listen to beginning next Monday. You will find them on our "Church at Home" page on the JCPC website.

On Easter Sunday, we will not only hear more excellent, uplifting music -- we will also be celebrating communion or the Lord's Supper as a part of the service. Please plan to have on hand some bread and grape juice or wine (your choice) that morning so that we can celebrate communion together in our homes. I believe that the Spirit of the risen Christ can transcend time and space, uniting us as the body of Christ even though we may be apart . . . at least for a while. I encourage you to pass the word about this and invite others to join us.

I also want to ask you to continue to give generously in support of these new and creative ways we are finding to do God's work in Johns Creek. You can do this online at our jcpcusa.org website or on the church app. Or, you can simply mail a check to the church. We have also just installed a dropbox outside the church front door if you feel better about sharing your gift that way. Thank you for your generous support!

Prayer for Today

We thank you, Creator God, for giving us the ability to be co-creators with you in your world. Show us how to creatively use the gifts we have been given by you to make a difference in the lives of others. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!

-Matthew 23:37

(These words aren't carved into the communion table of a small chapel that overlooks Jerusalem - the site where tradition holds that Jesus spoke these words.)

A moment of serenity. If you've ever held an infant - which I'm doing as I write these thoughts - you know it's a struggle. Not for you, but for them. Their tiny bodies are adjusting to this world, one so different from the one which is familiar and safe. In one moment, they need a steady rhythm of burping, and in the next, rocking or bouncing, and then absolute stillness. They need to be fed and then challenged to expel the excess, and then comforted, without end.

And as I hold my own child in this pre-dawn hour in a moment of stillness, I read the news of the world, a world in such turmoil and distress. There's pandemic and paranoia and panic and prayer. The Body is in distress. And God holds us. We flail and cry out. And God holds us. We fight internally and resist care and comfort. And God holds us. We struggle to reach an internal peace. And God holds us.

In the past two weeks, I've held my kiddo and watched news reports. It's been far too easy to worry and fret - someone once told me that worry is a misuse of God's gift of imagination. But then I'd receive a text, an instagram message, a Facebook post, a call, a package, a visit, a meal - the Body at work. And God holding us. This week, meals and visitors arrived. Messages from friends across the country. FaceTime across time zones. A message from the UK, Japan, Afghanistan, Puerto Rico, Mexico, New Zealand. Former youth and friends of youth, pastor friends and distant relatives. And today, a hand knit prayer shawl from a pastor friend's church. And God holds us.

The country and world struggle. The governments flail. The people of media and social media cry out. The Body struggles. And God holds us. Know that. Struggle for peace. But do not forget who holds you. All through the long night.

Prayer for Today

God, hold me. Whisper to me that you are there. Give me strength to be a part of the body and hold others. Amen.

"We are fools for Christ . . ." - 1 Corinthians 4:10a, NIV

Today is April Fool's Day. I have heard that some have chosen to cancel whatever April Fool's Day celebrations were planned because of the pandemic. I can understand that. With the seriousness of all that's going on, it just doesn't seem appropriate for now. Last week a friend of mine emailed that he had watched our first online worship service. Because he doesn't go to our church, it gave him the opportunity to experience our worship service. He talked about how he liked the service. But then he added one suggestion, that perhaps the service needed some humor. I must admit his comment caught me a little off guard. Because of the seriousness of the pandemic -- the loss of life, the spreading sickness, and the loss of jobs -- humor just didn't feel right to me.

Now I certainly believe humor has its place, and sometimes it helps us get through difficult times. On the other hand, I can remember wanting to make a joke when things were very serious, probably because I was uncomfortable with what was going on. Also, I am not sure if humor is really my forte. I've always admired preachers who seemed to have the ability to entertain with the timing of a comedian. Humor can also open us up and laughter can break down barriers. I guess I will just leave that kind of humor to those who do it well.

When Paul says in his letter to the church at Corinth that "we are fools for Christ" -- he is not saying that we are court jesters or clowns. In Paul's day the dominant worldviews were Greek, Roman, and Jewish. Paul was fluent in all three. But from a Greek perspective, the idea of Jesus as the Son of God who comes in the flesh and dies on a cross seemed foolish. But for those of us who are "fools for Christ" -- it is God's true wisdom and the way of life!

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, help us to risk being "fools for Christ" -- even in the face of the world's laughter. And may the love and grace of Jesus the Christ shine through our "foolish" lives. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.