In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.

-Genesis 1:1

When you think about it, the pandemic has changed so much. We went from normal worship, to online only, and then to in-person worship in the parking lot. With our Drive-in services, we've celebrated communion together, have worshiped twice in the rain, and celebrated World Communion Sunday. We even celebrated Kirkin' O' the Tartans together!

As the pandemic lingers on, I know many of us are ready to go back to the way it was. I myself would love to worship in person in our beautiful chapel with all of you. But, of course, we cannot ignore the present reality just because we want to do something.

Look at what happened in the very beginning. "The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep." (Genesis 1:1)

Then over the course of a week, God innovated and created all that we know today. Look at how the coming of the Christ child radically changed humanity, and the centuries of innovations in our Christian tradition that have brought us to where we are now. And consider how God continues to work in all of our lives today, constantly taking the old and innovating to create positive change through us. God is the Great Innovator in so many ways!

In this pandemic, JCPC has also innovated. Our online and Drive-in services are not just a band aid to "get us through" - they are carefully and prayerfully-prepared innovations that have allowed us to worship safely together in this historical, once-in-a-century pandemic. We will be back together indoors someday, but before we rush into an unsafe situation, I hope you will recognize that we are worshipping together each Sunday in a way that is truly authentic, engaging, and faith-driven. Other churches may have gone back to indoor worship, but in these challenging times, I believe that God is calling us to be radically innovative as the body of Christ - without putting lives at risk. We'll be keeping the faith together again this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot. Won't you join us?

Prayer for Today

God of Creation, inspire our minds to find new ways to worship and serve you. Guide us and create in us a desire for meaningful change to take our faith deeper. Give us the wisdom and courage to forge new ways forward in these uncertain times. Make us innovators for your will and beacons of hope among the darkness of despair and longing. Amen.

peak out on behalf of the voiceless,

    and for the rights of all who are vulnerable. 

Speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor.

-Proverbs 31:8-9

When I worked my first summer of college for the District Attorney in my home town, her office brought a case against a teacher who had hurt students. As a part of her office, my duties as intern included caring for the students and parents until it was their turn to testify. I heard and overheard their stories and pain. I also watched the process from jury selection to when the judge threw it out. I knew the truth. I suspect the jury did. The defense attorney mostly proved his case by the testimony of students who had NOT been hurt. It seemed obvious to me that the teacher prayed on the most vulnerable kids who found it hardest to speak up and testify. This passage, like the parable of sheep and goats reminds us that our highest calling as believers is to see the downtrodden and hear the oppressed. And even in a good system with fair laws and righteous lawyers and judges, justice can be elusive.

I think of that case often, how those students weren't heard. Not really. Not in any way that brought them meaningful justice or change. I think of it every close election, and every landslide. No matter who wins, some group of people do not feel heard, don't receive attention or justice. It is why I admire leaders who acknowledge first and foremost not that they won, but that many people didn't vote for them, and they still have a voice and should be encouraged to participate. And as believers, we are all called to hear the voices that might be silenced or ignored.

Whether this election is decided this week or the weeks to come, we are citizens of the kingdom of God first and America second. We must be able to hear our brother or sister of another stripe. Christ tells us the peacemakers are blessed. Those who seek to hear the voice of the voiceless are God's children. So no matter what leaders are now in charge, our calling is to serve, to listen, and to help those who feel ignored to make their voices heard. If it's farmers and rural laborers or factory workers, teachers or frontline healthcare workers, first responders or refugees, let's listen and hear. Let's do that work together, recommitted to peace and hope and justice for all.

Prayer for Today

Lord, make me a good citizen of your kingdom, extending love and justice to all. Amen.

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." 

-Psalm 27:14, NIV

So, it is the morning after the elections and I am waiting. It is not easy to wait for the final results of something that seems so important and which will have great implications for our world. No one really likes waiting, at least no one I know of -- certainly not me. However, the words above are not a proverb on the benefits of waiting in general. No, they remind us to "wait for the Lord." Two times we are reminded to "wait for the Lord."

What is it exactly we're waiting for? We know for whom it is we are waiting, but what is it we are waiting for God to do? My sense is that it depends. It depends on what's going on in our lives. It depends on what God is trying to do in our world. Much of the time we don't know exactly what we are waiting for, but we are still told to wait -- which in itself is an act of faith and trust. If we do not have faith in God and trust in God's ability to complete God's plans in the world, then we tend to go ahead with our own plans. Maybe we think we can't wait. Or perhaps we think that somebody needs to do something, and if God isn't doing it on our schedule, then we choose not to wait and we barge ahead on our own.

The Psalm doesn't promise a particular outcome resulting from our waiting. But it does encourage us to be strong and to take heart. The word "encourage" literally means "to take heart." The French word coeur means "heart." Being strong and taking heart require something from us. And yet the more we do it, the better we become at being strong and taking heart. Like physical exercise, it builds up the muscles of encouragement. So, however these elections turn out, I want to encourage us all to be strong and take heart -- trusting in God who is faithful, loving, and at work in our world.

Prayer for Today

Loving and faithful God, help us to be strong and to take heart as we wait. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

"If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I'll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I'm all ears, all eyes before you. Save me from my enemies, God- you're my only hope! Teach me how to live to please you, because you're my God. Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland." 

-Psalm 143, selected verses (The Message)

David's prayer was shared with me this morning and I'm grateful for these words on Election Day. Asking God for guidance and listening to God's loving voice go with me today. I have always heard that I can only control my own actions and cannot control the actions of others. What I was also reminded when studying Ephesians is that God has the power and God is in control. I am called to accept God's grace, be open to God's love and guidance and then live each day demonstrating that with my actions.

In Ephesians, Paul reminds us that we are God's workmanship. N.T. Wright reflects on this language, "This word sometimes has an artistic ring to it. It maybe hinting that what God has done to us in King Jesus is a work of art, like a poem or sculpture... We are like a musical score and the music which we now have to play, is the genuine way of being human, laid out before us in God's gracious design, so that we can follow it."

How will you go into your day responding to these promises and prayers from two of God's followers?

Prayer for Today

Gracious Creator God, Open our hearts to your guidance and our hands to your work in this world. In Christ's Name, Amen.

God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

    and the mountains quake with their surging.  

Psalm 46:1-3 (NIV)

This past Thursday, I found myself with a lot of time on my hands.  Tropical Storm Zeta blew a tree down on the main street of our subdivision, blocking anyone from exiting or entering the neighborhood.  Of course, we were also without power.  I'm sure many of you who live in the Atlanta area have similar stories.  Our prayers are certainly with all who were affected by the storm, especially those that experienced loss of property or even loved ones.

I had to laugh at myself when I realized how basically disruptive the whole situation was for me and my husband.  We were stuck on our end of the street, staring at a downed tree all tangled up in power lines, all the food in the fridge passing its CDC-recommended 4-hour-without-power limit, and we can't even call for a pizza because there's no way they can get to us.  All we can do is call the power company and wait.  And wait.  And light the gas range with a match and make ramen noodles.  (I'm really not complaining... I like ramen noodles!)

My thoughts turned to 2020 and how the unfolding of the pandemic changed our lives.  Everyone had to learn to adapt, for much longer than we ever expected, and we're adapting still, as it doesn't seem to be coming to an end anytime soon.

So we weather another storm.  We learn to adapt to temporary limitations.  Most important of all, we remember the One who never changes.  The Mighty Fortress.  The One who calms the storm.  The Holy One. 

Prayer for Today

Triune God, turn our eyes always to you, the unchanging One.  Amen.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

-I Corinthians 12:27

One of the best parts of corporate worship is that members are around people they sometimes never see in their daily lives. In college, many of my peers would remark how strange it was to see children and babies after going months only seeing other college students and professors. It was less strange for me because I'd sometimes see them at church. Some of my youth have never known their grandparents or live hundreds of miles from them. Their main experiences with the elderly are their Sunday school teachers and mentors. Sometimes, Church, and its activities and outreach expose people to different generations and types of people they never see outside of church, of various ages, language and cultural groups, the homeless, differently abled, or of different affiliations.

Technology challenges us to interact differently too. In some ways, it opens the door to people who can't or won't come to in-person gatherings. In some ways, it levels the playing field. Like worship, those differences can be simultaneously uncomfortable and filled with growth. My first year here at JCPC, I advocated for video recorded faith statements from our Confirmands to respond to the needs of both one student with special needs and a few with crippling anxiety about public speaking. Their statements were profound, preserved, and shared with compassion in this new way. While it did not happen without resistance, the joy and thanks from the youth and parents who needed that accommodation was worth it. And now Covid has brought a similar growing pain and opportunity.

Our new youth group schedule is to meet every other week in person and socially distanced. While some lessons work in this format, it's better for games. Likewise, the alternating weeks and mid-week bible studies on Zoom are more conducive to lessons and discussion. Some of the youth, and maybe parents too, express their dislike of one or the other. My prayer for them and for you and the small groups to which you belong is to dig deeper! As an extrovert and relationship-oriented person, I confess I do NOT prefer Zoom meetings. I crave the intimacy of my youth squeezed around a table in the Chick-fil-A or local coffee shop. But you know what? I've observed my youth with special needs and anxieties who would ordinarily never pay close attention or share their viewpoints in person or large groups... they freely speak on Zoom. And we are enriched by that sharing. We are more closely resembling the full body of Christ. And when we only come for in-person OR online, we are diminished.

The full body shows up in the fullest gatherings, and there is growth in the places we are not the most comfortable. I've learned a lot in this growing time. I hope you'll join me for ALL the opportunities, and not just the ones you prefer. Let's learn together.

Prayer for Today

Lord, help me to join in the body, even when I feel growing pains. Amen.

A while back I heard Scott Weimer, former pastor of the North Avenue Presbyterian Church, talking about a woman who was one of their international members from Kenya. She came down front after a service and she told Scott that she missed some parts of the worship from Kenya. Scott asked what she missed. The woman said that she missed how they gave the offering. In her country, they placed the offering plates down front, and then people danced down the aisle while carrying their gifts up to place them in the offering plate.

Last Sunday, we finished up our Stewardship sermon series called Faith in Action. And while we could not dance down the aisle to bring our pledge cards because of this pandemic, many of you have already pledged. You have placed your pledge card in the offering plate following Drive-In Worship, mailed it to the church office, dropped it by the Welcome Center drop box, pledged online on our church website, or used the QR code on the pledge card or worship bulletin. So far, we have received 47 pledges totaling $457,301 which is about 60% of our 2021 pledge goal of $762,600. Thank you to everyone who has pledged so far! If you have not done that yet, please do so as soon as you can so that together we can accomplish God's mission for JCPC in 2021.

Last Sunday was a great day of worship with Kirkin' of the Tartans! This coming Sunday we will remember those whom we have lost this past year during our All Saints' Day service. I hope you will make a special effort to attend the Drive-In service or watch Online.

Finally, if you have yet to respond to our survey about when to return to worship, we want your input, so please click this link and do that now. 

Prayer for Today

Thank you, God, for blessing us in so many ways - from financial resources to saints who have shown us how to live faithfully as followers of Christ. Help us to follow their generous example in our lives. In the strong name of Christ we pray. Amen.

"Then Christ will live in your hearts because you believe in him. And I pray that your love will have deep roots. I pray that it will have a strong foundation. May you have power with all God's people to understand Christ's love. May you know how wide and long and high and deep it is. And may you know his love, even though it can't be known completely. Then you will be filled with everything God has for you." (Ephesians 3:17-19)

In Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus, we hear that to know and be rooted in Christ's love, is to more fully be the people God has created and is calling us to be. We are empowered to be the best versions of ourselves. This passage reminds me of our call to pass on this message to the all children, youth and adults in our church as they are on their faith journey.

A couple of years ago, I spent a season studying Ephesians with our Senior Adult Bible Study. The time spent with that group studying Paul's letter to the Ephesians was deeply meaningful to me. This letter from Paul and his message to us is a helpful reminder to me that each one of us has the opportunity to help others experience the width, length, height and depth of God's love.

What can you do to share God's love that is deeply rooted in you? Who has been a teacher or mentor along the way for you? What did they do that made an impact on your journey?

In a world where the pressure to succeed is high and many hear that they are only loved for as much as they can perform, Paul's reminder to us is even more relevant. In a country that can be divided and polarized in an election and pandemic, Paul's reminder to us is even more imperative. We are called to share that God's love is unconditional and far exceeds the limits of this earth.

A small example of this love was evident to me yesterday. I received a message and pictures from Will's teacher. The class has been working on weekly challenges and some of the class had completed all 9 for the first quarter of the school year. Rather than have just 6 of the children enjoy their popsicle reward, these generous students decided to share with their entire class. The smiles on their faces enjoying a sweet treat brought such joy to my heart to see the love that these friends have developed over the past year and a half (Will's class had the special privilege of staying together with their teacher from kindergarten to 1^st grade).

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, Thank you for your gift of love. Help us to be open to experience your love and allow it to take root in our lives. In Christ's Name, Amen.

During a trip to celebrate our twenty-fifth anniversary, my husband and I read our Bibles on the beach. As vendors passed and called out the prices of their wares, we thanked each one but didn't buy anything. One vendor, Fernando, smiled wide at my rejection and insisted we consider buying gifts for friends. After I declined his invitation, Fernando packed up and began walking away . . . still grinning. "I pray God will bless your day," I said.

Fernando turned toward me and said, "He has! Jesus changed my life." Fernando knelt between our chairs. "I feel His presence here." He then shared how God had delivered him from drug and alcohol abuse more than fourteen years earlier.

My tears flowed as he recited entire poems from the book of Psalms and prayed for us. Together, we praised God and rejoiced in His presence . . . on la playa.

Psalm 148 is a prayer of praise. The psalmist encourages all of creation to "praise the name of the Lord, for at his command [everything was] created" (v. 5), "for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens" (v. 13).

Though God invites us to bring our needs before Him and trust He hears and cares for us, He also delights in prayers of grateful praise wherever we are. Even on the beach.

Prayer for Today

Help me praise You with every breath You've given me, God. Amen.

"We honor those brave pilgrims who kept faith when hope seemed all but gone. They prayed and sang to You, and through Your blessings, they did carry on."

-Text from Beneath Thy Guiding Hand (the anthem for this week)

This Sunday is Kirkin' o' the Tartans, as well as Reformation Sunday, and it is a tradition that many churches have to honor our Presbyterian Scottish heritage. The text above, taken from the anthem we will sing this Sunday, paints the picture of our spiritual ancestors who crossed the Atlantic Ocean in search of religious freedom, among other things.

I think this text is also appropriate for now in this time of pandemic. Have you had any days in the last six or so months where you felt like hope seemed all but gone? Even in this pandemic, a lot of us "suffer" with conditions that are drastically better than what the first Presbyterians who came over from Scotland experienced. While we might grovel about having to wear a mask at the grocery store, they didn't even have a neighborhood Publix to go to for food. While we debate whether we should leave our homes for fear of viral infection, they didn't have the choice to just stay home and wait out their hardships.

They risked everything and gave up so much, not because a virus forced them to, but because they felt compelled to. I'm sure they complained, but I'm glad they persisted and passed on the faith tradition that we still follow today. I also think about how we as Presbyterians have changed through the years. It reminds me that we are connected to our past yet different from them, because we have grown and adapted to many things. And we are literally in the midst of adapting to new things right now, yet we are still Presbyterians and we are still the church.

As we honor our past this Sunday, let's also remember that we are making history right now. Our Drive-In Worship experience has been a model for our community and it has been a way for us to keep faith, pray, and sing to God. And through God's blessings, we can make it out of this pandemic yet, stronger and more deeply connected.

Prayer for Today

God of the past, present, and future, thank you for our spiritual ancestors who trusted in you and acted. Help us today to bless you, and use our time, talents, and treasures for your purposes so that our spiritual descendants can have a chance to continue the mission. Amen.