The 10:30 service can be viewed online at:https://boxcast.tv/channel/bzioh0xyyacgq5fmjnoi
11:30 a.m. Virtual Fellowship: https://zoom.us/j/153605864?pwd=M2VSRjZsRDdFd1Q4bms0RExzam5SUT09&status=success PW: 007681
February 11, 2021
Dear Congregation:
On Super Bowl Sunday, our youth gathered to receive food donations and monetary donations for the Frederick food bank. The kids hadn’t seen each other in months. It was a beautiful day to be outside. There was snow from the morning providing the perfect opportunity for making a snowman and making snowballs and tossing them at each other. The joy of seeing them together, wearing masks and staying physically apart, was a gift in an otherwise weary time.
I see that same joy whenever we have seen one another over these months. When we gather for worship, when we meet for a Spiritual Walk, when people are delivering worship packets or stopping by the church office, I see the joy in being together.
In our hearts and minds, we know there’s always a risk when people gather. Even before the pandemic, we recognized the need to have clean bathrooms. When serving food, we pulled our hair back, washed our hands, and made sure we had gloves on. When we did not feel well, we did not attend worship or a church gathering.
There is no magic day when we all of us will feel comfortable gathering together at one time. Integrating ourselves back into the wider culture of gathering will take some time. For some of us, it will take longer than for others.
Our church and its leaders are committed to creating a safe space for gathering. We will continue to honor your decision to come to activities in person — and to remain at home until you feel comfortable doing so. I ask you to remember these values as part of our love of neighbor and to respect one another’s decisions to connect in a socially aware manner in person or online, understanding that, while different in approach, are both valid.
P.S. Using our young people as an example, we all need to play and to laugh. I am looking for someone/some people to plan some silly or playful activities for the coming months where we would be outside and able to social distance. Use your imagination. We have a beautiful patio area, high top tables, noisy musical things.
Worship Notes
The Season after the Epiphany ends with the story of Jesus’ transfiguration in Mark 9: 2-9. This revealing of Jesus’ glory is a turning point, marking the end of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and the beginning of the journey towards Jerusalem and the fate that awaits Jesus there. Just before today’s reading, Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah. But Peter does not understand Jesus’ teaching about the kind of Messiah Jesus has come to be. I John 4: 7-19 reminds us of the gift of love.
Norman Ross will be preaching this morning and Kim Sexton leading the liturgy. The ERUCC singers will be reading scripture.
Food for Thought:
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” (Maya Angelou)
Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel, Senior Pastor
Evangelical Reformed Church, United Church of Christ
15 West Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701
301-662-2762
E-mail: bkdaniel@erucc.org
