Good morning…
It strikes me that many of you do not know my husband, Steve. You have not seen him. You have not heard his voice. You have never been in the same room. So during this time of social distancing, I thought I would share with you, on this memorable Maundy Thursday, the virtual chapel service Steve filmed from our basement to creatively connect with his school community. Utilizing this thought-provoking image of Jesus “zooming” with his best friends during the Last Supper, hand sanitizer by his side, Steve reminds us that nothing, not even this crazy coronavirus, can separate us from the enduring love of God.
Our God pursues an up-close relationship with each of us, even when difficult circumstances demand distance. Notice how many expressions of intimacy are expressed in the Psalm below. Finding our own unique way to zoom in on God’s presence, we whisper these words to our living LORD.
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast (Psalm 139: 1-10, NIV).
Intimately adapting with our living LORD this Maundy Thursday, we commemorate Jesus’ final Passover feast with his closest friends. Within our separate spaces this sacred day, we are spiritually bonded, hemmed in and held fast by God’s guiding hand. I invite you to watch the video below as we creatively connect around Christ’s open table.
…Sue…
P.S. Tonight at 7:00PM (via Facebook and the church website) join our Northside Church family for a Love Feast that recalls Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. Good Friday at noon (via Facebook) Rev. Catherine Boothe Olson will lead the congregation in a time of prayer. Then Easter Sunday morning worship services will livestream at 8:30, 9:45, and 11:00AM through Facebook and the church website. We will celebrate the good news that Christ is risen, indeed!
