Wesley Church

People Blessing People

Daily Devotional August 17

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
     -Hebrews 11:1, NIV

“Today is the 23rd Sunday of this season I’m calling covid-tide,” I said yesterday in our livestream worship. Twenty-three Sundays. Twenty-three isn’t a particular milestone number… but for some reason, I was feeling the weight of this extended season of covid-tide in a particular way yesterday. Twenty-three Sundays without gathering together, in person, in our beautiful sanctuary. 

Of course, we’re still gathered. When the livestream is running, church, there’s a different atmosphere in the room. Something special. Something electric. Something holy, yet wholly unseen. 

Still, we wonder when we’ll be back. We wait and hope for that day. We watch the livestream, or come to the parking lot communion services (join us tonight!), or participate in the online Bible study, wondering when we’ll be “back.” Will it happen soon? Will it happen… ever?

It will, friends. Have faith. Have faith in the kind of gathered community we hope for… and have faith in the kind of gathered community we continue to have, even if we can’t necessarily see it. 

And have faith that we’ll be back. Don’t believe me? Listen to this singing and dancing priest (with his parody of the king’s song from Hamilton): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFduNE4pXAQ
(See what happens when clergy are left alone too long in these big, beautiful sanctuaries?)

If you’re like me, you need a little extra encouragement today. Some “keep faith,” “have hope,” “rest assured,” “this too shall pass” encouragement. 

This too shall pass, church. We’ll be back… even better than we ever were before. 

Pastor Candy

After all:

Our God is bigger than coronavirus. 
Our vision is bigger than coronavirus, too. 
We are people blessing people. 
We are Wesley Church.   

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