Jesus said: In the world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33
Dear Friends,
We are so thankful to belong to one another during this unexpected time of separation and isolation. This is for me not unlike Jesus' period in the wilderness for 40 days at the beginning of his ministry. (We are even in the season of Lent, the 40 day period in which we remember his time of isolation and self-giving.) Unlike those of us in March 2020 who "shelter in place," Jesus had no shelter during this time. But like Jesus, we are not truly alone. The God who created us and gives us life and breath fills up our isolation with consolation, and surrounds us with grace and presence. We have God's presence and the encouragement and support of one another, enhanced by the modern digital tools that are keeping us well-connected.
Speaking of digital tools, many of you have commented on how much you enjoyed Immanuel's first streamed service on Sunday, 3/15. We had a large number who tuned in, some from the other side of the US. I am grateful to the team that worked with me very quickly to develop the plan and infrastructure to pull this off. Our Bible text fit the occasion perfectly with the story of Jesus' conversation with a new friend he met by a well in Samaria. When the question arose about the authorized place for God's worshipers to gather, Jesus announced that we are called to "worship God in Spirit and truth." The Spirit, not our physical location, is what binds us together and makes us Christians and followers of Jesus. As followers of Jesus we lift up our prayers for one another, and especially for those whose health has been directly impacted by the spread of this virus.
Please be aware that:
For the foreseeable future all Sunday services will be streamed.
All regular activities are cancelled or postponed.
We will notify you as soon as the “shelter in place” restriction is lifted and we can resume meeting.
Until then we have a team of people with lower risk factors who have offered to bring groceries or other needed supplies to those requesting this. Please reply to this email or call the church office (650-967-4906) and leave a message with any such needs. Even if we can only leave supplies out in front of your house for you to take in, you will be saved a trip and the accompanying risks. Please don't hesitate to share your needs.
I close for now with prayers that I brought to our service on Sunday, March 15. I took language I had encountered in an online post and incorporated them into words for us to speak as our prayers in worship. I think they speak perfectly to the Spirit in which God calls us to walk and live in this time.. -- Pastor David
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Loving God, we bring to you a world frequently divided. A world filled with fear. A world that often does not know which way to turn. Comfort us and lead us, for we are part of this world.
You tell us you have overcome the troubles of this world in your cross and resurrection, and you invite us to walk with you in that faith and confidence. We thank you for that assurance. Help us also now to walk with one another, especially with those whose lives are bowed down with trouble and fear:
May we whose lives are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are in danger.
May we who have minimal risk factors remember those who are most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options.
May we have to cancel our trips remember those who have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of market downturns remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose to love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, by your grace let us find ways to be the loving embrace of God for our neighbors.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.