St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church

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St. Bart's Blog

Meditation about the Coronavirus

Posted by The Rev. William Zettinger on

Dear Lord, we're still hoping that we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll peek from under the covers and think, thank God it was just a dream.

Just yesterday moms were packing school lunches, children were going off to school, restaurants were open, sports arenas were busy, brides were walking down the aisle, we were sharing meals with neighbors and we had jobs.

In the blink of an eye, everything changed. An invisible disease invaded our lives, our plans, our futures, and our security. In a heartbeat, the world changed.

Grandma and Grandpa aren’t allowed visitors in their nursing homes and retirement communities. Churches, Synagogues and Mosques have closed or gone silent, we are telecommuting, Zooming, Skyping and living on Social Media in our pajamas and slippers. Handshakes and hugs have been put on hold and the shelves are empty.

We are anxious, Father. And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we ask you for hope and an outreached hand to guide our way. Take our hands and guide us, Lord. Guide us.

We ask because we know what you can do. We know the great stories of the bible and the stories of you’re inspiration and hope. And now we pray, give us that inspiration. Hear our prayer Lord hear our prayer.

Remember the Hebrew people in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, protect them; watch over them.

We remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit so he could save a nation. We pray you do the same for us so we can heal the nation and the world.

And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them and gave her a child. Give us the hope of Children so that we may be born anew.

Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. Inspire us to have courage in this time of fear and pain. So pain will be no more.

The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope and gave them the courage to carry on. Resurrect Our hope and give us the courage to carry on.

You took away the doubts of Thomas? Take away our doubt. Help us calm our fears and never doubt your love for us..

You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. Give us servants who can inspire our leaders and be good counselors. Hear our prayer Lord hear our prayer

You inspired and gave Esther the courage to save her people. Save us Lord save us.

Give us counselors like the great prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. We need to hear your prophetic voice as you open our ears to what you have to say. Open our ears Lord open our ears.

We need leaders with courage, empathy, and wisdom that can encourage us and give us hope. Send them to us dear Lord.

What we feel today you felt on that Friday long ago. Inspiration interrupted. Goodness forsaken. Mothers weeping. Just as the darkness fell on your Son, we feel the darkness falling on us, on our friends, our family, our nation and the world.

After your Son’s three days in a dark tomb, you rolled back the stone, rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Grant us another Easter.

We thank you, Father, for the selfless acts of service by so many. The doctors, the nurses who help people they don’t even know, working together, at personal risk, to care for the rest of us. We are humbled by their commitment...Commitment to us.

We pray, dear father that you help us to respect each other, care for each other, and look up to you in prayer because we are anxious and worried but because of you we have hope. And know you will get us through this time.

We ask, Father: let your mercy be upon all who suffer. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Help us to put our differences aside. Have mercy upon the souls who have been hurt and have died because of this disease. Give us grace to help each other and the faith to follow and trust in you.

And look with favor upon your church. Give her the wisdom to lead the world anew. Give her the tools to heal this hurting world and comfort us, comfort us in our time of need

Hear our prayers Lord hear our prayers

Amen

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