March 23, 2020 A Pastoral Letter from Father Michael
Dear Christ Church Family & Friends
Greetings in the name of Christ our Lord. I hope and pray that you and your family, friends, and loved ones are healthy and safe. These past days and weeks have proven most difficult and disheartening for all of humankind as we seek to overcome the deadly effects of the Coronavirus. This pandemic has impacted us on a global scale—in ways we’ve never encountered in our lifetime. We’re witnessing and experiencing events and lifestyle changes we never thought possible. The effects of social distancing are proving foreign to us and contrary to our understanding of community and love of neighbor.
This distancing has proved devastating for all people of every religious faith group—as we can no longer gather in worship as a worshiping body. In the blink of an eye—our life’s journey took a devastating turn from normalcy to totally bizarre. We suddenly found ourselves in the wilderness—not sure how to recover and move forward once again into the light of a new day. And yet, facing such overwhelming circumstances—I would remind us all that there is much Good News.
This good news; however, will not be found in a rebounding economy, or in resumed air travel, or the removed restrictions of social distancing. It can only be found in the person of Jesus Christ our Lord. Found only in our faith in him who loved us and gave himself for us. For in him—we have light and life and victory. And nothing, absolutely nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We are more than conquerors through him who loves us. This my friends is good news—it is the best news in such times of trial, tribulation, and uncertainty.
May it be so! We ask this and all things in the name of Almighty God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
My continued thoughts and prayers for you and your loved ones.
Fr. Michael+
“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)