Mission Moment with Canon Carrie Headington (you can make this a weekly thing if you like) 

Living Our Baptismal Call: Spreading Good News During COVID-19

In our Baptismal Covenant, the Celebrant asks,

 “Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?” and we respond, “I will with God’s help.”  (BCP, p. 305)

In the midst of this global pandemic, our world is aching, and desperate for good news…and we, the church, have good news to share.  Yes, our church buildings are closed, but the church is not closed. In fact, now more than ever our church needs to remain open and active.  We not only need our clergy, we need every single follower of Jesus, the whole body of Christ, to respond to the call of our Lord Jesus to be His hands, feet, mouthpiece, and heart with those around us. John’s Gospel says “For God so loved the world that He sent His son into the world, not to condemn the world but to save it.” (John 3:16) Our world needs the loving saving news of God in Christ in word and example.  

People in our communities needs to hear, see, and know that God is real. God is alive. God is with us to give us strength in this time. God does not sit removed from our pain but entered into our brokenness, taking on human flesh, in the person of Jesus. God has taken on the hurt and sins of the world, suffering the most brutal death on the cross and rose again to new life so that every single person on the planet could be reconciled to God for an eternity. There is life after death and eternal life begins now. There is peace which passes understanding available to us today. There is a savior who is with us always. We are never alone. This is indeed good news.

These are dark days and Jesus said that as His followers, we are called to be the “light of the world,” (Matthew 5:14-16). We are called to “let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father in Heaven.”

Just before Jesus ascended in Heaven He said, “Now you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

So what does it look like to be Christ’s witness during COVID-19, sharing the Good news of God in Christ in word and example?

Here are some practical suggestions and I encourage you to share with me what you are doing so we can encourage one another in this call of sharing Christ’s love.

1. Pray and Spend Time in God’s Word: In following the example of Jesus, pray. Prayer and spending time in Scripture connects us to God, His Strength, His will, and His wisdom for how we are to be His witness in our daily lives. As we spend time with Him, we are filled and nourished ourselves so that we can give to others. Before we can share the love of Christ, we must be nourished by Him ourselves.

 

Pray to be strengthened in your own spirit.

Pray for those whom God has placed around you and ask Him how you can be a blessing to them. (family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, those hurting in your city)

Pray for divine appointments where you can share the love of Jesus in word and action with those around you. 

2. Call, Listen, and Speak – Call, write and reach out to friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and ask how they are doing. Be a listening ear. Jesus did a lot of listening. Asking questions and listening is an act of holy curiosity. The Latin root of curiosity curameans “to heal.” Being a listening ear can bring Christ’s healing. People are longing for connection. Then at an appropriate time speak words of life to others. We are seed sowers who cast seeds of life to the wind and the Holy Spirit does with it what He will.

Some suggested phrases of comfort: 

I am comforted in knowing that God is with us… I know God is with you because He promises never to leave us.

I don’t understand why this has happened but I know God will give us His strength…  

I am praying for peace which only Christ can give…His peace is for all of us and for you during this time. 

Jesus asks us to give him our burdens so I have been going to him with mine and you can too.

In the midst of death, I am comforted to know that this life is not the end… In Jesus Christ we have eternal life.

We are not alone. Jesus promises He is with us always.  

If you feel led, pray with and for people when you speak with them or e-mail them a prayer. You do not have to pray long prayers. Just a simple, “Lord please give _____ peace. Lord please heal ____. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Praying for people can give such a deep touch of Christ’s peace. 

3. Acts of Kindness and Service – Do what you can.

*With all of us self -isolating at home, it feels hard to know how to serve yet there is a lot we can do. If you are going out to get food or groceries, offer to pick things up for people who cannot get out. You can drop goods off at their door step.

*If you know how to use smart phones and or how to order food over the internet- show people who don’t know how to do it. We can help empower people by teaching them new skills.

*Donate to ministries which care for the poor. Many people are now out of work. The hardest hit at this time are the poor and elderly. Some of our key Diocesan partners are: Gateway of Grace www.gatewayofgrace.orgto give to refugees in need and Greater Dallas Coalition www.greaterdallascoalition.netto give to ministries serving the poorest of the poor in South Dallas. Most ministries are in great need of support as they care for those hungry.

*Offer to talk with children by phone who are at home. I am personally reading from the Bible and telling Bible stories over the phone with my Godchildren.

*SMILE and Wave to people.

4. Invitepeople to church! Our clergy have been working very hard to bring their worship services online. If your parish is not yet online with Facebook Live or Live Streaming, we have many in the Diocese who are and you can join your diocesan family in worship. Your St. Matthew’s Cathedral does Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, Compline and bi-weekly mass on a daily basis. You can always tune into your Cathedral. When worship is live you can click the button to host a watch party and Facebook will invite your friends to join you in worship. I have sat in tears as I watch friends who have been far away from God join me online to worship. People who are not even Christians have thanked me for posting worship online.
5. Share Your storyShare with your story of what is nourishing you spiritually during this time whether it be a psalm or Bible verse or hymn. We can all share this digitally through Facebook and our social media channels. As you share what is spiritually helping you during this time, you will help others.

Our world needs good news and we have it to share. We are a resurrection people! God is the great Evangelist. Take a deep breath. Take one day at a time. Receive from God and share what you can when you can. None of us have been here before. Go easy and abide in Christ. Apart from Him we can do nothing.