by Rev. Eric Folkerth

It’s hard to feel connection in this time of social distancing.

But as we look forward to our Holy Week services later this week, I thought I’d look back at last weekend to show you some of the ways we were still connected, even in this time.

Several of you sent us pictures of your front porches and the green new life that you affixed to your front doors. They were beautiful to see.

Several others of you shared pictures of how you shared communion with us. At least one person sent me a video of them taking communion. 

We’re sharing some of those pictures below with you now so that you can also feel that sense of “connection” together. 

I do hope you will be joining us Thursday and Friday on ZOOM for our Holy Week services at 7 pm. Then, find us Sunday morning (7 am and 11 am) on Facebook Live for our Easter morning services.

Additionally, we would love for you to bring some arrangements of flowers for us to use in the sanctuary Sunday (since no one was able to contribute lilies this year). If you’re able and interested, simply leave an arrangement of flowers outside the “1215 Door” before 10 am Sunday, and we’ll incorporate them into our worship at 11 am.

Finally, you will also soon get information about our new “Kessler 4 Methodist” ministry. About a week ago, I reached out via email to some of our friends at Methodist Hospital. They’ve responded with some tangible, doable tasks that we and our neighbors here in North Oak Cliff can do to help support the hospital staff at this time. Methodist Hospital is absolutely within our “mission field,” and so I hope as you can, you might prayerfully consider being a part of this new outreach during the pandemic.

On Sunday at 11 am, we’ll sing a remarkable hymn that’s been written just for this very Easter, by writer Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. It beautifully sums up the strange time we are in, and I’d like to share some of the choruses with you now:

(to the tune of “The Church’s One Foundation.”)

THIS EASTER CELEBRATION

“This Easter celebration is not like ones we've known.
We pray in isolation, we sing the hymns alone.
We're distant from our neighbors — from worship leaders, too.
No flowers grace the chancel to set a festive mood.”

“No gathered choirs are singing; no banners lead the way.
O God of love and promise, where's joy this Easter Day?
With sanctuaries empty, may homes become the place
we ponder resurrection and celebrate your grace.”

“We thank you that on Easter, your church is blessed to be
a scattered, faithful body that's doing ministry.
In homes and in the places of help and healing, too,
we live the Easter message by gladly serving you.”
(copyright, Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. ©2020. Used with permission)

Easter will come whether we are all together or not. 

Please know that even with physical distance, God’s resurrection story is with you, with our world, and with our church. 

As the hymn says, whether or not we are physically distant, “We live the Easter message by gladly serving you.”

See you at our services this week.

Grace and Peace,

Eric