by Rev. Eric Folkerth

Dear Church Friends:

Two things happened this week that I hope warm your heart:
1. It actually got physically warmer in the neighborhood, and
2. our Trustees voted to resume in-person worship.

First things first.
It’s warmer. Best we can tell in our conversations with you all, this winter storm was nothing like last year’s Snowpocalypse. And so, before we move on with our lives, let us offer prayers of gratitude…for electricity and heat that stayed on…for homes that, today, are as secure as they were last week.

Thanks be to God that nothing more serious happened this year. And continued prayers to any of you —and to our several local United Methodist Churches— that are still suffering from last year’s storm.

During the freezing snap last week, you came through big time to help our unsheltered neighbors. Kessler Park provided more than 3,000 hot breakfasts from Norma’s Cafe in our neighborhood. You all came through with generous contributions to this effort and you were joined by many North Oak Cliff neighbors and friends of the church who live beyond who also contributed generously. We’ll end up raising about $15,000 to assist our homeless neighbors in this time of emergency. (And, recall, you raised $18,000 to help them last winter…)

Thank you for your genuinely remarkable generosity to this cause. You truly place your time and treasure in line with Jesus’ calling to love the least and the lost.

Finally, the Trustees voted this week to allow in-person worship to resume this Sunday, February 13.

The 14-day COVID case averages in Dallas County have plummeted to 52% of where they were just a few weeks ago. The hospital bed numbers are also easing. So, it’s a reasonable assumption to believe that we can resume in-person worship as safely as it is possible.

Please understand what we are saying here: We’re not declaring victory over COVID or suggesting that coming to worship is a completely safe choice for everyone. We know and understand that some of you will continue to watch online, and if you have any concerns at all as to the safety of coming, we most certainly invite you to keep doing that.

But, with our continued mask use and social distancing coupled with the falling numbers, we feel as if this is a decision that balances both the risks and the need for incarnational community.

So, I hope your hearts are warmed by all of this, just as our souls are warmed by the continuing presence of God in our lives.

Very soon, we’ll all be singing St. George of Harrison’s song: “Here comes the Sun…”

Or better yet, Zechariah’s song in Luke, Chapter 1:

"By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Grace and Peace,

Eric Folkerth