Dear Beloved of God,
When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain your touch can call us back to life again, fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been; love is come again like wheat arising green. (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 379)
This greeting comes to you in an Easter unlike any we’ve experienced in recent memory. Instead of gathering in churches, we are in our living rooms or in a collage of online windows, our eyes opened, able to see and hear one another but not able to share a touch of peace as we have before. Our hearts are likely grieving so much that is lost. Even with signs of spring budding and bursting around us, our hearts may not resemble such blossoming.
Yet we know that Christ is risen, indeed. We know that the Easter story is one of Jesus coming and breathing peace among the fearful and locked-in. In these days, when the Worship team in the Office of the Presiding Bishop is working from our homes, know that we continue to support your ministry. We know we join countless others in the church who are finding new ways to reach out and connect with the body of Christ, new ways to be an Easter people. Yet these new ways have been part of who God has always called us to be: signs of the new creation, signs of peace amid fear and loss, signs of a love that is stronger than death. Rest assured that Easter has come, that love arises in ways we can or can’t recognize right now. Hear our prayers for you, that your worship at this time echoes the promise of this love that brings new life.
Peace in Christ, Deacon Jennifer Baker-Trinity Program Director, Resource Development
Worship in the Home Available each week on the ELCA worship blog are materials for “Worship in the Home.” Although various formats of livestreaming worship work well in many contexts, you are encouraged to worship as you are able in homes on Sunday and throughout the week. Consider ways to pray and sing using this resource at home. If you don’t have a hymnal at home, perhaps churches might safely distribute copies for home use. In addition to Sunday worship resources, you will also find a resource for simplified daily prayer, including table prayers, in the Worship blog table of contents.
All Creation Sings As we anticipate the fall release of All Creation Sings, a liturgy-and-song supplement to Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the ELCA Worship blog will highlight different features of the resource over the next few months. Visit the blog this month to learn more about this collection’s three liturgy settings.
COVID-19 In the midst of the spread of COVID-19, resources that offer guidance for congregations and members are available at ELCA.org/PublicHealth. English and Spanish versions are available for many of the worship resources.
|