A Holy Week Correlation to the COVID-19 Pandemic and an Easter Challenge!

Jesus suffered and died because sin spread like a Pandemic across His world, leaving it in need of a cure – a Savior!

The Corona COVID-19 Virus has become a Pandemic spreading across our world leaving it once again scrambling for a cure, a vaccine, a definitive end as people are sick and some are dying. Jesus is still that cure. He will provide healing. Has His world turned to Him fervently in prayer? I haven’t seen it yet, not really, not like they ought to be doing.

When Jesus was arrested, the disciples hid, isolating themselves from the crowds in fear. Though they loved Jesus they lived in fear that they too would suffer his fate, just for being identified as having been close to Him. They prayed and worried.

We are isolating ourselves from each other, family, and friends in fear of catching the virus or spreading it to others unknowingly. We are worrying, but are we praying? Really praying?

Currently our faces are covered to help prevent the spread of the virus from us to others, even if we don’t seem to have it. Unfortunately these coverings do not prevent us from receiving the virus from the uncovered mouths or places where it lingers or floats.

The spreading of God’s word by us should be the same. Our faces may be covered, but it should not prevent the spreading of the Word or sharing of prayer. We have phones, computers, tablets, I pads and countless apps and abilities for texting, videoing, talking and sharing the Good News! It is Easter! We should be spreading the story faster than the virus is spreading. Cover the virus not the Word of God. The world needs it now and always.

What have you done to spread the word and share hope during these trying times?

The disciples and many of Jesus’ followers stayed in isolation after Jesus’ crucifixion, still fearing for their safety as well as feeling lost and confused about what to do without Jesus. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to Jesus’ tomb to do what was necessary and customary because these things were essential for a proper burial. They risked everything to do what was right and needed to be done.

Because they buried their fear and continued to do what was necessary and essential, they were the first to receive the Good News that Christ had risen. Along their way, they were the first to see Jesus the risen Lord!

Today as many follow instructions, staying home in isolation and practicing social distancing in order to quell the spread, many, called “Essential Services Workers” are required to work on the front lines to help the sick and to keep all necessary and essential things operating the best they can for the good of all. They are the first to see all the bad as well as the good that happens.

When the storm quells, they will be the first to know that it is real and feel the joy and relief as they spread the news! They will be the first to show true hope for others. They are called upon to put themselves out there for all of us. They need our support and prayer.

Jesus observed the Passover meal and dined with His disciples before His time of trial began, knowing full well what was happening. He took the time and sat around the table with those that had become his students and family.

Our lives had become a crazy, fast paced ordeal before this virus struck. Most families did not even see each other enough to spend an evening once a week at the dinner table together. Granted it may go back to that again when this ends. For now, though, you are isolated at home with your families. You are teaching them, playing with them, watching TV and movies with them, and sharing activities that you may not have done together for a long time. Hopefully, you are sitting with them to eat around the dinner table.


How many times did Jesus tell his disciples and followers, that he would suffer, die, be laid in a tomb, rise again in three days and then go to be seated to rule his kingdom? They never really got it until it was over.

Time with family no matter the circumstances is precious. They will remember this time spent. The question is how will they remember it? That is for you to decide.

Be a witness of God’s love to your families in this time, whether parent or child After all, it is the faith of children and its doubtless strength and belief that Jesus tells us all to aspire to have.

Now is the time! This Easter may not be the big event with your larger groups of family and friends that you had originally planned. Do something to make your family’s Easter special. Next make a video of your Easter fun. Share that video online and tag all your missing family and friends in it so they can see how your family celebrated Easter and the Risen Lord. Then encourage your friends and family to do something and post their fun. Then as this goes on you could turn this exercise into a family fun time weekly.

This is not the worst of times, but only a difficult and different time. Christ is still with us and He will lead us through this. The events that created these circumstances are not good but that does not mean we cannot make good out of the bad.

We will remember this Pandemic and that there was illness and death and fear. We will also remember that there was family, community, new opportunities, and new ways of worship that may have reached even more people. We will remember that for every bad aspect of this, there was also good. Remember those things and work to make more good come out of it.

After all, Christ has Died, Christ has Risen, and Christ will come again! That is what Easter is really all about! And we are Easter people!

Once Upon A Christmas Day

Once upon a Christmas Day,
On the floor asleep I lay.
Cuddled beneath the Christmas tree,
With a fire blazing in the stove next to me.

The lights were shining with colors bright,
Casting warm reflections in dawning light.
My eyes though mostly still asleep,
Still saw their beauty in the dreams of sleep.

Around the tree and my resting head,
Dozens of presents had been shed.
Bright colored wrapping covering each one,
Each tied with a bow when it was done.

Stockings were hung from cabinet knobs,
Filled with goodies by the gobs.
Pretty decorations sat here and there,
Santas, Snowmen, and Angels placed with care.

A miniature village covered the shelves,
Seemingly put there by Santa’s elves.
All of these show beauty and splendor,
And inspired joy on a morning yet tender.

Two things stood out most important of all,
Displayed on a table, not decking the hall.
The first was a Bible opened to Mark,
Telling the story the angels did hark!

The second was a crèche depicting the scene,
Of the Christ child’s birth in a manger mean.
Despite all the trappings, He is still the reason,
There would be no true Christmas, He is the season.

We enjoy all the lights and the glitter and bows,
But may each person who celebrates, truly know;
That it is only this way because God made it so,
It’s according to his plan that this Jesus we know.

There is no meaning in all at Christmas we share,
If Jesus Christ our Lord is not kept there.
There is no reason to have great joy,
If the Savior does not this Holiday employ.

Once upon a Christmas day,
Christ was born in just God’s way.
He came to save us from all sin,
So that the Devil should not win.

It’s all according to God’s plan,
That His true story the world should span.
So as I awake to Christmas bright,
I first celebrate the Christ, born Christmas night.

The Season is So Bright (Villanelle)

Oh the Season is so bright,
Filled with decorative, fancy fare;
Beautiful, colorful, twinkling lights.

To the eye what a delight,
With cards and food and gifts to bare;
Oh the Season is so bright.

Buildings adorned to the heights
With bows, and trees, and holiday ware;
Beautiful, colorful, twinkling lights.

What joy that fills our busy plight,
As love and stories and songs we share;
Oh the Season is so bright.

What a wondrous shining sight,
That as we pass, we stop and stare;
Beautiful, colorful, twinkling lights.

The excitement of Christmas night,
Reminding us to stop and care;
Oh the Season is so bright;
Beautiful, colorful, twinkling lights.

Fredericksburg’s Annual Church to Church Walk

Last evening, December 13, my husband, Steve and I attended the annual Church to Church  walk put on by the Gillespie County Ministerial Association, here in Fredericksburg. It was Steve’s first time, I have been several times before and always enjoy it. Last night was an amazing experience though. For the first time ever all churches were full to overflowing with walkers participating. As would be expected, many for the first time.  In fact, the count was 393 people. I don’t think I have ever seen more than 150-200 in the years I have attended. It was nice to see more folks coming out to join in the Christmas festivities centered around the Lord.

The program did not disappoint.The theme was “The Coming Of the Lord.” Each church had a sub theme discussed at their stop.

We began at Zion Lutheran Church with a short intro by Reverend Bobby Vitek, GCMA President and also of Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, after which the group joined in the singing of “O come, O Come Emanuel.” Reverend Jeff Hammond of St Barnabas Episcopal Church offered a short reflection on “Wake Us Up to Your Coming.” He talked about how even when our eyes are open we are sometimes not really awake, especially spiritually, and he called for the Lord to really awaken us this Christmas season.  The first stop ended with a choir presentation of “Prepare the Way of the Lord” by the Bethany Chancel Choir.

In spite of some confusion as to which way is East and which is West, Pastor Bobby, gave directions on how to get from Zion to our second stop of Bethany Lutheran Church, and the group was out the door.

Reverend Casey Zesch, Bethany Lutheran, began  the second leg of our journey with responsive readings followed by the singing by the group of the hymn, “Prepare the Royal Highway”. Pastor Travis Meyer, also of Bethany presented thoughts on “Prepare Us for Your Coming”. He spoke about how now that we are awake to Christ’s coming we also have to be  prepared for it. He told the story of St. Nicholas and how he prepared the way by helping those less fortunate. St. Nicholas anonymously threw coins through the window  into the   drying stockings of the daughters of a man who was in danger of having to sell his daughters into slavery just so they would be fed and he could continue to survive. Nicholas’s contributions helped the family to stay together and to survive the hard times they were facing.  We not only prepare ourselves but also the world since Christ is the Way to salvation, the royal highway himself.

“A Christmas  Alleluia” was performed by the Oak Hills Worship Team and then the large throng of walkers headed out the door to Holy Ghost.

Fredericksburg Police provided safe passage across Main Street for the group as they walked and visited in the fast chilling December air.

Reverend David Priem provided the responsive reading at Holy Ghost, with “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” as the hymn afterwards. Reverend Michael Burdick, Victory Fellowship supplied the reflections on “Open Us to Your Coming.”  He asked us that as we now may be awake, and are preparing for Christ’s coming, are we really open to it? Have we really opened ourselves, our hearts, and our lives for Christ to enter in?

The Victory Fellowship Praise Team invited us to sing along with them on “Joy to the World” after the message. Then once again we were all headed out and  down San Antonio Street to the last stop, St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

“Comfort My People” was sung by the St. Mary’s Choir as walkers filed in. Father Enda McKenna, then began with the responsive readings followed by “Soon and Very Soon” sung by the group. The Reverend George Lumpkin of Fredericksburg United Methodist Church(FUMC) took us through a humorous and surprising message on “Surprise Us By Your Coming.” The basis of this message being that we as Christians wait and pray for God to show up in our lives and then we are surprised when he does. The best excerpt from this being when a friend of his that looked like the traditional picture of Jesus, walked up behind his choir director in church and she turned around and hollered, totally surprised that “Jesus” was standing behind her in church!

The FUMC choir sung “Sing Noel, Sing Hallelujah” after which Father Enda gave a closing benediction and instructions on where to go for refreshments and fellowship to end the evening. For those that had taken their cars on this walk, the evening was at a close after refreshments. The rest of us visited a bit  and then made our way back to Zion and our rides home.

It was a wonderful and blessed evening filled with Christmas joy, songs and spiritual preparedness for the season ahead. I personally enjoy going as a way to get myself in the right frame of mind about the season and what it is truly about.

If you missed it this year, it is an annual event so there will be next year. Keep watch on your local church calendar or the chamber calendar next December. If you are looking for a new tradition to start with your family this is a nice one. God Bless and Merry Christmas!