Greetings, friends!  It has been good to be able to talk with so many of you in recent weeks, in lieu of being together in person.  God has made us to be social, hasn’t he!  I love hearing the stories of kindness and consideration that are popping up from all over, as people remember that the most valuable things we have in this life — beyond our Creator — is each other.  We are drawn naturally to embrace his image.

A number of us remember what happened after 9/11 – many months of seeing random human kindness, as everyone realized how precious life was.  There’s another piece to that week I remember vividly (and have mentioned in a sermon or two) — that when a couple of us were asked in a radio interview what we thought about that attack, we said it was a good time for Americans to renew their attitude of humility.  The radio interviewer took unkindly to the idea that the occasion called for humility, and he carried on, alleging that we were advocating divine terrorism (as he called it). Yet all we intended was that people would do well to remember their smallness in the presence of an infinite, all-powerful, all-present, and much-mysterious God.  “Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God…I truly have heard you,” says God to his people at the time of King Josiah (II Chr. 34:27).  Some things never lose their relevance.

It is fascinating (and helpful) to see that Jesus described himself as gentle and humble (Matt.11:29); what was fitting for him befits all of us who trek with him.  I know that you are already asking God to lift this invisible assault from our world and allow us freedom from its danger and ongoing pressure. As we join in doing this, let’s eagerly look for new ways to demonstrate the heart of Jesus, “who first loved us,” in tangible ways to others.

Right now, most of us are experiencing anxiety — and this is hardly surprising when something so large and threatening continues to meander in its uncertain course.  We simply do not know so much, and least of all the exact purposes God has in all this.  It is hard to grapple with all these unknowns.  I will mention in passing a series that Max Lucado, whom we were reading together at church not too long ago, has put out on anxiety, which can be found at: https://www.studygateway.com/online-bible-studies/anxious-for-nothing-study-home/?utm_source=studygatewayobs&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=afnobs20200329&utm_content=afnobs

I will conclude here with a couple of timely notes and updates:

• Tusca will hold off from worship services for at least the next half month (April 5 and 12).  Though I have separately shared information for accessing streaming services available from nearby RP congregations, I intend to have some short recorded messages available in the weeks ahead, which we intend to post on the church website.
• If there is anything you or your family members are in need of, please call us — friends, elders and deacons — we want to walk alongside you, even if at a ‘socially responsible distance’.

May the peace of Christ be with you,

Jonathan