Bible hand
United Methodists are making great contributions to U.S. spiritual health these days through the daily devotions offered by the National Council of Churches.
The April 7 meditation was penned by the Rev. Clayton Childers, a recently retired United Methodist clergyman who was a well-known staff member of the General Board of Church and Society. Dr. Childers chose Psalm 23, that great hymn of comfort and reassurance, as his topic. He wrote:
“Psalm 23 offers a promise of comfort for souls disrupted, lives discombobulated. Our world turned up-side-down by a mysterious virus – businesses shut, quarantines, social distancing, financial losses and fear have become our daily life. All of this in the season of Lent when we are called reflect, repent, reform, renew. May this moment of crisis not be wasted. Perhaps now the best many of us can do is pause, breathe, pray, seeking God in the silence, listening for the voice of the shepherd.”
The April 6 meditation was written by retired United Methodist Bishop Joseph C. Sprague (see April 6 update). We give thanks for the encouragement brought to our far-flung communities by these spiritual leaders and the NCC in the wake of COVID-19, and by all the United Methodist pastors who have learned how to use online media to tend their flocks.
A third of young people unemployed
According to online journal VICE, people ages 18 to 34 are being disproportionately affected. By layoffs because of the coronavirus pandemic. What is your church doing to help people 18 through 34 through the pandemic’s economic impact?
COVID-19 impact on poor countries
Regular Insight contributor Dr. David W. Scott, UM & Global blogmaster, recommends The Michigan Annual Conference "excellent and thorough article about concerns that their mission covenant partners in Haiti have in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.” He says, “the article is worth a read because many of the challenges confronting Haiti because of coronavirus are also challenges in other poor countries. In particular, the article discusses the trade-offs between social distancing and a host of other concerns, including the need to get food, the importance of social networks for survival, and the close physical proximity required for many transportation modes,” among other urgent issues.
Dr. Scott concludes: “While United Methodists in the US are facing their own legitimate concerns about coronavirus, they must not forget the concerns of partners around the world as well and instead respond with prayer, advocacy, and tangible support.” We concur wholeheartedly.
Jack Shitama’s ‘Two for Tuesday’
Another regular contributor, the Rev. Jack Shitama, offers up resources to help with the “all-encompassing reality” of COVID-19 in his weekly “Two for Tuesday” email. Jack writes:
“That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief by Scott Berinato. This is a must-read. I say in my latest book that all change is loss, and this article confirms that. It's an interview with David Kessler, who co-wrote On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. He applies the five stages of loss to the current pandemic. He also names "unhealthy anticipatory grief" as the anxiety we have about an uncertain future. Finally, he reminds us that acceptance and compassion give us the power to not just to cope, but to navigate this crisis effectively. Did I say this was a must-read?
“This Is a Good Time to Stop Fighting Anxiety by Laura Turner. A friend recommended this to me. Speaking of acceptance, a key takeaway is to invite anxiety in, rather than fight it. This is paradox at its best. Turner recommends a rather playful approach, which is to give your anxiety a name. My friend chose Hildegard, and her husband chose Bubba. Love it!”
Global missions during pandemic
Outgoing Global Ministries executive Thomas Kemper is responding to the coronavirus pandemic with a series of podcasts from United Methodists around the world. His first podcast on April 3 featured Sierra Leone Bishop John Yambasu talking about the public health lessons his country learned from the Ebola epidemic. Mr. Kemper will podcast Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m. (EDT) "for 5- to 7-minute conversations showing how we as United Methodist are in mission right now," according to the press release. See the series introduction at facebook.com/GlobalMinistries or facebook.com/UMCOR.
Media Mentions as of April 7, 2020
Amid financial strain, churches are encouraging and engaging – Elizabethtown Bladen Journal
Wesley to host Holy Week "luncheons" online featuring local pastors – Huntsville Item
Another break from the past: Government will help churches pay pastor salaries – NPR
New York’s massive cathedral, including its crypt, will become a field hospital – The Washington Post *
Larger churches urged to help smaller ones survive during pandemic – Religion News Service
The coronavirus is forcing religious communities apart. Can technology hold them together– Buzzfeed
A chaplain at an NYC hospital explains what COVID-19 has changed, and how she holds onto her faith – Slate
Feeling antsy? Morose? Kathleen Norris offers tips to cope with acedia – National Catholic Reporter
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. Send news of how you and your congregation are coping with the coronavirus pandemic.