Month: March 2020

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada [EFC] and the World Evangelical Alliance [WEA] are inviting Canadians and churches to a Global Day of Prayer and Fasting as part of the Church response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As our country grapples with COVID-19, The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada is praying for our churches, our government, church leaders and our friends and neighbours. We invite you to do the same.

In days like these we can remember and be confident that God really is “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging” (Psalm 46:1–3).

Please join us in praying especially for those directly impacted by the virus, for health care and frontline workers, for those who are ill and suffering, for Members of Parliament, Senators, for the Prime Minister and Premiers, and for our churches especially, as they become light and a comfort to their communities.

Theologian Walter Wink commenting on Revelation 8:1-5 says:
“History belongs to the intercessors—those who believe and pray the future into being.”

Later this week, we will post some details about how we can pray together when while at a distance.

Links & Resources

WEA facebook prayer group

EFC facebook prayer group

WEA Global Day of Prayer & Fasting website at worldea.org/prayercovid19. Their Day of Prayer & Fasting Guidebook, is available as a PDF download in English and Spanish, containing 16 modules that can help you remain focused on God for the whole day or part of several days.

On Monday, 23 March, the Ontario Government released a list of essential services that can remain open during the recent closures because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• We often say things like, “I going to the store to pick up some essentials. Coffee, milk, bread.”
• Our to-do lists are filled with essential items.
• Now we hear, “all nonessential travel is to be postponed.”
• People are out of work because workplaces are closed: Nonessential.
• Kenny Rogers died last week. He sang “know when to hold ‘em (essential) and when to fold ‘em (nonessential).”

I was talking with someone, on the phone of course, and they remarked, “Maybe we’ll find out all of this really was about Jesus!”

All of us reading this have prayed: “Your kingdom come, your will be done.”

• But I wonder if we have prayed it half-heartedly.
• We’ve prayed it, but with an asterisk (like a sport’s record under unusual conditions).
• It’s true, but able to be retracted.
• True, but not really.

Part of it is as North Americans we are accustomed to being in control. We like being kings of our own lives. We’ve made our independence essential to our existence.

As I read the scriptures, I am reminded of God’s care, compassion, and love for all his image-bearers—and that means all. God does not release lists with who’s in and who’s out, who’s nonessential and essential.

God’s love for all people is essential.

In the novel, Gilead, Marilynne Robinson, writes: “The idea of grace had been so much on my mind, grace as a sort of ecstatic fire that takes things down to the essentials.”

• Maybe our independence is not essential to our wellbeing.
• Maybe travel is not the only way to see and understand more.
• Maybe investing in stocks and RRSPs isn’t the way to a secure future.
• Maybe the people we’ve looked past are the ones whose lives will point us most to Jesus.
• Maybe the prayers we only half meant are the prayers God will answer most clearly.
• Maybe these days will prove to be Kingdom-building, Kingdom-coming.
• Maybe we’ll all finally see what really was essential.

What are you learning and being taught in these days of physical distancing?

An introduction to the book of John as we begin a three-week journey together.
I would encourage you to make comments and ask questions below so we can support one another and stay connected to one another as well.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.
The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

As we enter the first week of no school after March Break… let’s be praying for our children and families.
Prayer for…

• the wisdom in establishing new schedules;
• the juggling of schedules, because everything is changing;
• the adjustments of working from home with kids;
• for children who exhibit changed behaviour, because of physical distancing and the changes associated with that…
  i.e. fear of being alone, bad dreams, loss of bladder/bowel control, change in appetite, temper tantrums, irritability, whining, or clinging behaviours, competition for parents’ attention, forgetfulness;
• increased opportunities to pray and trust God together;
• patience;
• parents not to beat themselves up about allowing extra screen-time;
• creativity in teaching and crafts and having fun together – don’t forget to get out and get fresh air, as a family, not with others;
• creativity in connecting: i.e skype, facetime.

May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours. Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.

Welcome to OCC online. This is our first attempt at this. Be patient. We are learning.

We invite you into listening to our God as you pray, as you enter into worship, as you read the Scripture. Listen and respond to him.

Thanking God

• One of the marks of followers of Jesus is our steadfast assurance that God is still on the throne.
• Someone said, “If we get through this, you can be sure that God exists“.
  My response is, “I am sure that God exists, so we will get through this“.
• Take some time to express your praise and thanks to our Lord

Worship songs

• Here is a link to worship songs After a week like we have just experienced, we need to be still and a little more reflective.

Praying for others

• those at OCC & in our circles with health needs
• those at OCC & in our circles with anxiety, depression and other mental health struggles
• of of those who are working in the health care field
• politicians who are making hard decisions

The Normal Christian Life & Love

Who are the people around you who need reaching out to you in this season?

• family
• neighbours
• friends

Who are the people the Holy Spirit is nudging you… “give them a call… see if they need anything… find out how they are doing… do they need some encouragement, someone to talk to.“

There is, of course, much more to say on this. And much more to say on this normal way of life for followers of Jesus in a time that is anything but normal. What I’m going to do, is break the rest of the teaching down into some short segments and post them every couple of days.

Reflection

Let me suggest 2 things:

1. Ask the question posted above… and then give someone or 2 or 3 a call.
2. As I lead us into looking at how Jesus made a central part of his ministry, teaching his followers, his disciples, how to live in the way of God, read the sermon on the mount – Matthew 5-7, and read the last supper discourse – John 14-16. There is so much there in describing how we are to live.

Benediction

When evil darkens our world, give us light.
When despair numbs our souls, give us hope.
When we stumble and fall, lift us up.
When doubts trouble us, give us faith.
When nothing seems sure, give us trust.
When ideals fade, give us vision.
When we lose our way, be our guide!
That we may find deep peace in Your presence, and purpose in doing Your will.

There are so many worship songs, so many styles of worship songs. Over these weeks when we can’t meet together, we will post on Saturday 3 or 4 songs that we trust will enable you to worship our God.

For this first week of not meeting together, we are going with some peaceful, reflective songs.

• I don’t know about you, but this week I have received an email or 2 or 3 from every organization I have ever had contact with (or seemingly ever thought about having contact with) about their COVID-19 policy.
• This next week is going to be very full, for those with children at home, as March Break comes to an end, but school does not start up again.
•  So, let me encourage you, to be still for a bit, rest, reflect, let’s God’s presence and love wash over you as you listen to these pieces.

You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it’s a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it’s only right that we give thanks. We’re so proud of you; you’re so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have come down on you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you.

 

Paul immediately launches into thanksgiving for the Thessalonian’s perseverance in their faith despite adversity.

“Despite adversity”. I have been saying it a lot recently but the COVID-19 weeks and months might be when we begin to read the Bible in the context that it was written in and indeed the context that the first readers read it in. Most of the Bible is written in times of adversity whether in slavery, wandering in the desert, at war or in exile, under oppressive Pharaohs, Herods, or Caesars.

Paul is impressed by how the Thessalonians dealt with their adversity. May this be true of us in this season:
“Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully.”

Welcome to OCC online
In a time of a new normal, we need to do things differently.
This is a start.
We will not be live-streaming a service.

On Sunday morning or earlier as we start to move in a new rhythm, there will be some posts including

• songs to help us worship in this time
• some direction on prayer
• a reflection on the theme we are working through right now: The Normal Christian Life
• some guided reflection questions

In addition, during the week, there will be additional posts, videos and other resources to encourage us in this new time.

• So bookmark this webpage.
• Feel free to share it with others.
• Be in touch with each other.