For those who belong to a church, today will be a day of virtual churching. Houses of worship are finding ways to keep in touch with members and be personally present, while maintaining a social distance. The above photo was taken yesterday from the parking lot of Morehead United Methodist Church on Horse Pen Creek Road. Usually, this church is a hub of activity on Saturday afternoon. Often, they are selling hot dog lunches and there is a hustle and bustle of people preparing the church for Sunday services. However, yesterday, the property was eerily quiet. There were no cars in the parking lot and no sign of people.
The purple cloth draped over the cross at the entrance reminds us that we are in the Lenten season. Lent is a time of penance, repenting one's sins, self-sacrifice, and reflection. Perhaps it is fitting that the world is making the sacrifices that some with self-quarantining at the same time Christians remember Jesus' making an arduous journey into the desert for forty days. On Easter Sunday, the drape will be changed to white to represent purity and resurrection. Wouldn't it be nice if it could also be a visual sign that the quarantine was lifted.
May you have a great day today and find a safe way to stay connected to people and to be spiritually fulfilled in a way that fits with your personal beliefs. The beauty of the trees and the sky and clouds in the photo remind us of just how beautiful Greensboro is in the spring.
Many of our churches are doing the same.
Posted by: William Kendall | Sunday, March 22, 2020 at 02:45 PM