“The import of the commandment against killing is this: In the first place, we should not harm anyone… In the second place, this commandment is violated not only when a person actually does evil, but also when he fails to do good to his neighbor, or, though he has the opportunity, fails to prevent, protect and save him from suffering bodily harm or injury.”

– Martin Luther, The Large Catechism

Beloved of God,

The church building is a quiet place these days.  Too quiet.  As I’ve ridden my bicycle to Peace in recent weeks, there have been days when not a single car has crossed my path.  Much of any given day I’m the only body here at Peace.  Yes, the building is abnormally quiet—and yet my days are full of people: phone calls, ZOOM meetings, collaborations with Peace staff and leader, conversations with pastoral colleagues, virtual huddles with our Tech Team to produce videos and plan ways for maintaining connection with each other during this time of forced separation.

The shift to this new world happened so swiftly that many of us found ourselves reeling; yet many of us are finding ways to acclimate ourselves to this new normal, which we now know will be in place at least through May 4^th.  In the process of acclimation, some of us are discovering capacities we didn’t know we had.  A recent phone call to the Sunde household revealed that, with a little ingenuity and a few strategic purchases, face shields were being made for a local medical team.  Another phone exchange revealed how Michael T. was becoming the “go-to” coffee and chocolate supplier to his neighborhood using Fair Trade items that would otherwise sit untouched in the Peace narthex.  Working from their home studio, Jon and James have recorded music to embroider my weekly audio and video messages; and Laura B. has been writing original music to accompany the Holy Week reflections written by Boots W—and on it goes. The upshot?  This novel virus is unleashing novel ways of serving others—God’s Spirit is alive and well among us and for that we can give thanks!

If your household has discovered new ways of connecting with and serving others, I’d love to hear about it!  Please share it with me via phone or email.

Brother Martin, in excavating the deeper layers of the 5^th Commandment, reveals that at its core the prohibition to murder is more than a line in the sand God commands us not to cross—it is an invitation to proactively look out for the welfare of our neighbor.  This kind of proactive commitment to care for those around us is in high demand these days.  As much as our focus of care surely should be on those within our family and household circle, can we also extend our field of vision to include neighbors who may have needs we can help address?  I know that many of you are doing just that—and doing so while maintaining proper safety protocols!  You, my friends, are doing God’s work!  While the 24/7 flood of dire news about this pandemic can have a debilitating effect on us, making us cautious about every interaction, and causing us to turn in on ourselves, it need not be so among us.  Through the centuries people of faith have demonstrated in a variety of ways both great and small what neighbor-love can look like.  We continue in that long stream.

Pastor Erik

Dear Friend,

During this time when we are learning to cope the best we can with these circumstances forced upon us because of COVID-19, creativity is being unleashed in the world in powerful ways which inspire hope.   A beautiful example of this creativity came to my email inbox from my sister in Massachusetts: a virtual recording of Beautiful City (from Godspell) put together by the Southshore Children’s Choir.  Hearing these young voices brought tears to my eyes!

Another beautiful example is the poem by Capuchin Franciscan Brother Richard Hendrick of Ireland, which has been making its rounds.  You can find his original post here:

Lockdown

by Capuchin Franciscan Brother Richard Hendrick

Yes there is fear.

Yes there is isolation.

Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness.

Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares,

keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone

may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.

Today a young woman I know

is busy spreading fliers with her number

through the neighbourhood

So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples

are preparing to welcome

and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting

All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality

To how big we really are.

To how little control we really have.

To what really matters.

To Love.

So we pray and we remember that

Yes there is fear.

But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.

But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying.

But there does not have to be meanness.

Yes there is sickness.

But there does not have to be disease of the soul

Yes there is even death.

But there can always be a rebirth of love.

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.

Today, breathe.

Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic

The birds are singing again

The sky is clearing,

Spring is coming,

And we are always encompassed by Love.

Open the windows of your soul

And though you may not be able

to touch across the empty square,

Sing

Christ walks with you

Keep calm.  Stay safe.  Carry on.

P Erik

Grace, mercy and peace to you on this 5^th Sunday in Lent.

My message this week is being made available to you both as a VOICE RECORDING as in past weeks, AND as a VIDEO RECORDING. The message is tied to two Scripture readings for this Sunday: Ezekiel 37 and the 11^th chapter of John, both of which speak powerfully to the experiences we’re going through right now—one takes us to the VALLEY OF DRY BONES; the other to the TOMB OF LAZARUS.

Once again, I’m grateful for our TECH TEAM and MUSICIANS which made these recordings possible.

God keep you close as you listen in!

Pastor Erik

Lent 5A recorded message for 3-29-2020Audio

Lent 5A PRELUDEWhat Wonderous Love is This Piano Solo James Jelasic

Lent 5A POSTLUDERestore in Us, O God – Jon and James

O Love of God How Strong and True – Jon and James(1)

Here’s an uptempo version of I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME (YouTube) by Laura Bermes: https://youtu.be/iCjcA6n9gv4

Lent 4A recorded message WAV for 3-22-2020

Dear Friends,

I hope that as you listen to today’s message you and those you love are managing well as we continue our journey through this unprecedented time.  As social isolation becomes more strict, adjustments must be made that test our capacity for change.  Yet, in times such as these, we may find ourselves summoning capacities we didn’t know we had! I hope you feel new capabilities rising within you and members of your circle, so that the changes being asked of you are not overwhelming.

I’ll continue sending weekly communications via email as well as posting on the SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS section our homepage: www.peacelutheranseattle.org.

I’m working closely with our technology team to enlarge our capacity to connect with each other during this time.  We hope to expand options for group and individual video sharing soon.  I’m grateful to Jon and James for the music offerings contributed today, and to Dustin Smith for knitting it all together.

To listen to the music that accompanies this message, click below.

PRELUDESavior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us and JSBachJamesSolo

POSTLUDEJesJoyHighKingofHeavenJamesSolo

INSPIRATIONALSONGIHeardtheVoiceofJesusSayJonandJames

Peace member and performer Laura Bermes created this rendition of Amazing Grace for us that also fits into the day’s theme about moving from blindness to sight.  You can find her performance here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TdPMM5iS05k

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

Pastor Erik