A Prayer for the Fifth Week of Virtual Church

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O Lord our God, we bless Your holy name. We share that we were fine for a few weeks. We admit there are actually some things we like about virtual worship. But it is beginning to feel like a long time of staying home and staying safe.

I miss people. I miss the high touch experience of worship with my sisters and brothers in Christ. My congregation was engaged in some new ministries for 2020 and now they are sidelined. I had people I was cultivating for a relationship with Christ and for connecting with our congregation, and I have not yet found the way that seems to work best to continue this cultivation beyond prayer and some virtual contact with them.

It is not only the Church world that is feeling anxious. The governments, the businesses, the schools, and especially the health care systems are anxious. Talk has turned this past week to opening back up. Is this the right move at this point? Part of me says “yes” and another part says “no”. I wish a simple fleece praying exercise would give me the assurance that best comes from You, O Lord.

One thing that is becoming clearer is that the artificial barrier we create between science and religion is breaking down. We at times forget that you are Lord of all. As we hear the scientists talk about how we must work on and consider the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic, it gives us more assurance than when we hear the politicians, economists, and business leaders talk.

You are Lord over science. Help us to understand how it all works together.

Now we are seeing reports that challenges related to our climate are improving during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Pollution of air and water is decreasing in measurable ways. Even most recently we have heard that the seismic activity of the earth has calmed down in the past month. Is this just cyclical, a momentary shift, or is there a message in here somewhere about the stewardship of the Earth which you gave to us at creation?

I cannot answer that question for myself or anyone else. But I can know with great assurance that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ represents the final conquering of death and the promise of eternal life. Therefore, it is the life and death of people which is our greatest concern. Even more, it is the eternal life of people who know and do not know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior which is our deepest yearning.

Economically, it will work out in the long-term. Physically, with Your healing help and the use of Your creation of the elements of science, we will sustain earthly life that all may know Jesus.

Until Jesus returns, we pray. Amen.

About the author 

Kyndra Bremer