How I miss our worship!
These past three weeks we haven’t really been able to worship in the way that brings joy. The first Sunday after Christmas, Max, our pianist couldn’t be there. We made it through thanks to Beverly playing piano. Last week, we canceled because Max was still a “maybe” and Monica and Linda were both going to be out. And this week I am on day 9 of staying at home because all my symptoms, which began on January 1st, suggest I contracted Covid-Omicron variant.
I miss the magic of feeling the Spirit move among us, those moments when our song and our words lead us into the presence of God. I miss the “amens.” I miss the face-to-face connection and the loving touches of friends journeying through life together. We had such a great Advent/Christmas season that it feels like such a let-down.
During these last few days, I’ve been watching the Harry Potter movies to bide my time until I can work again. In the third movie, we meet Serious Black, Harry’s Godfather, who is said to have betrayed Harry’s parents to the evil Voldemort, who kills them. Harry grows up without the love of his parents. At school, however, he makes two good friends, Ron and Hermione, who share his adventures and his burdens. At the moment when Harry confronts Serious Black with what he has done, Harry doesn’t say, “you took my parents away from me,” he says “you betrayed your friends.”
Turns out, neither is true. Serious Black did not betray Harry’s family. It was another.
Still, the accusation, tells how meaningful it is to Harry to have friends on his journey to battle the great evil in that world.
Likewise, much of what gives my life meaning is being with friends, journeying together to fight against the evils of our world, not with magic, but with the power of faith in God. Instead of wands, we have our feet and our hands to touch and change lives. Instead of incantations, we have songs that tell of God’s ways with us people of His creation. Instead of potions, we have prayer-led action that transforms our part of the world. And, we have the love of one another, that keeps us moving through the tough times and celebrating together the good times.
I remember a scripture, John 15: 15, where Jesus says,
I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
Hold onto Jesus’ love; be friends with one another as you are with Jesus. It is that love that gives each of us the courage to face the next day. It is that love that allows us to be who we are created to be. It is that love that will lead us through this time of trial into a brighter tomorrow.
Love, Pastor Heather
Reverend Heather DeVoe Miner, M.Div
Rev. Heather served as the pastor at NLBCC until 2022. She continues to spread the loving and inclusive message of Christ, serving a church in Boise, Idaho.
