Dear Friends and Family,
The writer to the Hebrews encourages us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.” Since December 2019 a pestilence arising in China has swept over the earth. This is not the first time that a virus has threatened death to humanity. Reflecting on
Psalm 46, Martin Luther wrote “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” under a similar duress five hundred years ago. Pastor Martin Rinckart wrote the hymn “Now Thank We All Our God” in the same period. Their confidence then is our confidence now; for, Christ has conquered death.
During this month of March, our President and Governor have continued to weigh risks and institute precautions. We have respectfully implemented these precautions: assessing our high risk groups, encouraging self-quarantining, implementing protective postures, and continuing with the mission to care for the sick, nurture the living, and honor the dead. Large gathering services are reduced to small gatherings (10 or less) and 6 foot social spacing. All other high risk assessment, heightened personal hygiene, and social limiting measures are in force. All this is balanced with our call and duty to worship God and to serve our neighbor and the community.
We give thanks to God that to date here in Bullitt County Kentucky, we have not had any reported Covid 19 illnesses or deaths. But Nelson and Jefferson Counties have. The current casualty number locally is small from the actual virus. But, the economic impact is total.
The contagion is one thing, killing thousands across the globe. The efforts to contain the contagion with caution have crushed the jobs and industries that rely on personal touch and interaction. Medical research and development have stepped forward. Medical care industries are overwhelmed at the same time as whole segments of the manufacturing and services industries are self-quarantining. Global supply lines are strained. Amazon is looking to flood its banks. Schools have shifted from public sector to private sector homes; but, resourcing those homes with education packets and tablets comes with a virtual string that constantly pulls in different directions. Added to the virtual requirements on public education are the demands of providing real meals. Vacation time is often starving time for many students.
“Blessings in a Backpack” will fill some bellies. Generous American food services and restaurants are filling the gap; but, the restaurants have complied with “Carryout only service.” Tips are gone for servers. No worker, teacher, parent or student was prepared for this. And normal amusements are cancelled or postponed, to include the NCAA tournaments and the Kentucky Derby.
The desperate calls for compassionate relief from pain and addictions are ringing. As a pastor, I hear and see the strains on families who are filled with overwhelming demands on dysfunctional parents, single parents, or no parents. And, the Oxy/opiate crisis is not yet past.
Alcoholics Anonymous have closed down some of their groups for two weeks or an undetermined amount of time (ours are open). In the interest of “flattening the curve,” many churches across the nation have closed their doors for Divine Service, Public Mass, and Praise and Worship Gatherings. We understand the closing of churches whose staff are in high risk categories, or larger congregations that cannot maintain recommended social distancing. We have temporarily discontinued our before and after service meals together to lessen the time of exposure. Divine Savior Lutheran Church Shepherdsville, recognizes the risk, and remains a small footprint to care for all in crisis.
Virtual services are trying to fill the void. Our Lutheran Church Missouri Synod pioneered technological delivery of the Gospel when we launched “The Lutheran Hour” radio broadcast between the world wars. We encourage you to take advantage of Christ-centered media resources. We also encourage you to call (502) 543-2905 and leave a request for prayer, counsel, compassion, and comfort. Updates can be sent to divinesaviorshepherdsville@gmail.com.
On October 2, 1930, the first broadcast of The Lutheran Hour® radio program was aired, with Dr. Walter A. Maier as speaker. Today our International Lutheran Laymen’s League and Lutheran Hour Ministries support worldwide services to those at home and abroad. Today, you can hear a sermon of Christ’s comfort and strength from Dr. Michael Zeigler online at https://www.lutheranhour.org. There you will also find plenteous broadcasts, podcasts, American Forces Network, and a host of resources.
For daily devotions go to https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/. You can sign up to get them delivered daily to your phone or device.
Concordia Theological Seminary Indiana posts chapel services on Issues Etc.. Go to https://issuesetc.org/ for Christ-centered talk radio.
Lutheran Public Radio provides sacred music for the world. Go to https://lutheranpublicradio.org/.
Relationships can be maintained virtually, but, like life-support they are no substitute for real presence. We will support real presence worship as we gather in smaller numbers. We have a small congregation and many of our events are small. We will support proper protocols for shut-in visits for those who are in quarantine (either precautionary or mandatory due to illness). And, our AA groups continue their support. We continue to serve together while maintaining time/space social distancing.
In combat, medical crises called for medics. And when the medic stepped out, the chaplain stepped in to comfort the wounded, nurture the living, and honor the dead. Our church is here to step in, to serve our community in protective posture complaint care. Our real resources give God’s love now in quarantine and later when the plague passes. Contact the church at (502) 543-2905 to request shut-in services for pastoral prayer and/or Holy Communion.
Cautions have crushed a global economy. Yet, Christ was crushed for our transgressions. We have cleaned our church seemingly a thousand times in recent weeks. Surely cleanliness is next to Godliness. Public Schools once excluded God’s Word. Home Schools now have time for God’s Word. God gives good humor. While panic is contagious, calm is also contagious. Our Confidence in Christ continues to bring us calm in the midst of the contagion and its threat.
Very Respectfully,
Thomas J. Elbert, Jr.
Pastor
