By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept, Remembering Zion.

On the poplars of that land we hung up our harps,

There our captors asked of us the lyrics of our songs and urged us to be joyful.

“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” they said

How could we sing a song of Zion in a foreign land?

Psalm 137:1-4

Dear Friends:

It feels as if we are living in a foreign land.  Our culture is different since the coronavirus changed almost every aspect of our lives.  The way we interact with people, how we purchase – prepare and eat food, the birth of new political landmines, visiting our parents or our grandchildren, our new economic system and the availability of jobs, our relationship to our government……….all seem so different from a year ago. 

The words of the psalmist missing the familiar worship and songs of Zion ring particularly true these days.  Each Sunday, preaching and praying and listening to music feels lessened than when we met face to face: sharing a handshake or hug or goodies at fellowship hour or sensing the communion of the saints by just sitting in a room with like minded people of faith. 

Our bread and butter of shared life is greatly diminished and yet we are still called to sing our songs of Zion.  Our coronavirus captives are mocking us in their call to continue our song in a foreign land.  Followers of Jesus are still being asked to live out their faith to spread extravagant love to our neighbors.  And so we stream worship, Zoom the business of the church, care for our members with safe distances, e-mails, telephone calls and walks, enjoy fellowship time through the computer, distribute food and sell reasonably priced clothing, sing into microphones and let the leaders splice it together, and have our youth hike and our children experience Godly play in the parking lot.  First Church’s ministry remains strong, but only because of you.  All of you still volunteer your time, treasure, and talents to keep Christ’s song alive during these pandemic days.

The hope that kept the Israelites going is our hope: that one day we will return home where life will be normalized and we can sit in our sacred space and be with our friends, singing songs of praise to our God and living out our faith in familiar surroundings and ways. 

This year’s stewardship theme is “Singing a Song of Zion in a Foreign Land.”  Despite living in the foreign land of Corona, we still need to offer our gifts of time, talent and treasure to keep our church strong.  Keeping the church healthy is more important than ever considering what is going on in our society and we’d ask all of you to think and pray about your pledge for the church this year.  We need your support and appreciate you considering the church important enough to support financially.   Pay attention for more to come.

Blessings for the journey home.

First Church Staff,

On behalf of Church Council

Wednesday, January 22nd @ 7-8:30pm – Holy Family Fellowship Hall (near Summit Street School )

Have you ever wondered what Catholics think about the afterlife or homosexuality? Or have you ever wanted to know how Episcopalians walk the tight rope between Catholic like practices in worship and the Protestant’s or how our shared story grounded in the English Reformation departed from one another? How do Father Charlie of Holy Family, Priest Kim Hardy and Rev. Mendes differ in how they spend their days and appropriate the Christian faith into their particular tradition? And wouldn’t it be fun to observe Father Charlie and Rev. Mark disagreeing over some deep theological issue? Well, you have that opportunity at the Holy Family Fellowship Hall by the Summit Street School. Each clergy will have some opening statements and then most of the time will be saved for questions and answers. So come, bring a friend and your toughest questions.