Welcome to MPC Connected! With our church family separated, we will be communicating with you throughout the week in a more intentional way, including emails from Max and Jeff, opportunities to serve others, and more. Enjoy!
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all doing well this week. I was saying to some friends this morning that the good weather of the last few days has made such a difference for us - it's been nice to get outside, shoot some hoops, and just enjoy the sun shining down. I hope you've had a few minutes to enjoy it as well. And yes, it's supposed to rain again today :(
So what's been hard for you this week? I'm sure everyone's answer would be different, but I think one thing that our answers would share in common is that they, in some way, would relate to the dehumanzing aspects of this pandemic. During this season, we are experiencing our lives as human beings in a way that is at odds with how things are supposed to be. There are all kinds of ways this is being experienced - including the dehumanization in the sickness and death caused by the virus, the dehumanization of the lack of social interaction and the dehumanization of the lack of meaningful work and wages for so many. I'm sure you can think of many more ways we are experiencing this.
I've been reading and enjoying Dane Ortlund's new book Gentle and Lowly, in part because he presents such a robust, full-orbed description of the heart of Jesus and what he came to do on this earth (and what He continues to do for us as our risen, ascended Lord). In one chapter entitled "His Heart in Action," we read:
Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry was one of giving back to undeserving sinners their humanity. We tend to think of the miracles of the Gospels as interruptions in the natural order. Yet German theologian Jürgen Moltmann points out that miracles are not an interruption of the natural order but the restoration of the natural order. We are so used to a fallen world that sickness, disease, pain, and death seem natural. In fact, they are the interruption.
Moltmann says, "When Jesus expels demons and heals the sick, he is driving out of creation the powers of destruction, and is healing and restoring created beings who are hurt and sick. The lordship of God to which the healings witness, restores creation to health. Jesus’ healings are not supernatural miracles in a natural world. They are the only truly 'natural' thing in a world that is unnatural, demonized and wounded."
It's good for us to remember that this season is a "small-i" interruption that is part of the "big-I" interruption of sin and suffering this world that began in Genesis 3. Both of these interruptions are real and painful - but they are just that - interruptions. Take notice of the ways that this "interruption" feels dehumanizing, and consider how Jesus came to bring us restoration and healing in the midst of it. Jesus came, and will come again, to restore our full humanity in a new heaven and new earth freed from sin, suffering, and pandemics. Someday, brothers and sisters, that is where we will live together. I'm so thankful to wait and hope for that day with all of you.
Worth Reading
Honestly, I've been kind of shying away from reading "virus-specific" stories in my feed. But this article came recommended, and I'm really glad I read it - it's by Christina Ray Stanton and it's called "God Sustained Me in Covid-19, as He Did on 9/11." Stanton has now survived both tragedies, and she reflects on how 9/11 drove her into a deeper walk with God, which then, in turn, helped to sustain her when she was in the hospital with COVID and given a 50/50 chance to survive. She says:
Nearly 20 years later, I lay in bed in my hospital room and prayed, something I’d been doing throughout each day of my hospital stays. My COVID-19 survival rate is 50/50, I thought. There is no 50/50 with you, Lord. You are sovereign over this, and if it’s your will, please heal me. Although I was entirely alone, unlike in Battery Park, I never felt alone during my illness. I knew the Holy Spirit was with me. A deeper relationship with Christ gave me the courage to navigate the scary days of the virus in a way I could have never done on September 11.
Give the whole article a read.
Worth Watching
No doubt, you all vividly remember and still think about my review of our denomination's 2019 General Assembly from the Meadowcroft Monthly last summer. In that review, I mentioned that one of the highlights of the assembly was a breakout seminar by Dr. Elissa Weichbrodt, a professor at Covenant College. She spoke on art and image-bearing and talked about how the art can shape ways that we think about people and/or groups of people. ByFaith, the official publication of our denomination, recently published a brief video in which Dr. Weichbrodt distills much of what she said in this seminar to 13 minutes. I highly recommend giving this a watch/listen. Really fascinating and helpful perspective:
Worth Hearing
It turns out that I have a thing for Canadian bands. I'm as surprised as you are, frankly. Spotify has discovered this and keeps feeding me Canadian music (Shred Kelly, Yukon Blonde among others). Here's a really beautiful song by Carmanah (from Vancouver Island), with a video that highlights many of the simple joys people are missing in this season:
Worth Tweeting
For all the Narnians out there..
Worth a Laugh
I'm on a roll with sports videos featuring unintentional comedy, while revealing my somewhat sad YouTube viewing habits. Last week was the NFL Draft, which had record TV ratings as a sports-starved nation eagerly tuned in to hear the NFL's commissioner announce picks from his basement. Longtime football fans know how much the game has changed in recent years - but there might not be any 30 seconds of video that illustrates this better than this tv introduction to "The NFL Today" from 1977. In the opening segment, there are six plays featured - five of which are now wildly illegal and would lead to penalties, fines, suspensions and ESPN thinkpieces in today's NFL. Come for the ridiculous plays, stay for the awesome theme song.
That's all for now. Love you and miss you.
Jeff
Though we are separated during this unique season, we want you to know we are available. We will be doing our best to stay in touch in many ways, but if you need prayer or just need someone to talk to, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. You can always send a prayer request to Donna (mpcadminteam@gmail.com). You can also email or call Max or Jeff or any of our elders. Max's email is mbenfer@meadowcroftchurch.org and his phone # is 484-886-7726. Jeff's email is jeff@meadowcroftchurch.org and his phone number is 540-818-6215.