If you are following the instructions of Govenor Ducey, you and your family are prepared to “shelter in place”
or stay at home. As many of you know, I am a “both/and” kind of guy. I’ve never really understood the “either/or” approach to life because there are too many variables.
I am “both/and” when it comes to science and faith. I believe that God reveals aspects of God’s nature in nature itself. I believe God is sovereign over all creation, now so much more widely seen by means of the Hubble telescope. (Science and Faith). I believe God has given this amazing small blue-planet to us, for us and our descendants, and I believe the earth has a finite amount of things necessary to maintain life. (Faith and science) I believe that through the choices of greed-based cultures we have endangered the future health of the planet. I believe this planet to be resilient in its self-healing, but once we pass a certain point of CO2 saturation, oceanic temperatures, and the ever expanding presence of micro-plastics from our desire for plastic forks and spoons, and single-use paper and styo-foam products the balance needed to support life will tilt to an unbalanced situation (science and faith).
The world has been overcome by a “super”virus, COVID-19. Its spread has proven deadly (science), and its limitation can only be assured widespread by hunkering down at home.
I do not believe, nor teach, that this pandemic is God’s punishment for the “sin dou jour.” God doesn’t act like that. This event is a scientific reality that has been communicated in an animal to human transmission of a virus
that has mutated over time. (science and faith). For us this all means that we need to put up with this certain inconvenience. Stay at home. Do not casually go out publicly where possible infection can occur.
Let this be a time when you have had time to read the Psalms. If you have not read them in a few sittings, you might be surprised to see how much of life, tough life, are addressed by the Psalmist.
The Bishop has encouraged churches to suspend services until May 10th. While Easter won’t see packed churches, Easter will occur for you and your family on-line. I am seeing how I can make Holy Week come alive for you on-line on Facebook Live.
The Synod Assembly has been postponed from June to mid-September, at Community Lutheran in Las Vegas.
SALCA Camp has been CANCELLED for 2020.
We will faithfully see how the scientific community encourages us to stay in place, and trust that sharing the virus will diminish. Faith and science will be our guides for the weeks and months to come.
Pastor Alan
