Earlier this week Kristi Larson, our Youth and Family Ministry Director, challenged me to a well needed Pandemic sabbath. This is not the first I had thought of this brilliant idea, luckily living with my family has given me the opportunity to enjoy small breaks in the COVID conversation for things that I am really grateful for like card games, books, TV shows, cooking, baking, planting, and even organizing my mom’s spice cabinet for mother’s day. I am so grateful for these moments with my family. I am also grateful for friends near and far who are always there for a chat or some sort of virtual hang out or creative collaboration.
This week a group of friends who all happen to be singers added the free trial of an app called acapella to our phones for a new project. We were able to record a song together to post in support of Faribault Area Community Theatre at the Paradise Center for the Arts (view the post). The app was not easy to navigate and we each had to record our part separately before they were all put together. But the final project was like we were all singing together again. The song we sang is titled Finale B from the musical Rent and the lyrics we sang were a reminder not to take moments for granted and that we are all each other has.
As I think about these lyrics, I am reminded of all of the fun times this group and I have had creating art together. And as my mind drifts, I am also reminded of other moments I do not want to take for granted. Moments like when we gather after worship on Sunday Mornings in the virtual space we call zoom to check in and talk about our week. Those who gather talk about our hopes and our fears, what is challenging for us and what is giving us strength. We close our time together with prayer, individuals lifting up petitions remembering those in our community and beyond who need prayer. With each petition we are reminded of God’s presence with us. We close by saying the Lord’s Prayer, together.
This is my favorite part.
Our prayer is slower than normal as we wait for lagging internet connections. Because of the way zoom is structured different voices are lifted up at different times. If you don’t understand what I mean, come and check it out for yourself or tune into last week’s Saturday Night Live sketch where Keenan Thompson (the preacher) navigates online worship, view the sketch here. Often when praying the Lord’s prayer, I will speed through because I know it so well, I do not listen to the words and focus on what I am saying. Each time we pray it together in our zoom meetings, I listen to every word. I savor every word.
Last week Pastor Joanna challenged me to a new project with our children’s ministry. I am collecting videos of our children saying the Lord’s Prayer. I will then weave together their petitions to create a Lord’s Prayer we can share with all of you in Grace’s worship service. My hope is that you will feel invited into a moment of gratitude, that you will listen to and savor each word and moment. I hope you will feel the presence of God and be encouraged.
