A Spark of Faith and a Resurrection Tree

Many moons ago, we moved into a new home in Pasadena MD, and one of the first things we did was plant a little flowering cherry tree in the corner of our front yard. For a year or two it thrived, and then very suddenly it started wilting. Then, one by one, its branches started dying off, victims of a borer infestation. We treated the tree, but to no avail, and in the fall we cut the poor dead tree down to the ground with plans to replace it in the Spring. I was going to dig it up right then, but deep down neither of us wanted to give up on it quite yet so we let it rest.

Winter passed, and we went out in the yard the following Spring resigned to the fact that we were finally going to have to dig it up. But, Lo and behold, there were tiny sprouts coming out of that dead stump, so we decided to let it go and see what it would do. That "dead" tree grew like gangbusters. Each successive Spring after that our reborn tree grew larger and larger, and always seemed to reach its full bloom right around Easter. In a 2012 conversation with Hank Simon, our pastor at the time, we all started referring to it as our Resurrection Tree, and Pastor Hank even based a sermon on it.

Nearly thirty years later, that tree still stands in our old front yard. If we'd given up, if we'd lost hope, it never would have achieved it's true potential. The photo below was taken in April of 2012 during Easter week. As you can see, with Marci standing under it to show its scale, it's huge and it's glorious. Since those first tiny sprouts showed up out of that stump, it's been a symbol of the power of hope for us, and a reminder that even a tiny spark of faith can yield breathtaking results.

God Bless and stay well,
Dan and Marci Beard

The Body of Christ and the Virus

"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it."  Corinthians 12:27 NRSV

On the way to the church (I'm at the office for a bit this afternoon, but still keeping my distance) it occurred to me how much I've missed everyone this week. Since I started treatments I've had several times that I've had to practice an early form of "social distancing." Most of it was simply staying home because all those medicines had knocked me down and out. Now with my immune system down, too, I've been watching where I go and how I interact with others. Elbow bumps, not handshakes, for example. Then the virus came and all of us went home. It's a strange time.

And yet Paul says we are the body of Christ. Whether we are gathered together each week or out and about or at home: we are Christ's body. Notice he does not say someone else is. No it is us, you, all of us. As he says, "we are individually members of it." Paul says this right after insisting that each member of the body is vitally important for the health of the body. One part of the body is an important as any other part of the body (I Corinthians 12:14-26). We need each other for the body of Christ to function where we are in ministry together.

So that is one reason why Christians have gathered to worship, serve, eat, share, pray, give, sing, listen, care, study, and a host of other things together as one body. We need each other and in a time of being "distant" from one another we need others even more. So how do we do this?

Social media is helpful. Sending an email is, too. I'm using it a lot more this week to stay in touch with you. Calling is another way. After my treatments next week I can't say how much I'll be able to be in touch. We'll see how it goes.But there is no replacement for real human interaction that is face-to-face. But for now this and other means of keeping in touch will have to do.

I hope you have accepted Bishop Lewis' invitation to pray each day at noon. If that is or was not a good time for you, pray any time for all those who are dealing with the virus and for healing and a cure. I pray for those who lead us each day, for those on the front lines like physicians, PAs, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, nurses, CNAs, all those who are support staff, work in medical or hospital offices, police, fire and rescue, and so many others. Our son works in a grocery store in New Bern, NC. He says they have been so, so busy. He's the person behind the counter who checks out your groceries. Thank people like him for being there. And again, I think of Dr. Tony Fauci and Dr. Francis Collins, two scientists and physicians with the NIH who are hard at work for all of us. 

In the fellowship of our Lord,

Clay+

Bishop Sharma Lewis: Pray at Noon Every Day

The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (NIV) Prayer is essential to sustain our faith and Jesus Christ modeled a life of prayer.

I would like to thank several of you that have suggested a corporate prayer time for the Virginia Annual Conference. I am very blessed to lead an annual conference that believes in the power of the petitioned prayer!

Please join me at 12 noon every day and pray the printed prayer below. Let us invoke the power of the Great Physician to do a mighty work in eradicating this disease all over the world.

Peace and Blessings,

Bishop Sharma D. Lewis

Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

We thank you for your blessings, past, present and future. You are our rock and the source of our hope in all things and at all times. As Jehovah Jireh, our provider God, we ask you this day to stretch out your mighty hand and eradicate from the face of the earth forever this virus called COVID-19 (coronavirus) that is spreading rapidly from continent to continent. We also pray that you, Jehovah Rapha, our healing God, would place your hand upon all of those who have been stricken by this virus and restore them to full health. Be with those who have lost loved ones and are grieving. Protect all who are caring for those with this virus and keep them from contracting it themselves. Calm our fears and provide us with your peace that surpasses all understanding. Strengthen us with the joy of the Lord and help us to hold firmly to the hope that only you can provide. Unify us that we, the Virginia Annual Conference, may be able to experience anew the promise of your presence in and through the unity of our faith, hope and trust in you in the days ahead and forever. We offer this prayer in the mighty name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

God is at Work

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. Psalm 121:5-6 (RSV)

We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (RSV)

I just preached on Psalm 121 a few Sundays ago. I wonder if the Lord was getting me and all of us ready for what we're going through right now? I know since October I've been praying this psalm and turning its words over and over again in my heart and mind. Hear this again: the Lord is our, your keeper. Pray this alongside Psalm 23 where we say, "The Lord is my shepherd." The Lord shepherds us and keeps us. God is our protector and guardian. Trust him and trust his word. Let me be so bold as to suggest that you spend some time reading and praying Psalm 121. I really believe it is a word for us right now and that the Lord was preparing me and you for this time we are facing. Plus what we were already going through in our own lives.

Paul says God is at work for good in "everything." Even in a time of fear? Yes. Even when people are sick? Yes. It takes faith and trust to see this and at times we only get a glimmer. But if we train ourselves to see where God is at work, even when it seems he is absent, we just might see his mighty, yet gentle hand.

Just think of all the people working to bring healing to those who have the new virus. I read a wonderful interview of Francis Collins who leads the NIH. Did you know Collins is a Christian and a scientist? He went to UVA  and UNC! Yes, that's possible! He's a deeply Christian man who is just one of the people at work to bring a good solution to this new virus. And there are so many others: physicians, nurses, therapists, paramedics, EMTs, scientists, volunteers, helpers of many, many kinds. Through these people God is at work.

Continue to pray. Don't stop. It's tempting to do so with so much bad news. God works through our prayers. Yes, even our prayers. Keep in touch with friends and neighbors. Check on the elderly and the lonely. Listen. Send a card or an email or a text. Share this or the other emails I've sent. Stay connected. Put yourself in the position to be one of the ways God is at work in this crisis.

Don't hesitate to contact me for prayer or questions or other things. You can email, text, or call me. Yes, I'm having a CT tomorrow and treatments next week, but I still want to hear from you if you need me. I will do what I'm able and permitted to do given what the treatments have done to my immune system. But I can still pray and listen.

As I said yesterday we are improvising right now. We've never been through anything like this. God will see us through. God is at work. Jesus is with us; he is God with us. In Jesus God is for us not against us. Nothing at all can separate us from God's love. Nothing!

Clay+

Here is a online article about prayer you might find helpful.

Here is a recent interview with Dr Francis Collins with Focus on the Family.

Rev Clay Knick is the Pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Middletown, Virginia.

Grace UMC and the Virus

Beloved of God,

Bishop Lewis has closed all VA Conference UM churches through March 29th. Since we are not to conduct meetings of more than 10 people that pretty much keeps us from having any meetings until further notice. If an emergency arises and a decision needs to be made we can poll everyone by email. That's my suggestion, if anyone has other ideas, please let me know. This is new territory for all of us. We need to be kind to one another. Everyone is so stressed or anxious. We're all adapting and improvising. Pray for all in leadership. We are trying to practice a nimble flexibility with all the information we are receiving.

Also, church expenses continue. Please mail your gifts [PO Box 61, Middletown VA 22645] to us or use PayPal. [Here is our PayPal link Or make your donation using your own bank online system] If you have any questions contact Carolyn Bell.

I am well aware that not everyone has email and that not everyone is on social media. I have reached out by phone to several of our members who have an illness or recent surgery. Let's all of us do that in some way. The US Postal Service is still running (I have more books on the way!) so send a card, too. I've received so many lately and they mean a lot. Interestingly enough none (!) have been identical.


And keep praying. I've been praying for all of our leaders. I've been so very impressed with Dr. Tony Fauci, haven't you? I'm so glad he is on the virus team. He's 79 and runs three miles a day! Pray for him and first responders, nurses, CNAs, physicians, office personnel, for all who work is health care in any way. As the weeks go by we're going to need them more and more.

I will be having a CT Scan Thursday. Dr. Ingram wants to see how things look after four rounds of treatments. Lisa will take me. Next Monday and Tuesday I will resume treatments for Round 5 if my blood counts permit it. I really want to get this one and the next one over with. Round 4 really took the wind out of my sails and I am ready to be done. But this virus has added a new dimension to my treatments. I have to be very careful going out. So that's why I am hardly going out at all. While Lisa can take me to my treatments next week since school is closed she is not allowed to stay. So that will be different and not quite as fun (did I really say that?!) as the other times she or Charlie have taken me. But the staff there will take really good care of me. They are wonderful, a blessing. I can't say enough good things about Dr. Ingram and everyone at Shenandoah Oncology.


Here's a passage of scripture I've been thinking about lately. It's from one of my favorite psalms. I quote from the RSV which remains one of my favorite translations along with the NRSV & NIV. For the Psalms the RSV shines brightly and is only rivaled by the KJV. Take these words to heart. Pray them during this anxious time.

"For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:5-8 RSV

Grace + peace,Clay+