Linda Majowka is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Sunday Church Service
Time: May 17, 2020 09:45 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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Patience is a Virtue
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love"
Ephesians 4:2
May 13, 2020
Dear Members and Friends of Old South Haven Presbyterian Church,
Once again we invite you to join us at church, via zoom and the internet, this Sunday, May 17th to celebrate the sixth Sunday of Easter. We are coming to the end of Eastertide, with Ascension Sunday a week away and Pentecost at the end of the month of May. I was taught in Sunday School that these are the extremely important Sundays of the church calendar that often are forgotten by those who religiously worship our Lord and God.
In that vein let me bluntly add that not everything my mother taught me came directly from the Bible. The phrase "Patience is a Virtue" was used many times, and though it may reflect the teachings of our Lord, the phrase comes from a poem called Piers Plowman, created sometime between 1360 and 1387 AD. The original author is William Langland. In retrospect I may state that patience may have been a virtue back in the 14th century, when there was no smartphones, internet, planes, e-mail etc. But not so much today. By experience we have been trained to jump when cellphones begin to buzz
However, we continue to believe in patience as a virtue. We hope good things will happen to us. We hope things will work out. We hope we'll be successful. We hope we'll get the job. We hope things will get better. However, we can be stuck on hope and just wait for things to happen. But it is getting to that result that takes hard work, persistence, and dedication. Hope and patience isn't enough.
If patience is a virtue, action and perseverance is a duty. I believe that is the basis of the Reformed/ Presbyterian tradition as we face adversity. That is why we have founded universities, hospitals, food pantries, and social service centers. At one time all these services had ties to Christian believers and their various churches. In the past century many of these services have become a part of our local and national governments. In many situations that may be appropriate. But as Christians we still have the challenge to reach out in love to help our neighbors that include our families as well as the greater world outside. This is the challenge that we, as Christians, face today.
In Matthew 25: 38-40 we read these words: "When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sister of mine, you did for me.'" This has been the response of Christians in previous pandemics including the deadly viruses of the Roman Empire times, of the Middle Ages, and as recent as the end of World War I with the Spanish Flu and the more recent Ebola epidemic.
In the midst of the present Corona Virus pandemic, let us all continue to have patience with love while supporting those in need and those who are afraid. Let us continue to provide support for those lacking food, or money for rent or masks, or fuel for the home or auto. Let us provide help to those stressed and anxious and lonely. Despite the continued need for social distancing let us reach out and express the Christian love Jesus taught us to have.
Peace, and please share your concerns and prayer requests with all of us, including the pastor.
Pastor Ralph
Rev. Ralph B. Wright, Jr.
516-606-7671 (cell); 631-289-5761 (home) or rbwright1@aol.com
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