Dear Friends,
I hope that you had a happy and blessed Easter. We are now in the Easter liturgical season. For the next few weeks, our worship will focus on stories of the resurrection.
If you would like a home visit, conversation, or home communion, please call me at 573-437-2779 (church).
- Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 16 at 6pm
- Youth to Sky Zone in April. Talk to Carol Nowack for more information.
- Please remember to return you congregational surveys by April 14.
Blessings,
Pastor Stephanie DeLong
Scripture: Acts 4:32-35 • Psalm 133 • 1 John 1:1-2:2 • John 20:19-31
Sermon: Peace Be with You
Easter morning has passed. Mary has testified that she has seen the Lord. The disciples are still hiding away in a locked room when Jesus appears among them. “Peace be with you,” are his words of greeting. Peace for these troubled people struggling with all that has happened. Peace for the startling nature of his sudden appearance. Peace for the whole world which desperately needs it.
During worship we pass the peace to one another. It is a moment to greet one another and let those who have gathered know that we care about each other, that we have missed seeing them and to wish the peace of Christ to each other. Peace that we all need to feel in our lives.
News reports are filled with stories of war and trouble. The story about aid workers from World Central Kitchen traveling in a clearly marked van being killed by an Israeli airstrike has troubled the world. Being in a war zone is dangerous. Being someone who risks your life to feed people affected by war could cost your life.
I had heard about World Central Kitchen before and have been fascinated by their mission. To learn more about them, I went to their website, and this is what I learned:
Food is essential to life every single day, all over the world—and it is more important than ever in a crisis. Not only is a thoughtful, freshly prepared meal one less thing someone has to worry about in the wake of a disaster, it is a reminder that you are not alone, someone is thinking about you, and someone cares. Food has the power to be the nourishment and hope we need to pick ourselves back up in the darkest times.
In 2010, Chef José Andrés, ready to use his culinary knowledge and talent to help, headed to Haiti following a devastating earthquake. Cooking alongside displaced families in a camp, he was guided on the proper way to cook black beans the way Haitians like to eat them: mashed and sieved into a creamy sauce. It wasn’t just about feeding people in need—it was about listening, learning, and cooking side by side with the people impacted by the crisis. This is the real meaning of comfort food, and it’s the core value that José, along with his wife Patricia, used at the center of founding World Central Kitchen. (https://wck.org/story)
Chef José Andrés used his skills as a chef to reach out to people, learn from them and feed them. His organization has expanded and is now a major provider of food to hunger people in places where there is crisis including war torn areas like Ukraine and Gaza. World Central Kitchen provides comfort and a bit of peace to frightened and hungry people around the world.
Jesus would listen to people and reach out to them where they were both emotionally and physically. Jesus understood that the disciples were afraid and troubled when he greeted them with the words, “Peace be with you.” This is just what they needed to hear. When Thomas feels left out because he was not present when the other disciples experienced Christ’s presence, Jesus returns to meet Thomas where he is emotionally and physically. Jesus said, “Peace be with you” again to greet the disciples and especially Thomas. Thomas gets to touch Jesus and call him Lord.
Jesus listens to us and meets us physically and emotionally where we are. We may experience this through prayer or the care we receive for others. Maybe we are being called to share our skills to bring peace into someone’s life. May Jesus bring peace into our lives today and may we be instruments for peace.
Prayer: God, when I am troubled give me your peace. When I am able may I bring peace to another. Amen.
Prayer list: All who have been on our list for a while, Mark’ s brother Billy, Tyra, Freya, Vicki B., Barb Z., Jesse, Tammy. Jennifer, Richard, Tamara, John, Dixon’s daughter, Ashlely and Cody, Garth, Linda, Tessa, Carl, Kimbra, Liz’s father, Dannie, Lathe, Marilyn, Kris, Lee Ann, Bob, Diane, Linda, Keetha, Carly, Mia (Good news, she is healing.), Brenda, David, Dave, Jeff, Bill & Kathleen, Bill with cancer, Nancy and Pat, Son-in-law of friends for Diann K., Vickie M., baby Claire. If you know of anyone who would like a prayer shawl, please let us know.
Special prayers for the family of Adam Bock who passed away last week.
