“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” -Psalm 27:1 (NRSV)

What is saving my life now? I think being part of the community of believers is such an important part of feeling “fairly normal” in COVID times when many people live in fear. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” In this era of technology, there are so many ways that we can still communicate with each other and support each other. Of course, nothing replaces that hug from a friend! But we can phone, email, participate in a Zoom meeting or FaceTime, etc. We can write that cheery card of encouragement to a shut-in friend. We can drop off a treat or something we baked to a member of our pod.

As a member of the Stewardship Committee, last year we decided to try having small groups as a way of bringing the church community together during COVID-19. I host our group that meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 7:00 PM via Zoom. It has been an excellent opportunity to get to know members of St. Paul’s on a more intimate basis. Also, we have supported each other during times of health issues, traveling across the country, and other concerns. That time at the end of the hour when we share concerns and prayer requests has become an essential part of our time together. It is wonderful to have the support of the group.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be involved in other non-profits. It is so important to spend time helping others and therefore moving the focus from our fears and concerns to making a difference in people’s lives. How rewarding that has been for me!

Lord, help me to look for opportunities to reach out to others and share Your love with others. Thank you for the support of the community of faith here at St. Paul’s. Amen.
-Marilyn Allen