In God

“Though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being.'” Acts 17:27b-28a

Yesterday was an odd day. Due to an internet outage, we were not able to livestream our 8:30 service. We did record a few elements of worship and posted the video later in the day; you can watch it here. For our 11:00 service of Holy Communion, however, we were almost at our fifty-person capacity. It almost felt like a regular Sunday service! Almost.

As the pandemic wears on, our worship life continues to be impacted. On the one hand, I marvel at the fact that our technology almost always works! Even more, I am grateful for the gifts of those who make both our livestream and our in-person services possible. Christ shows up! On the other hand, I miss having the Grace sanctuary full of people, praise, prayers, and proclamation.

So, Paul’s words today are a comfort. We may not be in the worship space at Grace, but we are in God. Wherever you were yesterday, wherever you are today, it is in God that you live and move and have your being. Paul is speaking here to the Athenians, and he draws from their culture. These words are a from an unknown pagan philosopher (some of the Church Fathers attribute the words to Epimenides). Paul pulls from their world of thought to proclaim a key truth of the new kerygma: God is fully present in Christ, and the resurrected and ascended Christ plays in all places, not just worship spaces.

So, friends! Wherever else you are today, be it at work or at home, in hope or in fear, you are in God. May you live and move and have your being to God’s glory and in service to your neighbor today.

Be well, friends. You are loved.

God of creation, while we miss gathering together we rejoice that you are with us. That we are in you. Maintain the bonds of our fellowship, and inspire us to find new ways to be church in and for the sake of the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Image: Descent of the Holy Spirit (detail), Colijn de Cotor, c. 1500 (public domain).