March 22nd Service
On Line Service due to COVID-19 Pandemic


Worship Notes - March 22, 2020
"We Are One in the Spirit"
John 14:15-21

I knew I would be preaching this Sunday some time ago, and I want to share with you my original opening:

Most of us will never experience:

  1. The need for hand sanitizer because you shook someone’s hand and you are instructed not to touch your face, especially your mouth or your nose before you have used the sanitizer.
  2. Grocery stores with few products available for purchase.
  3. If you’re a parent, your children are not currently in school.
  4. No one in your family currently has a job; and you struggle with you finances, but there’s no government program to help you.

These thoughts were on my heart for preaching as I thought of the 2 week mission trip I took to Haiti just after Easter in 2017. And today is designated as UMCOR Sunday (United Methodist Committee on Relief. The day we set aside to talk about our premiere mission organization admired throughout the world.

None of us would imagine ourselves in the above circumstances before the last few weeks.

For most of us, our connection with Haiti begins with the horrific 2010 Earthquake, which created huge devastation to the island nation. Methodists are particularly connected since Sam Dixon, head of UMCOR, and Clint Rabb who worked with mission volunteers, were in Haiti at the time and were trapped for 55 hours in the ruins of their hotel with 2 others, but did not survive.

A friend of mine has a classmate who works for another non- government organization. She once asked him what their organization’s number one goal is when there’s a crisis somewhere in the world. His response: beat UMCOR to the site. UMCOR is noted for their fast response. They work with local organizations already in county; they don’t compete with other organizations. UMCOR has worked for 80 years in ministry to those in need and currently has ongoing projects in 80 countries, 37 mission projects active in Haiti alone.

So when I thought about our own current circumstances, I couldn’t help but think about the parallel circumstances we find ourselves in with Haiti. And why it is appropriate for Lent. There is one big difference. Our problems are short term and will soon improve. Haiti’s problems will not go away in the foreseeable future. Their current unemployment rate is 80%. My contact in Haiti recently sent an article that shows those who can find work are lucky to make $2 a day, while it costs $5 a day to feed a family. They have no money for groceries. They have numerous health problems, including diseases, infections, and parasites.

They have contaminated water sources to drink and cannot afford bottled water. Schools, including public schools, all require tuition which most can’t afford. So what do we share in common? A great faith in God.

I was humbled by the enthusiast worship services I attended in Haiti. The very first was a small church in the hills. The church was packed for the night service and the singing would make John Wesley proud. There were no hymnals but the congregation knew the songs well. At one point there was a lively 12 verse song and during every refrain everyone – young and old, men, women and children – jumped up and down while they sang. They were not the least distracted when the single light bulb in the church went out and continued singing until the generator was refilled and the light returned.

Our texts throughout the six Sundays of Lent, focus on stories about Jesus preparing his disciples to continue his teachings and his ministry after he is gone. And they didn’t get it at the time. But we too are being prepared to continue making disciples, helping the needy, being united in ministry. And like the early disciples, we are not alone. And we are one with another.

In the Gospel of John: 14:15, Jesus promises that his disciples will not be left alone after he’s gone. They will have the Holy Spirit to guide them. And as the inheritors of the faith, we too have the Holy Spirit with us. With Christians around the world, we have the most important connection that can see us through these challenging times.

I continue to hold all of you in my heart; and I leave you with this Haitian proverb:

We were a little bit slow on the road, but we brought good news.