Prayers in the time of Pandemic from Prayer for a Pandemic by Cameron Bellm
May we who are merely incovenienced
remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who jhave no risk factors
remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
remember those who must choose between
preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children
when their schools close
remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
remember those who have no safe place to go to.
May we who are losing our margin money
in the tumult of the economic market
remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country
let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically
wrap our arms around each other,
let us find ways of being the loving embrace of God
to our neighbours. Amen
————
(From the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania)
The following are resources for continuing to worship and connect in new ways – many of you will be a step or ten ahead with ideas (please continue to share them with colleagues!). This is a time to experiment, and give ourselves permission not get it right the first time.
Technical resources
1. Synod Covid-19 worship resources – which includes an array of items, including a list of UCA churches sharing their online worship and personal devotion material you’re free to use.
2. How to Livestream your worship services via Youtube or Facebook
3. Zoom, if you’re not already used to it, is a good platform for 2 or more to gather for meetings, pastoral contact, or worship. There’s also some good online education in zoom through that link which would be of use after the Covid-19 turmoil.
4. 100 ideas for ministers and church leaders – for your own self care, but also great tips for pastoral engagement and prayer life for your community.
Theological resources
1. Some theological reflection on the coronavirus and fear of death from UK scholar and theologian Ian Paul’s blog link Psephizo
2. Holy Smoke: a podcast conversation about the possibilities for a theological response from the churches amidst the crisis.
3. A reminder that By The Well Podcast is a lectionary preaching resource that, at this time, could also be used in place of a sermon, or for home based devotions.
4. Liturgy in the time of plague: a discussion about the issues around celebrating communion online
5. Ministry in this Strange New Land: a pastoral word to ministers from an Archdeacon in England.