Promises and Possibilities Amid COVID-19

The Easter Promise

Entering Parkvue Community on Easter morning, I felt like a pastor straddling two very different worlds. The first world is my comforting foundation. I stand firmly on the ground of God’s steadfast love, preparing to share the good news of Christ’s resurrection with residents and staff. The second, I call the “COVID-19 Safety World.” It includes physical distancing — minus personal hand holding and hugs — and lots of handwashing, hand sanitizer and masks. Our community’s primary goal during this time is to keep our residents safe.

Entering and Living in the New Normal

First things first. A large bottle of hand sanitizer is directly inside the staff-only entrance. Applying it generously to my hands, the next step includes vigorously rubbing it in. Then, I retrieve my mask from our wall of alphabetized pockets of clear shoe bags. My individual pocket displays my name, written on a brown paper bag. I carefully remove the mask and put it on. Next, I get my temperature taken with our temporal thermometer, and then I sign in. Thankfully, I affirm no symptoms — cough, cold, or shortness of breath.

Worship Cart

Physical distancing now requires that I prepare my portable worship space. I am blessed to attach my Easter gift, a beautifully designed and embroidered wall hanging from a beloved friend. I faithfully add my Bible, worship information, bulletins, communion chalice and paten. For safety, I carry individualized containers of juice and a wafer packet.

Easter Worship

The residents on each floor gather a safe distance apart in their lovely elevator parlors. In each space, we begin worship with the ancient Easter welcome: He is risen…He has risen indeed… We sing and pray together. Introducing the gospel lesson, I remind those gathered that all four gospels identify women as the first followers at the tomb. John 20:1-18 shares the story of Mary Magdelene, remaining at the tomb after others had left. I love that she initially spoke to Jesus as the gardener. Looking out across the community, we appreciated the budding trees and small blooms of daffodils and the power of our divine gardner. Finally, recognizing his voice, Mary Magdelene acknowledged Jesus’s presence. She ultimately returned to share the good news of his living presence with the disciples.

We Are All in This Together

As written in John’s gospel, Jesus lived, preached, taught and healed all of God’s beloved children. I reminded those gathered that this pandemic is impacting everyone, regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, gender or socio-economic status. Like many others throughout history, we live in a time of great uncertainty, yet we continue to stand on the ground of God’s everlasting promise of abundant love and amazing grace. Together we remembered the powerful message of the Last Supper. Honoring the new normal, we shared the bread and cup with our individualized cups.

Making a Difference

Prior to worship, a resident suggested we consider making a donation to support those in need from our chapel fund. After the benediction, I asked the residents on each floor if they would approve a donation to support our wider Sandusky, Ohio, community. All affirmed the donation. It is humbling in the most difficult of times, to see residents look toward the possibility of a better day by making a difference in the lives of others.

Easter Possibilities

The last few days, I have been touched by our society’s newest form of farewell. Instead of the usual phrase, “Have a good day,” people now are saying, “Be safe.” The theologian and poet, John O’Donohue, offers this thought in “Walking in Wonder: Eternal Wisdom for a Modern World, 21st Century”:

“We ask that streams of Easter light might flow into the intimacy and privacy of our hearts this morning,
to heal us and encourage us and enable us to make again a new beginning.”

May the journey ahead guide us toward life’s yet-to-be revealed possibilities.