Pot Luck

I remember family gatherings for dinner. Each guest would bring a dish to share with the others. This was then called a "Pot Luck" dinner. This because we did not know what the meal would be. I remember these occasions as light hearted. In a sense, there was joy in the room while we ate and conversed.

One of the most difficult parts of our recent experience has been the lack of connection with family, friends, and neighbors. This has left many persons vulnerable to loneliness. We do not know how long this will go on. We are clear that it will be costly to our society. Hopefully, many among us are in regular phone (email) conversations with others. This is one way to overcome the hardship. Another way is a bit older. Letter writing used to be a main way of communication across distance. I will suggest that writing a letter to others will bring benefits to both the writer and the reader.

We were restricted from gathering to record our worship service. So we went to plan B. Persons were invited to send a recording. These recording have been stitched together to form an unusual service of worship. Although the video is very informal, it offers Grace to all who view it. That Grace will come in a variety of ways.

Here is our "Pot Luck" video:

Here are the texts in which our contributions are rooted:

Psalm 1:1-3 - Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers.

Romans 8:12-17 - So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

John 3:1-6, 16-17 - Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.