Posted on Apr 27, 2020 in Uncategorized |
Hello Crown of Life Family & Friends,
So I get text updates from the City of New Orleans about COVID and they are all very helpful, but I’ve been noticing the challenge it must take to lead the hundreds of thousands of New Orleanians to do the same thing simply by the tone of the text. Most are strictly informational, but every so often you can sense a tinge emotion whether it’s frustration or empathy. They range from You must wear your face masks in public- stay at home, save lives. To- you’re doing great staying at home! You’re helping us flatten the curve! You can tell our leaders are trying their very hardest to get everyone moving in the same direction. There’s no doubt- it’s not easy. Success for a plan relies on the whole group and the capability of the leader, that’s why at times it has to be frustrating. Even our governor recognizes he doesn’t have the perfect solution for this and there will even be mistakes along the way.
An encouragement for connectedness- we are part of a group called the body of Christ and we are called a body because we are vitally important to each other as each of us has been given different abilities and gifts.
Romans 12:4–5
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Read more…
Posted on Apr 22, 2020 in Uncategorized |
Hey Crown of Life Family,
Today is another sunny day in New Orleans, and the news seems to be pointing to slow recovery. Parishes are considering when they might open and cases seem to be leveling off. Most of our church family is holding up well and waiting for the moment we will all be able to flood out of our caves and do something other than speculate with a 4 year old how strong things are. “Are knives are stronger than houses? What about a Jet?” (maybe that’s only me.) Please check out our prayer requests on the home page and pray for Olga who was diagnosed last week with COVID and for Dan Hawkins as direct communication with him has been difficult. Pray he is doing well.
Hey Crown of Life Family,
Today is another sunny day in New Orleans, and the news seems to be pointing to slow recovery. Parishes are considering when they might open and cases seem to be leveling off. Most of our church family is holding up well and waiting for the moment we will all be able to flood out of our caves and do something other than speculate with a 4-year-old how strong things are. “Are knives are stronger than houses? What about a Jet?” (maybe that’s only me.) Please check out our prayer requests on the home page and pray for Olga who was diagnosed last week with COVID and for Dan Hawkins as direct communication with him has been difficult. Pray he is doing well.
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
We realize how important it is to stay connected, especially when it comes to Christ. A plant withers when cut off from the plant, it dries up and misses out on all the life the plant has to offer. Connection may be a struggle now, especially since this stay at home order upsets our routine. We don’t do the things the way we once did them. Time can become a blur and a drain.
It’s very easy to get cut off!
Don’t wither up! Do you know why Jesus wants to stay connected with you? Because he has so much life! In moments when everything else withers you can spiritually thrive! Thrive in the moments of waiting, when loneliness and anxiety try to sneak in. His nourishment fills us up past just surviving today, but to grow us into life eternal!
You can find resources for just about anything in abundance right now, but your greatest one is the Word of God that tells you Jesus loves you and fills you with that love.
God’s Peace
Miss you all
Pastor
Devotions
Here are home devotions for your family that include questions for kids. If you don’t have a devotion time yet, I encourage you to use these. Establish a pattern so kids get used to hearing God’s Word on a regular basis. They come out every day, and you can even listen to them! You can find them
here a just subscribe to them, or find them on our home resource page.
Posted on Apr 20, 2020 in Uncategorized |
Built for “connectedness”
Can I state something really obvious? We aren’t connected like we once were. Some of our grandmothers in our congregation are struggling with not being able to hug their kids and grand-kids even though they can see them on facetime or zoom. You don’t have the casual conversations with someone you pass in the hall or your barber/hairdresser, or the opportunity to give a hug or shake a hand like we did not long ago. Here’s something else that is really obvious. It’s not good for us.
We were built for connection– It’s foundational to our human structure!
Read more…
Posted on Apr 14, 2020 in Uncategorized |
Did you see the whole thing? In many cases it’s important that you do. Would you buy a car if the seller wouldn’t allow you to see the front end of the car for some reason, or a house you couldn’t go inside? I would caution you not to. Buying something on Craigslist? Make sure you open that box to make sure there aren’t just stones in there instead of the Ipad you thought you got a good deal on.
That will be the challenge as more crooks jump on board to make a quick buck off of anyone they can. A little deception, a little sleight of hand get well-meaning people in a world of hurt. It’s usually a bad sign when the whole thing is left unrevealed. Have you noticed that’s how shows and movies so often depict something that is uncertain? It’s never fully revealed. Casper the ghost, Ghost Busters…
Posted on Apr 1, 2020 in Uncategorized |
This is a moment we pray that projections are off…
The president just announce that projections for loss of life to be as high as 100,000 to 240,000! With cases and life loss almost doubling in our state in the last couple days, I hope we are set for the reality that it may be a very difficult following weeks for our country. Lent has been a tomb like experience with all of us in a sort “solitary confinement” in our homes. Maybe we wished it would be restful, but I get the feeling it’s more of anxious anticipation. Admit it- you want an “Easter” from the virus, but it’s a target that keeps moving…
Read more…
Posted on Mar 26, 2020 in Uncategorized |
Sooo… how do we deal with this Bible verse
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
We should be getting it by now. Trust in God at this point in time is paramount. Really, who else can you trust? Social distancing isn’t exactly a trusting action and for now that should be ingrained in us, right? How can we trust that people don’t have it when they might not even know they have it? God, who is present with us and comforts us with his strength, that’s at least one thing we can trust now.
But to rejoice? Can we say, “I rejoice in Lord for the Coronavirus,” as if it were something good? I suppose there is good that has come out of it, like families forced to be with each other while in quarantine, and a time to slow down and reflect on what is important, but I imagine that can come off as extremely insensitive for people who are really suffering. The ones who risk exposure because they lost their job and have to go to a food bank for their groceries. The people who are sick with this virus or lost someone because of it. How do we rejoice now? And can we do it in a way where it doesn’t look like we lack empathy for others? Read more…
Posted on Mar 23, 2020 in Uncategorized |
1. Set the Spiritual first
Schedule in when you will be having devotions and prayers. Do it after a meal/before bed/first thing in the morning. Then schedule everything else around it.
2. Prepare the family altar
Make this a fun and special time. Young kids might enjoy grab/pulling up the devotion, choosing a hymn to sing after. Set up for Sunday worship with candles and musician who will play the hymns online. Older kids can read the devotion and say a prayer.
3. Stick to the plan
Repetition establishes good routines. You and your kids are practicing holding on to Christ when it feels like you are on a cliff face. Lesson- Christ is relevant and important all the time.
The confidence that brings will allow us to scale some monumental cliffs in our life so…
Hebrews 10:23 [We may] hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
God’s Peace
Pastor
Congregational updates
- Thankfully, no word of any Crown of Life Family and friends having COVID-19. If you are feeling sick testing information can be found on https://ready.nola.gov/home/
- We successfully had our first online worship service. If you missed it you can watch HERE. If you are interested in helping enhance online worship give me a call. We’ll work together to make it better.
- We have a new sign! Just in time for all the traffic coming by! Actually, a new stone base. The sign is out for repairs and might be for a while with COVID-19. Thanks to Leslie and Bob for getting it done.
- ACTIVITY KIT- coming soon! Being stuck at home can eat at you. I’ll be sending out a kit for kids that I pray will help you parents stay sane
City updates
- The shelter in place order has been given. No travel except essential travel and essential jobs. 567 people in Orleans parish has contracted COVID-19 thus far.
- Drive up testing is now available, but limited supplies mean they quickly run out. (see pic for locations)
- Bread, Milk and eggs are some of the things being rationed at Wal-Mart. If anyone finds a stray milk cow or chickens they’re probably mine.
- Giving Hope food bank (13040 I-10 Service Rd. 70128) is open most days starting at 11:00am if you need food assistance. Lines are long for this, so be prepared to wait.
Posted on Mar 18, 2020 in Uncategorized |
- Congregational Updates
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- The Mayor recommends no gatherings over 10 people for the foreseeable future. That means all events at church are suspended. We will be discussing the best way to continue our work at Crown of Life.
- We’re gradually reaching out to everyone just to check in. So far it seems we’re doing well, some concern with reduced income because of loss of business. No immediate needs were mentioned (besides Lysol).
- Please check around with people to see how they’re doing including friends and neighbors. We will continue to share resources. Please pass it on to them.
- Online Giving is available
- City Updates
Devotional Update
Fear can drive people to do some pretty irrational things. I’m just thinking back to when we only had one kid. It was our first go at parenting and we didn’t want to mess up so
we overreacted to everything…
Read more…
Posted on Mar 18, 2020 in Uncategorized |
Those loved by Christ,
What a curious place we find ourselves in. As restrictions tighten we find it increasingly difficult to gather in our regular fashion. We thank God for our leaders who are working faithfully to “flatten the curve” and give our medical personal and communities the best fighting chance we have to minimize the impact of a highly communicable virus. God cares for us through our government and it is important, especially in a pandemic that we put aside personal opinions and for the love of our neighbors…
“submit [your]self to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established” (Rom 13:1).
The challenge for us is to live in confidence of faith and continue to encourage one another. Martin Luther went through similar circumstances during the Black Death
Read more…
Posted on Mar 13, 2020 in Uncategorized |
The short of it- with Covid-19 ramping up in our community please keep in mind:
- Services and Sunday School at Crown of Life will continue as normal.
- The Mayor has asked organizations to be extra vigilant. Because the virus spreads easily we will take extra precautions:
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- CDC Precautions
- Be sure to wash your hands frequently (20 seconds – sing “Happy Birthday” twice, or ABC’s slowly)
- Keep your distance- Avoid handshakes and unnecessary contact
- If you aren’t feeling well, or have compromised immune system- stay home
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- We will Facebook Live our service as we normally do.
More information concerning upcoming events will be announced soon!
We proceed with caution, but do so recognizing there is something so valuable we have as Christians. Psalm 91:1–2 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” In faith we see God’s shadow hovering over us, a reminder that we are never abandoned or forgotten. However this plays out, it’s an opportunity to reflect the confidence of love in it’s fullest form has already been given to us. He cares for me in such a good way that it works life forever.
Let’s pray that God keep us and our city/nation/world in his compassionate loving arms.
God’s Peace
Pastor
