Life in the Desert
Years ago, I had occasion to drive across the American Southwest, through Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California. I was astonished to discover just how much of this country is desert. Indeed, over 1,500 miles of my own trip were through desert terrain.
 But perhaps even more astonishing than the vast tracts of desert is just how much life there is in the desert. From the gorgeous Saguaro cacti of Arizona to the Joshua trees of the Mojave, there was life in abundance throughout this desert journey.
When we are in times of wilderness, it is easy to lose hope. It is easy to wonder, like the Children of Israel on their desert journey, whether they’d been brought out to this arid land to perish. When we’re in times of despair and anxiety, it can often feel the same way in that wilderness experience.
But what the Israelites learned was that God is in the wilderness. The same God who brought them through the waters of the Red Sea was with them even now in the arid wastes, causing water to gush forth from a rock. For, there is life in the desert. There is hope in the wilderness. For it is in that desert that we encounter the God who causes springs to burst forth from the rocks, and encounter the Christ who promises to give us “living waters” from which we will never go thirsty.
Rev. Mark Schaefer, Pastor
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Ecclesiastica
SUNDAY’S WORSHIP SERVICES
Thanks to everyone who participated in worship services Sunday. Thanks to Crystal Reed and Cara Schaefer for helping to set up and test the online connections, to Jeff and Chiara Griffith for being willing to greet at the church anyone who did not know about our closure, and to Paige Rammelkamp for providing our music last-minute. And also to our dog Beny for not misbehaving during the recording.
Sermon: “The Wilderness of Despair,” Rev. Mark Schaefer
Sunday’s attendance: c. 35
Collection: $ TBD
NEXT SUNDAY SERVICES, MARCH 22, 2020, 10:00 a.m.—ONLINE (See Below)
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Sermon: “The Wilderness of Tragedy,” Rev. Mark Schaefer
Scripture Lessons: 1 Samuel 16:1–13; John 9:1–41
To Join Online:
- Watch the livestream on Facebook
- Using Zoom on a smartphone, computer, or other device
- Calling in on your telephone
- Dial +1 (301) 715-8592
- Enter meeting ID: 418392652#
Want to help out in worship? Use our online sign-up to be a greeter, usher, liturgist, lector, or communion server.
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Community Events & Information
ALL IN-PERSON CHURCH EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING CANCELLED
Out of care and Christian concern for the most vulnerable members of our community, all in-person worship, meetings, and other events are cancelled through Friday, March 27, 2020. Read our pastor’s letter about the cancellations.
PASTOR’S WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY CONTINUES ONLINE
The Pastor’s Bible study continues this week and every Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m. We continue our deeper dive into the lectionary texts used on Sunday during worship. Everyone is welcome to attend. No prior experience required! Because of the closure of the church building, we will be having this Bible study online. Here's how you can join!
- Using Zoom on a smartphone, computer, or other device
- Calling in on your telephone
- Dial +1 (301) 715 8592
- Enter meeting ID: 456 431 396#
- Password: 743852
Contact: Rev. Mark Schaefer, cumcpastormark@gmail.com
PASTOR’S OFFICE HOURS ONLINE
Tuesday, March 17, 11 a.m–1 p.m; Wednesday, March 18, 2 p.m.–4 p.m.
Rev. Schaefer’s office hours will be online this week for both the Tuesday in-office session and the Wednesday in-a-coffee-shop session. You can connect in a number of different ways.
- Through Zoom Group Meeting:
- Use the Zoom app to join the meeting via smartphone or other device
- Or Call in to the Zoom meeting on your telephone at:
- Tuesday: +1 (301) 715-8592, enter code: 992524097#
- Wednesday: +1 (301) 715-8592, enter code: 493671679#
- Use Google Chat
- From your online gmail, initiate a hangout chat and invite him (cumcpastormark@gmail.com) to chat. Once you're connected, you can talk online through chat.
If you cannot make office hours but would like to talk with Rev. Schaefer, you can book a time to do so through a handy online took called You Can Book Me. You can use this to book time to talk online via chat or by phone.
Contact: Rev. Mark Schaefer, cumcpastormark@gmail.com
LENTEN SERMON SERIES CONTINUES SUNDAY
“A JOURNEY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS”
March 1–April 12, 2020
When you’re in the wilderness of want, fear, despair, tragedy, death and loss, or betrayal—where is God then? Beginning next Sunday, we will be embarking on a Lenten Sermon series exploring the experience of journeying through the wildernesses of our lives and where we encounter God in their midst.
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