November 3rd Weekly Meditation

Weekly Meditation They shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Jeremiah 32:38)     It has finally arrived - Election Day. I have heard the words historical, consequential, momentous, all used to describe this election. Once again it feels like the campaigning has been going on forever. Once again it feels like it has gotten nastier. Once again it feels like we are a divided nation. But that is not what I want to talk about today.     Lately we have been seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases. And hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and unfortunately deaths. This is happening just as flu season is starting up. We are being reminded to wear masks, keep our distance, and avoid large gatherings as we await a safe vaccine, which still seems a ways off. But that is not what I want to talk about today, either.     Can you believe the Vikings beat the Packers on Sunday? I cannot. Or the Browns lost to the Las Vegas Raiders? I am sorry but "Las Vegas" Raiders just does not sound right. But hey, those Buckeyes are looking pretty good. As is the Monroeville girls' volleyball team! But that is not what I want to talk about today.     Any, if not all, of these things may matter to us in some way. They certainly dominate the news and probably many conversations. We get all worked up about "our candidate" or "our team" or what to believe. Sometimes these things even affect our relationships with family, neighbors, friends, even fellow church members. I will be honest - sometimes it is hard for this Minnesota Gopher fan to put up with all of you Buckeyes!     So what do I want to talk about today? A reminder of a simple promise upon which our lives should be built.     Jeremiah was writing for a people in exile. He was writing to a people who had many things on their minds, many troubles facing them, many issues vying for their attention. In the midst of that, God's word has come through the prophet Jeremiah. God has declared that the people will soon return home and this long period of exile will be over. Homes will be rebuilt, fields planted, vineyards tended. It is a vision of hope, of joy, of life. And beneath it all there is a simple promise: They shall be my people, and I will be their God.     No matter what happens today, tomorrow, at Thanksgiving or Christmas, or in 2021, remember that promise.     We are God's people, and God alone is our God. Worship This Week Thursday, November 5, 6:30pm, North Room Sunday, November 8, 10am, Sanctuary and on Facebook Live (In-person worship, inside. Masks required and please act responsibly) This Week: Uh Oh! The Parable of the Talents. Must be stewardship season. Keep In Prayer: Ellie Justice, Don Long, Alvin Shelley, Dee Kuhlman Our shut-ins: Kate Shelley, Dot Ann Smith, Nora Smith, Helen Payne