Good morning friends!

My name is Ruthie Seiders and I am one of the pastors of Grace Chapel. I am speaking to you from the comfort of our family room, a work-space I have created out of the antique drop leaf table that came from my parents’ home in Maine. I am looking out our beautiful picture window overlooking our front lawn and I am beginning to see new life peeking out of the gardens and buds coming out on the trees.

My husband John, who is the pastor of a church in Windham, NH, is working upstairs in his study on the second floor of our little Cape here in Billerica.

Our two daughters are schoolteachers and so are home. Our oldest has two children and I don’t know about you who are grandparents but blowing kisses over FaceTime is not the same as snuggles and hugs in person!

The passage I chose to share with you is from the book of Isaiah, chapter 43. I love it not only for its words of comfort and promise, but also because it reveals how very personal our God is. Listen as I read verses 1-3.

“But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you Jacob, he who formed you Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

In a season of needing to distance ourselves from our friends, extended family, neighbors, and brothers and sisters in Christ, it can feel isolating. We can begin to wonder, does anyone remember I am here? Listen to these words of assurance, “I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine!” A dear friend of mine would quote those words every Sunday morning when we were welcoming a new little one into the church family. He would hold that baby and say softly, though miked so we could all hear, “The Lord Jesus has redeemed you, he has called you by name and says you are mine!”

So, to my elder brothers and sisters, to those who are single and having to live life alone right now, I offer these words of comfort and hope, you have not become invisible. You are not forgotten. The Lord has redeemed you.

To the children and students watching or listening and feeling a little lost without your usual routines of school and being with friends, I want you to know that God has called you by name. He knows you so well! He loves you so much! And he knows what you are thinking and hoping and wondering, and maybe even what you are worried or concerned about.

And to the parents out there trying to juggle it all, caring for children, teens, or aging parents in the midst of trying to keep up with work and household chores, may the Holy Spirit confirm in your deepest

being that you are his, while it feels like at any given moment in the day someone is asking yet one more thing from you, know that you belong to God!

Isaiah says another important truth from God in this chapter, verse 19 – God says, “See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

I truly believe we will look back on these days and see this new thing he is even now beginning to do! In fact, I have already gotten a glimpse of it this past week. Students flocking to their Sunday morning gatherings online, children singing and dancing with their Kidstown videos in their living rooms, spiritually curious extended family members and friends tuning in to watch our worship services because you invited them, and older church members gathering with their small groups over the internet using Zoom!

Have courage my friends, God is doing a new thing! And he will make a way for us out of this wilderness.

Let’s pray together, a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,

we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks

for all your goodness and loving-kindness

to us and to all whom you have made.

We bless you for our creation, preservation,

and all the blessings of this life;

but above all for your immeasurable love

in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;

for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,

that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,

not only with our lips, but in our lives,

by giving up ourselves to your service,

and by walking before you

in holiness and righteousness all our days;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,

be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen