Covid-19

Prayers for Allied Services

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The news that I had been praying I would never read showed up today in the middle of Holy Week. Some of the resident and staff at Allied Services in Scranton have tested positive for the Corona virus. Not only does this matter because it is by far and away the largest long term care facility in Northeast Pennsylvania but it is dear to my heart from the many years that I volunteered there and was blessed to know and sing for hundreds of its residents. Let’s pray earnestly and ask for our Lord Jesus for His grace and strength for everyone effected including staff, residents and family.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 ESV

Here is the link to the article from Channel 16 News

https://www.wnep.com/article/news/local/lackawanna-county/residents-at-allied-services-in-scranton-test-positive-for-covid-19/523-dcc5d873-de0c-45c0-a364-b62adb7f63ce

All Things

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I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 ESV

To be entirely honest the disabling helplessness brought on by this Covid-19 crisis rubs me like an ill fitting pair of shoes. It is frustrating being cooped up at home with important questions like, “How can one tiny virus turn our world upside down?” and, “How the heck can you shop on line for bananas?” On top of everything else I also stupidly walked into a chair leg and hence now have a broken toe. This morning as I look out the window I realize that I can’t bring in the garbage can, can’t trim the small tree in our back yard or even water my flowers. If you are like me hearing that word; “Can’t – can’t – can’t” is like the annoying jingle of a television commercial. It isn’t that I couldn’t ask for my wife to wheel our trash can back in and water the garden; it is that right now I am dependent and I really need someone’s help.

That dependence is what Jesus was pressing for His disciples to understand as He prepared Himself for His own hour of helplessness. Less than 24 hour later His hands which had once cleansed the lepers, would be nailed to a piece of wood; His feet which had walked on waves would be unable to take a single step and His head that had been anointed with perfumed oil would bleed from the piercings of a crown of thorns. The creator of the universe would hang suffering and unable to move in front of all the world and there He show us the power of His love and give us His life for us so that we could say:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me Philippians 4:13 KJV

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In The Garden Of Prayer

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I have been so excited to find that a few of my friends who work in the nursing homes where I have ministered have been able to share these simple videos with the residents. Though not highly professional in quality these are the songs that they love to sing and I have included sub-titles to help them join in. If you know of anyone serving now in a long term care facility especially in this crisis it would be a great blessing if you could share these hymns with them. This is my small offering to encourage them as they are sealed off from family members, friends and even pastors, chaplains and priests. God bless