Friday, May 8

Good morning church,

Next week it will be two months since the strict quarantine rules in Pennsylvania were put in place, and the time seems to get long and looonger, conceiving a looonging for togetherness. No doubt, this is not easy. It makes me think of that segment of our population that is permanently relegated to the sidelines and often goes unnoticed, except for their closest family members and friends and maybe a note at the end of a church bulletin. We call them “home-bound” members of the church, those elderly folks who can no longer safely attend church, who receive our bulletins and sermons via mail, and who often have a visitation deacon assigned to them. I always rejected the word “shut-ins” as too negative. It sounds like you are a prisoner, right? Well, this experience of prolonged social isolation is teaching me that the term speaks the truth much more than I was ready to admit!!! We as a society feel and sense for the first time in a long time what it must be like to be so restricted in your personal freedom and we don’t like the feeling. Today I would like to introduce to you another one of our home-bound members (or shut-ins, if you like). I know that’s how Dave feels, – shut-in – no longer able to do some of his very favorite things…

Meet Dave G., shown on the attached picture with his grand-daughter Molly from Tennessee. The photo was probably taken last year when the girls visited grandma and grandpa in Pennsylvania.  Dave and his wife Susan live on the outskirts of North Wales Borough, which means they are really close to the church because North Wales Borough is tiny. They joined St. Peter’s some eight years ago (I am guessing) because it was so close and convenient and, understandably, they liked the community and the friendliness of the people.  Dave was born on one of the nearby farms that are now developments and has always been an outdoors person. In  his professional life he developed a topsoil business and ran that until he retired and sold it. One of his very best friends was the late Bob K. who is fondly remembered among our long-time church members. Bob was another local businessman who did much for the church and the community. Well, these days, Dave suffers from Parkinson’s disease. He has one of those chair lifts attached to the stairs that brings him up to his bedroom in the evening and back down in the late morning. He has to be extremely careful getting up and taking steps because falls are the enemy of elderly people and especially Parkinson’s patients. Dave has a wonderfully dry sense of humor and tries to take everything in stride. He is also very grateful for the love and care of his wife. “I can’t complain, I am still on the green side!” is a quip he frequently shares. But this is also true: no more fishing; no more lawnmower rides; no more nature walks. Hey, at least he can watch the birds and the deer and sometimes a fox from the windows of his home. Perhaps during this time of quarantine, some of you will find the time to send him a card. I am sure he would appreciate it. Dave’s deacon is John M. Dave’s address is:  contact the church office.

Speaking of sending cards… Oswilla M. wrote the following note of deep appreciation:  “Lilia was surprised and delighted with the notes and cards she received as a result of your prayer request. I read to her what you had written in the email.  She was very moved.  We both appreciate the support the St. Peter’s family has provided over the years.” Let us continue to pray for Lilia as she tries to find healing, liberation, and a positive path forward!!! She is still “shut-in” at the youth shelter in Eagleville. And Pam D. wrote, in appreciation of our prayers for her husband Bill, now in cancer treatment: “Bill is doing well. He’s well into the routine of daily radiation as well as once a week chemotherapy. Only minor side-effects so far. He hits a wall around 4-5 p.m. each day- prayers directed to that time slot would be greatly appreciated! I’m doing my job of keeping his weight up with lots of pasta and milkshakes!!! 😋 Our thanks to all of you!!!! ❤️”  So Pam, no pasta and milkshakes for the rest of us, o.k.? We are trying to hold our waistlines!

I have attached for you a second document, a PDF of an article that appeared in the New York Times two days ago, sent to me by our friend Erika W. Those of you who enjoy literature will appreciate this piece. It is a reflection by Rodrigo Garcia, the son of the famous and late Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia-Marquez. It’s been four years since his famous father died and the son wonders what his dad, the writer, would have made of this pandemic. Garcia-Marquez frequently set his fiction in times of plagues and epidemics, ultimately showing the resiliency of the human species and the characters he so aptly describes. One of his most famous books was “Love in the Time of Cholera.”  As I said, if you like literature, you will most likely enjoy reading this. Thank you for forwarding it to me, Erika!

Thank you, people, for all the wonderful, fantastic Mother’s Day pictures that I have received and enjoyed. That picture show on Sunday will be a blast and will be seen many times, I am sure.  It will be part of our Mother’s Day Service, the great prelude. If you wanted to send us a Mother’s Day picture, you have to hurry now, because 4:00 p.m. today is the cut-off time.  Also, please don’t forget that we have our food drive for Manna today between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Lee H. will be there with his shiny red pick-up truck. He has a cover, in case it rains.

May 6 was not only the birthday of Nicky G.o but also her sister Rita.

They are twins!

Be safe and be blessed! Pastor Andreas Wagner