Written by Mary Nelson, youth pastor of Rural Chapel United Methodist Church in Galena, OH

Lately, in the time where we have been forced to change our lives drastically for the greater good of the community, I have felt that although things have slowed down, things have become way more chaotic.

Stores are packed and always sold out of something (it took me 5 days to find baking soda), my kids are getting cabin fever, Randy and I are both trying to work from home. The house is always messy and we’re all a little on edge.

Ephesians 4:2 says “be humble and gentle; be patient, bearing  with one another in love.”

For me a huge faith practice lately has been just this: be gentle with others and yourself- allow extra space for grace. Be patient- this is so hard for me- but take that deep breath, centering breath and be patient. Lastly love. Show love and receive love freely right now. Show love to your friends, the people walking past you down the street, your family, yourself, the person who grabbed the last thing off the grocery shelf. The best way to show Jesus in this time is through love. It’s easier said than done, but if we are aware of how we are responding to other people, this should hopefully become less of a challenge.

In Christ,
Mary

Be humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2

Written by Rev. Craig Moock, pastor of Rural Chapel United Methodist Church in Galena, OH

As we look at our faith practice of the day, I reached out through my personal Facebook page and asked the question, “What faith practices are sustaining you during this time?”  I received lots of great answers from people, but the most consistent one was music.  There is something about music that can connect us to God and restore our souls whether that music comes through 104.9 The River or just singing God’s songs ourselves. 

One song that has connected to me to God over the last year is “What a Beautiful Name” by Hillsong that you can check out on YouTube.  Another song was written by Charles Wesley, the brother of John Wesley, called “And Can It Be.”  It is in this song that Charles helps us marvel at all that God has done for us.  You can check this out on YouTube as well.  May these and other songs refresh you and restore your soul in these challenging days. 

Blessings and I will catch you on Facebook live on Sunday at 10AM… and remember to wash your hands,

Pastor Craig

Written by Rev. Craig Moock, pastor of Rural Chapel United Methodist Church in Galena, OH

For our daily faith practice, I invite you to bask in the sun today!!!  While you do this, take a moment to ponder that God created this specific star in order to sustain life… all life on this planet.  Contemplate how the sun makes plants grow, makes us feel warm, kills germs and allows us to see all of the beauty around us.  Take a moment to enjoy today’s temporary respite from gray days and praise God for the awesomeness of creation.  What a great way to build your relationship with God.

This brings to mind the video that my daughter and I watched yesterday.  It was a virtual tour of Yosemite.  While watching this, the sun showed the beautiful colors in this most beautiful place on earth.  My daughter looked at me and said, “Papa, I am so glad that God decided to make that!”  Turns out, I am too and we need to Sun to see it and the sun to make all of the beautiful plants there grow.

Blessings and I will catch you on Facebook live on Sunday at 10AM… and remember to wash your hands,

Pastor Craig

Written by Rev. Craig Moock, pastor of Rural Chapel United Methodist Church in Galena, OH

As we look at practicing our faith today, I wanted us to consider what it means to be honest with God.  I mean REALLY honest!!!  Sometimes, as Christians, we try so hard to be faithful in following God that we struggle with being honest about how we are feeling when times are tough.  Remember, as I said on Sunday in the message, God sees us and God cares.  God wants us to be honest with Him… especially when times are rough, especially when we doubt and especially when we struggle with faith.  He already knows what we are feeling, but us being honest about it with Him makes us more ready for Him to meet us in our tough times… and all of that honesty builds our relationship with God and that is what God is longing for. 

God knows that these times have been challenging for us.  He sees us and He cares.  Try, for today being really honest with God about how you are feeling about all of this and I trust that you will connect with God in a deeper way.  My hope is that that will bring you peace.  

For those who struggle with being honest with God, I want to commend Psalm 6 to you.  David was honest with His pain.  God has also given us the freedom to be honest with our pain.  Watch what God will do when we give our pain to Him.

Blessings and I will catch you on Facebook live on Sunday at 10AM… and remember to wash your hands,

Pastor Craig Moock

Office 740-548-4389, cmoock@ruralchapel.org

1 LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony. 3 My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long? 4 Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. 5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave? 6 I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. 7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes. 8 Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish; they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Psalm 6 (source)

Written by Rev. Craig Moock, Pastor, Rural Chapel UMC, Galena, OH

It can be hard to praise God at times like this, but it is good to remind ourselves and each other of who God is and that God is worthy of praise!!!!  With that, there are many ways that we can praise God.  We can sings God songs that praise Him.  These songs help give us the words to praise God when we do not have them.  We can pray to God and praise God for His love and His grace and His mercy which are abundant.  We can tell someone else about our God who has given us light and life. 

For me, there is something about flowers that make me praise God.  They remind me that God is a scientist and an artist.  God is a scientist because He created the consistent processes by which flowers grow and thrive.  God is an artist as we see all of the beautiful colors that that are present in each of the flowers.  At my house the daffodils and the crocuses are blooming and for that I praise God.  When I praise God, I feel better than when I started and we could all use a little bit of that right now. 

Blessings and I will catch you on Facebook live on Sunday at 10AM,

Pastor Craig

Written by Rev. Craig Moock, Pastor, Rural Chapel United Methodist Church, Galena, OH

As we look at our daily faith practice for today, it is hard to believe that the news of things like schools being shut down came just a week ago.  With that, many of us have been scrambling to make the adjustments which have been necessary over the last week.  All of this chaos can make it hard to be present with the people that we love the most.  These are the people who God has told us are our primary responsibilities for care and relationship.  

So… here it is… take a deep breath, recognize that God is good and put all the chaos aside and be present with your family.  It honors them and honors God.

Oh, and remember to wash your hands.

Blessings and I will catch you on Facebook live on Sunday at 10AM,

Pastor Craig

Written by Rev. Craig Moock, Pastor of Rural Chapel United Methodist Church

As we look at our daily faith practices during this time of crisis, tonight I want to look at prayer.  Specifically prayer for others.  What I am discovering is that our church and larger community are filled with good people who want to help those in need during this time of crisis.  The challenge is that the main thing that we can do to help is to stay home and at try to connect with people through phone or internet. 

What do God’s people do when they want to help and there is nothing that they can do to help?  They pray!! 

As Christians, we believe that God hears our prayers, answers our prayers and is interacting in human history!  Maybe take time each day to pray for a different group of people.  For example, those over 65 who are at more risk from this disease, pray for those in the medical community who are more at risk of contracting this disease and serving all of us, pray for those who are anxious because of all that is going on, pray for all of your favorite people – God put them in your life for a reason, pray for those who are researching solutions to this crisis and finally pray for those who do not yet know Jesus.  God is still at work and today is our day to stand up and be the church.  I encourage you  to see what God will do in your lives and the lives of others when you pray.   

I love you all!!!

Blessings, Keep the Faith and Wash Your Hands,

Pastor Craig Moock

Galena, OH 43021, Office 740-548-4389, cmoock@ruralchapel.org

Written by Rev. Craig Moock, pastor of Rural Chapel United Methodist Church, Galena, OH

For today’s daily faith practice, I want to encourage you to read God’s Word.  A daily practice of reading God’s Word is a powerful way to grow in faith and build your relationship with God.  If you would like to join us for the Mark Bible Study on Zoom on Wednesdays at 7, we would love to have you.  We had a neat study tonight. 

With that, one Bible passage that is worthy of note as we read God’s Word is Mark 5:1-20.  This is where Jesus delivers a man of a legion of demons called Legion.  Crazy stuff.  As our Bible study lived with this passage, I asked the question… how do we apply this to our lives?  One person shared that if Jesus could love and deliver that man, then He could certainly love and deliver me.  Out of that, we see Jesus’ love and compassion for a man that no one else had any use for.  If Jesus loved even that man, then we understand that there is no one that Jesus does not love.  The question that then came to me is, “How do I love people in the way that Jesus did?”  How are you loving others… even those who seem unlovable?  During this time of this present crisis, living the love of Jesus can be a powerful thing for others and for ourselves.

Rural Chapel Family, I love you all!  Be at Peace.  God is with us.  Go and love those whom God has called you to love… and remember to wash your hands!

Blessings,

Pastor Craig