Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest.” Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. ~Matthew 9:35-10:1
Greetings Beloved of God!
The heart of the gospel proclamation is God’s presence in Christ healing the body, mind, and spirit of every person, society, and all creation. Jesus does this through his teaching, healing, and demand for justice, but he does not do it alone. He surrounds himself with many disciples and a core group of 12 whom he trains to proclaim the gospel, heal those sick, and enact the Kingdom of God. The Spirit of Christ continues to call, train, and empower disciples today to use our unique gifts for the healing of the world.
As an ELCA congregation, Immanuel Lutheran Church is committed to helping disciples of all ages, persuasions, and backgrounds experience Christ’s healing presence, discern God’s call, and serve the risen Christ for the sake of the world. This means that we affirm all the ways God heals the world through people. This includes affirming God’s healing power at work through the medical community and scientific researchers, which is why our denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is part of “Faith 4 Vaccines: A Multifaith Movement.” When someone comes to me as a pastor asking for a religious exemption from the COVID vaccine, I must say no. This is my answer not just because of our denomination’s involvement in this movement, but because of my deep-seated belief that it is God who has given scientific researchers, medical personnel, and public health officials the calling and ability to study this virus, develop protection against it, and advise the world’s population accordingly.
With all the misinformation and fear out there, I understand people’s hesitancy and confusion, but as Immanuel’s called faith leader, I urge you to listen to this community of experts putting their blood, sweat, and tears into saving lives in the midst of this global pandemic rather than trusting social media and people lacking scientific and medical expertise. For those who are able to get vaccinated and have done so, thank you for keeping others and yourself safe through the means we have available. For those who are hesitant to get vaccinated, please find medical experts you trust to consult with about the effects of COVID versus the vaccine, how the vaccine works, and what vaccination means for the greater community. In addition to consulting your primary care physician, below are a few online resources:
Centers For Disease Control
- For guidance and information, go to https://www.cdc.gov
Clark County Public Health
- For local guidance and information, go to https://clark.wa.gov/public-health
Viral Facts Videos through Stanford Center for Health Education
- One such talk includes the following by Dr. Matthew Strehlow about Kids & Vaccinations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-ButDejZDU
- In full disclosure, Dr. Matthew Strehlow listed above is my brother and is one of the people I have been consulting with during this whole COVID journey.
Faith 4 Vaccines: A Multifaith Movement
- For stories, information, sharing your journey, please go to https://faiths4vaccines.org
For those who are vaccinated and have loved ones who are not, I share this experience with you. Some of the children in our lives are not yet eligible for vaccination and a small number of eligible people have been advised they cannot get vaccinated due to medical conditions. For these groups of people, we continue to mask up, maintain 3-6 foot physical distancing, and wash hands. Some people in our lives are hesitant about the vaccine and others are completely against vaccinations. I know how difficult these conversations can be. My approach has been to try to listen to concerns, offer resources, and urge vaccinations when possible. When open conversation is not possible (and when it is) I pray to God for the person I’m worried about and encourage all of us to continue this practice. Not only does God’s Spirit work in this world so that we see more people getting vaccinated daily, but this prayer practice reminds us to look with love, compassion, and grace upon people making different decisions. After all, we are not adversaries, we are friends, family, and one common humanity interconnected in this life.
Lastly, how do we support people who get sick with COVID, whose loved ones are sick with COVID, and/or who have lost loved ones from COVID? For this, I urge us to be moved by compassion as Jesus is whenever he sees crowds in need. These are not the times to advocate for vaccinations or judge people for their decisions. These are times to reach out in pure love to pray together, provide for needs, share encouragement, celebrate recovery together, and grieve losses together. When talking with people about these experiences, the first question many want to ask is whether the person is vaccinated. While it is not a bad question and is needed when determining how to gather with others, when talking with someone in the midst of COVID and its aftermath, our political climate makes this question often seem packed with judgment. This is not helpful or compassionate. Let us all think carefully before talking with people in these situations so that Christ’s compassion and healing presence are what ultimately shine through our words and actions.
Beloved of God, above all, let us remember the wisdom of our Tanzanian siblings: “Tu Po Pa Moja” “We are here together.”
May God bless you and our global community with safety, belonging, and purpose!
Pr. Adrienne