“Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one Spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents.  For them, this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation.  And this is God's doing.”  Philippians 1: 27-28.  In Paul's letter to the Christians at Philippi, he is encouraging them to live their lives as a community which is centered in Jesus Christ and what he did for us all by his death on the cross.  They are to remember that God is with them and to focus their eyes on his heavenly kingdom.  We too need to focus our lives and all we do on Christ.  He is with us always even through this pandemic when we gather together and yet apart on zoom to keep us all healthy and safe.  Even though our “together” looks different, we know Christ has promised to be with us when two or three are gathered together in his name.  I know you, as I do, miss seeing and hugging each other in person weekly, but we must hold onto our faith that God will see us through this time of waiting until we can worship together in person again.  We can pray for each other, talk to each other on the phone or via zoom, text each other, write encouragement to those we pray for and listen for God's direction to stay safe.  No pandemic can take God's love or Word away from us.  We are all in this together with God by all of our sides equally.  Prayer: Lord, your Son humbled himself so that we might have everlasting life.  Teach us to share your love with others and to trust, with the faith of children, in your eternal promise of salvation.  Amen