The Christian Hope in a Complex Time
Update from the Portuguese Methodist Church, sent in May 2021:
The pandemic time affecting the world in the last year gave to all of us an experience we never thought about.
The “Stay at home” call made an impact in the life of the people, in the life of the families, in the life of the companies, in the life of the countries, in the life of the Church.
The fears came closer to many people. The doubts about the present and the future were around all the time. The bad news was having priority in the media communication. The feeling was like being in a war without knowing from where the enemy was coming. The enemy could be even at home brought from those who had to go out for work or for taking the essential things to the family needs.
The religious people had to be Church from home. The new technologies were an essential help for communication and for being in communion as community of believers.
The Church contribution was and is a very much precious in this complex time. People at home were able to take part in online initiatives where was possible to have news from each other, share experiences, value the hope, encourage each other, read the Bible, praise God, and pray together to God.
Those without online access were contacted through mobile phones or there were cases that somebody went to look for isolated ones speaking to them from the street to their home.
There were experiences shared about people who were able to be in solidarity with their neighbours, especially with the aged ones who couldn’t do the shopping for their needs.
There were Church solidarity actions to take food to people in need and to give some help to face other needs. Even there were local churches facilities available for people who wanted cook meals to give to those who were working in hospitals.
The solidarity Methodist Foundations made a very good contribution mainly to protect and care the aged people. There were workers who stayed for two weeks in the centres where the aged live to support and care them being in touch with the families of the aged ones through the new technologies to give news about those they were caring about.
The Methodist Church offered every week online bible studies, Sunday worship, small groups meetings for prayer, bible reading and sharing experiences and Church mission programmes having people speaking about their experiences and about how God was blessing them.
During the second period of time that all were called to be at home, the Methodist Church had every Thursday night an online prayer vigil with people taking part from the different parts of the country from portuguese islands and from other countries.
An interesting thing the Church experienced was when the presential Services restarted in the two occasions that we came out from the lockdown, there were babies brought for the first time in their life to be known in the Church and for the families say thank you to God and ask His blessing for the babies.
We are living in a very much challenging time. The pandemic situation in Portugal is controlled and gradually life is happening without the tight restrictions when things were bad. The christian hope has been essential for many people to face the difficulties of this pandemic time. Many are those affirming that in God they found refuge and strength.
Now is the time to help those who are still afraid of getting out from their houses. Now is the time to look carefully around to see what need to be done to help people feeling confident and finding the solutions they are looking for. Now is the time to value the essential of our faith. Now is the time to share about the christian faith that has been precious for many people in this complex time. Now is the time to share the love of Jesus with words and actions.
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40
Porto, May 2021. Sifredo Teixeira, Bishop of the Portugal Methodist Church