The Sunday Horrors

When we were growing up, Dad was Youth Pastor at Papatoetoe Baptist Church. Sunday was a big day in our family. Church in the morning, Big League Soccer at 12pm, Sunday roast at 1pm usually with guests, Football down the Rec. or in the Church hall in the afternoon, Youth Group at 5.30pm, Evening Church at 7pm, Young Peoples Supper at 8.30pm, Radio with Pictures at 10pm followed by Dads favourite, the Sunday Horrors. There’s nothing like a good routine for feeling life is ok.

But what was that with the Sunday Horrors ? One of the movie genres that has had a lot of success at the Box Office is horror. Just when everything seems to be going well, the haunted music starts up, disaster strikes and people, prepared or not die. Do you ever get that nagging doubt that just when everything is going well, something terrible is about to happen ? Horror stories put a spotlight on our worst fears. Panic takes over as fear grows. Honestly we have seen that around the world in this Covid-19 pandemic. Again we saw long queues at the supermarkets and at the Auckland exit points this week when the sudden move to level 3 was announced.

But the sun comes up faithfully every morning. Great is thy faithfulness is the hymn from Lamentations 3:22-23 

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

In just over 2 weeks it will be Spring, regardless of the Pandemic. The flowers on our magnolia are in full bloom already and the sunny day today is a reminder of the beautiful days of Summer to come. Communion is an anchor. Even when Jesus was facing the horrors of betrayal and death, it didn’t shake him from keeping calm and carrying on. He didn’t take his eyes off caring for his disciples and reminding them that he would be coming again. We have one big Son-rise to look forward to.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

Communion gives us peace. When fear starts to rise up, we can think of Jesus and what he did for us and we can feel peace instead.