Much changed in our lives starting in March 2020. Among a wide range of adaptations to be made in people’s lives was the phenomenon of public school being done online, and parents and grandparents having to be more specifically engaged with their children’s/grandchildren’s education. Although parents/grandparents weren’t actually doing the teaching (that was the embattled teachers in many cases having to learn all kinds of new technical skills to do what they knew how to do with other methods), they were monitoring in more hands-on ways, “tutoring” much more, often in real time, and just being present way more—rather than a school day happening at the school, it was happening in the home. This was not “home schooling” that was the planned choice of some families; this was all of a sudden needing to shift entire days from what had been to what now was. It was challenging, daunting, exhausting. But the circumstances demanded it, because the circumstances of life had changed. The same learning needed to happen for the children, but the context of it was so profoundly different. The changed reality meant adaptations had to be made, and made quickly, and with focus, so the same (or similar) results as before could happen.
This is not the only example from the last 18 months of new circumstances calling for new approaches, and roles adjusting to make that possible. But this one does serve to echo what the passage from Acts 6:1-7 addresses in the life of the early church. A part of what they did was reach out in care and concern to support widows—those who in many of the cultures they were engaged with in that time would have no means of support if a husband has died. Most women in those days didn’t have their own incomes, and didn’t own homes, and didn’t inherit anything. From this passage, we see that there was a daily distribution of food to widows; we also see that their ministry wasn’t just to those who were followers of Jesus who were Jewish, but those who were not from Jesus’ own faith background. So they were caring for widows from various heritages and cultures and belief systems, who were now connected to those following Jesus. The number of those following Jesus had grown, and therefore so had the number of widows they needed to care for. The changed circumstances meant they had to adapt their approach to still provide the care and the food, that was needed.
So they identified the need, identified those who would take over this part of the ministry, and prayed over them and consecrated them to do it. And those who were the leaders kept doing what they needed to do to lead.
The last 18 months have called for adaptation in what the church needs to do also. So much has changed in such a short time, but we know that loving God and loving neighbor, caring for those who are hurting, and providing opportunity for those who need to know Jesus and those who need to grow in their relationship with Jesus—all of that still needs to happen. The core of the proclamation of—and the living out of—the Kingdom of God has not changed. What it looks like to do it has changed, and just as the early followers of Jesus saw the need that had emerged and nimbly prayed through the way to address it, so must we. When it looks different than it did, the response must be different than it was. Pray we have eyes to see, and openness to the Holy Spirit’s guidance to discern the best approach, true to our mission, to the new opportunities that have arisen!
NEW TESTAMENT Acts 6:1-7
1 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait at tables. 3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.’ 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.