Life during the pandemic continues to be tough. And the toughness will last for more weeks. One of the many sad parts of this time is that we cannot gather in person for worship, especially for special holy days like Easter. I will miss seeing Easter Sunday’s bright smiles and bright colors to match the bright sunlight outside. That does make me sad. But there is always this good news….. [Click View Post above to keep reading]

Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But….. [Click “View Post”]

We regularly enjoy reading and singing from the book of Psalms to help us rejoice, praise God, celebrate, and give thanks. But not all of the psalms are joyful. In fact, of the 150 psalms, about a third of them are psalms of lament. Written by real people going through real struggles. So they express worry, uncertainty, sadness, and desperation as they sing and cry out to God. Maybe the psalms of the lament are more pertinent to us now than ever, as they echo the feelings we are having… [Click “View Post” to read some.]

To connect with community resources, dial 211 or visit NC 211’s COVID-19 resource page. To see special hours for Ingle’s, Publix, Alidis, Walmart, Fresh Market, Target, and more, click “View Post”…

This goes into effect Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 8 p.m., to minimize all opportunities for exposure and transmission of COVID-19 across the jurisdiction. This declaration directs all Buncombe County residents to “Stay Home – Stay Safe” and to limit movements outside of their homes that are not deemed essential. This declaration is valid through Thursday, April 9, 2020, at 6 a.m., but will be regularly reviewed and evaluated which may lead to revision, amendment or extension… [Click “View Post” to keep reading.]

It’s okay to admit it. It’s okay to say it out loud: “I’m really worried. I’m scared.” The craziness of these days is starting to get overwhelming. With so many businesses having to close for now, so many people without work, the difficulty of having kids be home all day, and real concerns about getting sick—it is okay and honest to say, “I’m really worried. I’m scared”…. [Click View Post to continue reading.]

I think we’ve all been through natural disasters in the past that made life strange for a while. Usually, when a hurricane would go through, we’d lose power for a few days, play extra board games, chat with neighbors, and maybe go to someone else’s house who still had power, if only to shower and hang out. When the lights came back on, things went back to normal. But the crisis now is different…. [Click View Post to keep reading]