by Robert Earl Houston
ST. LOUIS – Today marks the ninth Sunday in the year of our Lord 2019. Of those nine Sundays, three have now become weather-related cancellations. That means 1/3 of our Sunday morning worship services in 2019 have been canceled and according to long-range forecasts, this may not be the last one for this winter/spring.
It is real living in the Midwest. Every area of the country has some type of relevant reasons for shutting their doors. In California – it may be wildfires or even excessive heat; In the Northwest – it may be snow or flooding; In the South – it could be a tornado watch or flooding; In the North, it could be bitter cold; In Florida or the Carolinas or Georgia, it could be hurricanes or flooding.
But this year for us in St. Louis, it’s the snow. Several of us have had or scheduling make-up services to give our parishioners the opportunity to worship and support their local congregation.
In this season it’s a matter of trusting God. Financially, snow puts a strain on any church’s budget. You have to deal with snow removal, sometimes a busted pipe or some internal flooding, higher heating bills, etc. I have learned to trust God to be “Jehovah-Jireh” – the provider in these times of weather uncertainty. Surely, He will make a way.
So my lament is also my praise! I praise Him for his protection extended to every member of the congregation that I have the privilege of serving as pastor. And I’m trusting God to continue to provide.