The following words were written by the composer, Bach
The cantata was originally played for a birthday celebration Musicians from the Courts of Weimar had joined together with Bach in the first performance. Though written in the early 1700’s, it is often used in weddings and other celebrations
“Sheep may safely graze and pasture
In a watchful Shepherd’s sight
Those who rule with wisdom guiding
Bring to hearts a peace abiding
Blessing a land with joy made bright.”
“We seem to stray from the fold of safety, but upon His lambs there is ever a Watchful Eye”
With the Pandemic seeming to heighten and many more taking
Masks and social distancing seriously, there is fear, for no one
Knows what is to come. Ironically, we have no where to go,
Our houses of worship, normally offering our need to have
Words of courage and hope, are unavailable. Doors are
Locked and we know not when they will reopen. The other
Day I saw a church sitting high on a hill and these words
Came to my mind –
Last night I had a dream, of a house once full of light, a belfry tower sits high above, inviting all to come. A home for all the weary and contrite, a house full of praise and joy.
In the second month of a new decade, the year 2020, many made a resolution to have a better year than last,
when suddenly intervened,
for a great pandemic has struck, spreading across the earth.
Churches, temples and synagogues here and abroad
are suddenly closed and locked. Pews once full of people now are empty.
No rest and peace are found. The wavering candle’s flame has been extinguished,
light shadowed with darkness, where now shall we go to worship? But are we not God’s temple dwelling within us, serving one another? Lifting each other when we fall? Doing His will honoring Him… We are given hope in God’s word, though we may not have a temple or a church to worship now…
*Quoting the vision given to John the Revelator, “But I saw no temple in the city… It had no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it, (for there shall be no night there) the Lord God is its light… And the gates are never locked!