Friends,
By now you have probably seen the announcement by Pres. Trump deeming houses of worship “essential” and for all states to open churches. While we appreciate this, we are still working through the particulars of returning. Patience is a virtue…
1. Your church leadership has been meeting weekly to determine the best way to move forward, safely. We have been praying and seeking God. We are preparing to announce and share the tentative return plan on Monday.
2. We will NOT be meeting in person this Sunday (5.24). We will continue to meet online. It would not be prudent to meet just yet as we are finalizing our return plans. But be on the lookout for an announcement for an amazing opportunity we have to do a couple of drive-in services at the Fairground.
3. We are prioritizing the most vulnerable in our church and community. We are prioritizing loving our neighbors. Regathering will be a slow process. Because we are taking the necessary precautions set by church/denominational recommendations and guidance set by local, state, and federal agencies, regathering will be done with great intentionality.
4. Remember, the church is NOT closed – it never has, nor will it ever be. While we have not been meeting in person in a building, the church is alive and strong. The church is a people not a place. We are not “reopening” the church we are “returning” - this is an important distinction to make. Because the church is a worshiping community, gathering is VERY IMPORTANT to our spiritual development. However, we do not always need a building to do ministry. We have been saying for weeks - the church has been scattered, and this is not a bad thing. It helps us to do the mission of the church and to live out our calling of being the “sent” ones. Buildings are nice, but they are not essential. We do not need a building to be effective. As a matter of fact, we are better ambassadors of Jesus in the neighborhood by being scattered.
5. No matter where one might stand politically, our allegiance to Jesus is first and primary. If we disagree politically, love and unity among believers is a must. Love and love of others is to guide our decisions. Let the words of the apostle Paul guide us. He teaches that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are identifiers of a Christ follower. May this be true of us.
6. This time of separation and not being able to gather has been difficult. We miss what once was. We lament the fact that we have not been able to meet. A friend of mine says it very well, “remember that the weekend gathering is a model, not the mission. We lost the model, but not the mission. We long for the model, but the mission is still calling us.”
May God bless you today as you are actively seeking to be a blessing to your world!
Pastor Andy
By now you have probably seen the announcement by Pres. Trump deeming houses of worship “essential” and for all states to open churches. While we appreciate this, we are still working through the particulars of returning. Patience is a virtue…
1. Your church leadership has been meeting weekly to determine the best way to move forward, safely. We have been praying and seeking God. We are preparing to announce and share the tentative return plan on Monday.
2. We will NOT be meeting in person this Sunday (5.24). We will continue to meet online. It would not be prudent to meet just yet as we are finalizing our return plans. But be on the lookout for an announcement for an amazing opportunity we have to do a couple of drive-in services at the Fairground.
3. We are prioritizing the most vulnerable in our church and community. We are prioritizing loving our neighbors. Regathering will be a slow process. Because we are taking the necessary precautions set by church/denominational recommendations and guidance set by local, state, and federal agencies, regathering will be done with great intentionality.
4. Remember, the church is NOT closed – it never has, nor will it ever be. While we have not been meeting in person in a building, the church is alive and strong. The church is a people not a place. We are not “reopening” the church we are “returning” - this is an important distinction to make. Because the church is a worshiping community, gathering is VERY IMPORTANT to our spiritual development. However, we do not always need a building to do ministry. We have been saying for weeks - the church has been scattered, and this is not a bad thing. It helps us to do the mission of the church and to live out our calling of being the “sent” ones. Buildings are nice, but they are not essential. We do not need a building to be effective. As a matter of fact, we are better ambassadors of Jesus in the neighborhood by being scattered.
5. No matter where one might stand politically, our allegiance to Jesus is first and primary. If we disagree politically, love and unity among believers is a must. Love and love of others is to guide our decisions. Let the words of the apostle Paul guide us. He teaches that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are identifiers of a Christ follower. May this be true of us.
6. This time of separation and not being able to gather has been difficult. We miss what once was. We lament the fact that we have not been able to meet. A friend of mine says it very well, “remember that the weekend gathering is a model, not the mission. We lost the model, but not the mission. We long for the model, but the mission is still calling us.”
May God bless you today as you are actively seeking to be a blessing to your world!
Pastor Andy