LONGING TO BE WITH YOU
Whereas praying via Philippians 1:3–8, and I used to be significantly struck by v. 8, “For God is my witness, how I lengthy for you all with the love of Christ Jesus.” Sure! The apostle Paul needs he may very well be bodily current with the Philippians, however he can’t be, as a result of he’s in jail. He is aware of he’s current with them in Christ via the Spirit, and even via the letter he’s writing, however these usually are not the identical as bodily being collectively. He longs for his brothers and sisters within the religion with all the love of Jesus Christ.
I lengthy to be with you once more in worship, and I do know you all do as nicely. Not via a display screen, however lifting our voices collectively to God as we stand subsequent to one another. Not remoted in our houses, however listening to the Phrase of God collectively as it’s preached in real-time. In mild of the continued want for social distancing, that is nonetheless a longing and anticipation, quite than an instantaneous actuality. Earlier than Easter, we needed to make the choice to carry solely digital providers for April. Sadly, the necessity to not collect collectively and solely have digital providers persists, and we are going to proceed to take action via a minimum of Could 30. My hope and prayer is that we will collect for worship on Could 31, Pentecost, and have a good time the start of the church within the energy of the Holy Spirit in each other’s presence.
Once we do collect collectively once more for worship, please know that we’ll do our greatest to take action in a manner that honors God and works to guard each other. We’re at the moment working via plans on what worship will seem like if we are able to solely collect with a restricted quantity of individuals, what the Sanctuary, Welcome Heart, and Sunday Morning Bible Examine school rooms might want to seem like to follow efficient social distancing, what kids’s ministry would possibly seem like, and the way we are able to safely do issues like communion.
Over the past a number of weeks I’ve usually considered how we’re by no means ready to decide on our circumstances, however we’re all the time ready to decide on how we honor and belief God no matter our circumstances. Whereas none of us would select to expertise what we’re going via proper now, God knew Covid-19 would occur, he’s in management, and he’s constructing his church. There are alternatives proper now to inform our neighbors about the excellent news of Jesus Christ that saves us from loss of life, and to serve our neighbors and neighborhood with the love of Christ, that we’d in any other case by no means have had.
In some methods, we have now been compelled to decelerate and deal with probably the most important issues, together with our religion
, household, and life itself. Allow us to proceed to be the church: worshipping, praying, giving, reaching out, connecting, serving, loving, sharing, and on mission for Jesus. Even whereas we’re unable to assemble, please proceed to achieve out and tell us how we are able to serve and the way we are able to pray. As I lengthy to be with you all, “I’m assured of this very factor, that He who started an excellent work in us will excellent it till the day of Christ Jesus.”
God bless,
Pastor Gary
