What a joy to be back in cooperate worship once again!   I honestly don’t know when we can invite the full church body back together but, believe me, after having the COVID virus, I will err on the side of caution before opening the church back up with no social distancing and masks.  In fact, I believe that one of the reasons God allowed me and Angie to get the virus (or for my Calvinist friends out there…made us get the virus) was to show us the reality of the sickness. It is, indeed, serious business.  Some of you still hesitate to get out of your homes and I honor that.  Stay safe.

 

                But there is still something special about meeting together.  In a way I feel sorry for the churches that have the technology to do everything over the internet. The production is great, and the children still have access to Bible stories and teaching (and that is wonderful) but the “togetherness”, the “fellowship” for the adults can be lacking.   Don’t get me wrong….I applaud the churches that have the capabilities to do that.  But, I don’t want people to get used to a church “online”.   Church is more than preaching and church is more than teaching.  Those are things the church does.  The church also meets; the church gathers together.  We need each other.  We need to feel the comfort, the love, the care for each other. We need to talk and laugh together.  We need to eat together. 

 

                A friend of mine, and a fellow pastor from Geneva County, Chris Adams,  said this:  “normal has packed its bag and walked out the door and is not coming back”.  In many ways I fear he is right, but I want him to be wrong.  Yes, we will find new ways to minister, to get our message across.  We will learn that “love your neighbor” will get tougher.  We will learn that the church is no longer the “apple of her eye” concerning our nation.   All the more, I hope that our body of believers can gather together with no constraints.  We need that more than ever. In the meantime, I will continue to post something online as well as preach and teach in person on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights.

 

                Say good things about your Savior and about His church.  Stay safe, buckle your seatbelts, don’t take candy from strangers.  Wear a face mask

.