Church Family Update 04/22/20
It has now been a month since our last worship service gathering was held in the building. It has sure been different for all of us to worship from home on Sundays. I miss the life that we enjoy together in worship and fellowship. There really is no way to compare being at home with being physically present. I pray this is soon behind us.
Here are a few church family updates:
Online Worship
The engagement online has been far greater than anticipated. There are people watching from all over the country. God is using this online forum to enter into homes and places we would otherwise have no access to. Thanks for sharing, inviting, and tuning in yourself.
Opening Back Up
I have no way of really knowing when we will return to the building. I am hoping it is sooner rather than later. However, when we do return, there will be some phasing in of things. For one thing, I will continue to have an online service as well as the in-person service for those who are vulnerable or just don’t feel comfortable coming out yet. More on all that as we get closer.
Kids Ministry
All Awana families should have received “joy bags” now. This was a fun way to connect with them again. We are working on getting something out to Sunday School kids also. There was a fun video made about the Easter Story by the Peterson family. Check it out if you haven’t yet!
Youth Ministry
The youth have been meeting on Wednesdays for a short Zoom meeting. Some also participated in a webinar that the Alliance Youth office put on about faithfulness amidst uncertainty. Next week there will be a Life Conference replay, which will be a fun way to draw closer to the Lord together.
Women’s Bible Study
The Women are meeting online Monday nights. Check out the recent blog post for details.
Checking In
These are days for us to care for one another well. So if you haven’t reached out at all to anyone, might I encourage you to find at least one person to reach out to? And as we do that, let’s make sure that we are honest with each other. Do you have something you need? Let others know that. I mean even if it seems kind of silly like some home maintenance thing that you can’t seem to get figured out, let someone know. We have people in the church who are handy in many ways. Thank you for looking out for each other!
Communion and Zoom Check-in
I want to invite you to join me for an online Communion Service next Wednesday, April 29th at 7 p.m. The video will be posted on the website and Facebook page just like the Sunday services are. The goal here is for us to celebrate together Communion from wherever we are using whatever we might have for elements. It will not be a long service. Don’t get caught up on the specifics of bread, juice, or crackers. The point is to celebrate the Lord’s Table together.
Immediately following that, I will open up a Zoom meeting where anyone who wants could join in and share on these two topics: How are you praising God? How can we pray for you? This will be moderated so that we don’t have people talking over one another. This will also not be a lengthy meeting. Just a quick check-in. My hope is it encourages you to see one another and hear how things are going. The Zoom meeting invite will come via e-mail. If you aren’t on the church e-mail list, please reach out to us.
Unshakable
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe for our God is a consuming fire. – Hebrews 12:28-29
Blessings,
Pastor Derek