*Hello, how’s everything doing this week? I am grateful to be with you again.
Last week, at the dentist, I had a conversation with the hygienist. A delightful young man, who admitted since Church reopened, he hasn’t gone. He told me how much he missed going, but he lost the habit during the shutdown. In reality, he lost even more: his life group stopped meeting, his time with God has dwindled to rarely from daily, and he misses interactions with others while serving.
He lost the connections that supported him in life and faith. The light of salvation, now dim, but I saw it. We continued the conversation for a few minutes. Enough time to lovingly remind him he is part of the body of Jesus’ Church.
I wonder what other stories I may hear? How many lights were extinguished or dimmed? The Evil one’s enticement of temporary fulfillment difficult for young faith to combat. What does standing strong in faith mean?
The one thing I miss most, in Covid isolation, is not being able to worship in community. Sunday morning, I could see several of my pastors providing a spiritual boost to my week. My Church is the foundation of my social network, so seeing friends bridged gaps. Attendance includes an avenue to serve others. Sitting on the front row, hands raised, swaying in rhythm I experience the power of worshiping within the community. I clear my mind and gain energy before I focus intently on the message.
Pastor, speaking words of truth; the Holy Spirit guiding me to learn what I need most; the teaching moves me forward. A discussion with my Life Group takes a deeper look and discovering the next steps to apply the teaching to our lives. For some of you, this group may be called Sunday School, Bible Study, or small group; but for all of us, it is the group we do life with—building each other up and supporting each other.
Wow! Church offers spiritual growth plus more. I hope you will take the time to list what you gain from attending Church. Where would your faith journey be without attending? What is your next step?
I believe the Church is not the building—it’s the People.
The building is the gathering place. There we refuel for the rest of the week by tapping into the power coursing through the room. We obtain encouragement and support, along with a dose of courage to continue the task before us.
God planned a perfect world for His Church. For it to work correctly, each one of us must remember every Christian has a role to fulfill. But, if a third of us are missing in action, the body doesn’t work as it should.
Even in the middle of Covid, the Church is working. Individuals taking responsibility to work together, helping others, making change, display Jesus’ love. We, the body of Jesus’ Church are learning to adapt and change with the challenges. What is your role?
I see some working to feed the many who are hungry. In neighborhoods were the need is greater pantry boxes pop up to fill a need. Someone, thinking out of the box, found a way to meet a need. School children are suffering. Their social structure gone, even play dates are on Zoom. Families have no escape and battles for control are daily if not hourly. Where are the phone calls for support and encouragement to build each other up? Any one willing to make a new friend and show Jesus’ love?
Like me, many of us cannot attend a public service due to Covid’s high risk. The at-risk group includes seniors, the middle aged, the youthful and the very young: all with compromising health issues, must maintain their isolation while their community figures out the best new normal. Are you called to break their boredom and offer a taste of hope?
I faithfully attend Church On-line. My life-group and Bible study are on zoom, and my writer’s group and course are on the internet. All connections I depend on and offers an insight to how others are suffering.
I pray each of you continues to seek answers on how God can use you in this difficult time. Listen to Jesus.
