WaPac E-Quips

A Time to Gather Stones

In the familiar passage from Ecclesiastes 3 we are told that there is a season for everything.  What follows that declaration is a  list of 14 polar opposite events and activities that are poetically presented. Half way down the list it says there is "a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them."  For the past 3 months it seems like all we have been doing is scattering stones. We have postponed, cancelled or moved online all of the gathering activities that are the normal part of our spring and summer ministries. Being scattered by COVID-19 has not been a totally negative thing. Local congregations have been finding creative ways to care for each other and to reach out with compassion as we try to honor what we've been asked to do during this pandemic. (See the example above of Kent Hillside's food distribution and Lynnwood Food Bank at Silver Creek Family Church below.) Many of our churches are already in Phase 2 of Washington's 4 Phased plan for reopening. Hopefully we will all be gathering again soon. To assist you in planning you will find helpful resources attached below. 

One of the more beautiful metaphors that scripture used to describe the church is that we are  living stones in the temple that God is building not made with hands.  While we have been scattered, we have taken the church with us wherever we have gone.  We are grateful that we will be together again very soon.