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Christ is Enough - A note from Pastor
So many things are changing or have changed in recent months. When we look back on this time what will we see? In some ways these changes have been for the better, in some ways they have been necessary. Even now, as we try to restart schools, there's no telling what will change or have to change in the coming days and weeks. In our congregation we've gone from regular weekly routines, to completely closing and having nothing, to a home-bound worship, to a video Gospel and sermon, to an abbreviated worship service in and around the building, to an abbreviated worship service in and around the building with host-only communion.
Change is Courageous
All change requires courage. Faith makes it possible to believe that change will be for good. To be clear, not all change is good, (remember the fall...) but our faith in God's perfection and sovereignty means that all things eventually will work for God's good purpose (pro tip: even evil! That's my favorite!).
We're All In This Together!
Are we all in this together? It seems that we can see that sign in so many places, but is it real? Are we all really working to help one another and support each other while we are adjusting to the change? Some are! Some regard that statement as only having to put up with everyone else because they're stuck on this planet with them. They've forgotten (or never realized) that everything is a gift of God, even if it doesn't seem positive or feel good. The change that we had to make over the past few months haven't all felt good. We yearn for things to "Just go back to normal".
Together With God
In the meantime, we try to do the best we can. Our council meets to try to understand the most-recent factual information available. Worship & Music Ministry meets to have conversations about "What can we do?" and hear, "Who has a new idea?". Our lives and our communication and our intentions aren't perfect, and neither is our worship. But with God's purpose and provision it too is redeemed through Christ [ Colossians 1:13-20]. So, we keep going and we keep pressing on in the endurance of our faith. Even if we can only worship for a short duration, and have only the host in communion, being deprived of one part [ see Martin Luther's Defense of the Lord's Supper]. God is perfect, Christ is sufficient. Thanks be to God. |
