Welcome to March, and the one-year anniversary of our 2-week lockdown to slow the spread of Coronavirus.
It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it? This time last year, we heard rumors of limited capacity gatherings, but by the next day, it was final: total lockdown.
Seemed serious. Seemed like millions would die within the week.
So, we went to video services and quite a strange season of ministry. Bro. Christian set us up with some first-class videos, and church members swept in to contribute to the recordings.
But church life isn’t about consuming only. It’s about giving. It’s about community. It’s about fellowship. It’s about friendship around a common goal: the Gospel of Jesus Christ and our commission to make disciples across the globe.
So, church members started ministering, and it was wonderful. In every creative way, we started to see church members loving one another with visits, meals, and meet-ups. We saw people reaching out over the phone more than ever before, and connections happened in new and fresh ways.
The great shake-up happened, and it wasn’t all bad.
When we first started coming back together, it made me realize how much PEOPLE meant to me. I’m not always a big-crowds kind of person, but I missed seeing people face to face and not over a screen. We played paintball with some guys from our class, and it was wonderful just… shaking hands, and giving bro-hugs, and playing together. And hearing their voices. And seeing their faces.
It was special.
And the church services… whoa it was AMAZING to be together, at first in the gym, then outside, and now… here we are! And it’s wonderful. I remember missing church so bad. Easter at my parents’ home was not the same as Easter with the church.
Worship is incomplete without the Sunday corporate meeting of God’s church together. Singing isn’t the same at home. Corporate prayer is special when you hear your brother voicing thoughts to your Father on your behalf.
Church life is life together, and I never want to forget when we didn’t have it.
Welcome back to church. Let’s worship and thank the Lord fervently today.
Pastor Ryan Rench