May 12th, 2020

5-10-20
Greetings, everyone!


"This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24)

As we prepare for this Lord's Day, May 10, we will be having at least one more Sunday morning service that is "Drive-In Only." We did this last week, and it worked pretty well. The cool temperatures will likely keep most off us in our cars, tuned in to our radios. Our deacons will be available to assist you with parking to get the most from the "drive-in" experience. We will still be practicing social distancing to the degree it is possible.  We are asking that we limit the need to access the restroom facilities as much as possible, but the building will be open for restroom use if needed. 

Since this will also be Mothers' Day, we will take time to recognize and celebrate our mothers (and those who have been "spiritual mothers" to many) at the conclusion of the service. Come prepared to take home a small flowering plant as a token of our love and appreciation!

This will be the first time in two months that we won't have a pre-recorded virtual service available Sunday morning. We plan to video cast the service on Facebook Live, then upload it to our website for viewing later by those unable to attend in person or see it on Facebook Live. The operative words are "plan to." Please bear with us.

We are working our way back to normalcy, and I'm sure we will all be glad to get there. I certainly am ready for it. The question on most everyone's mind as pertaining to church is, "When can we return to the building for services?" The answer is, "Soon."
To borrow an illustration from Gov. Parson, it will be more like turning a dial than flipping a switch. Meaning, of course, we won't be coming back with full schedule all at one time. No small groups or Sunday School just yet. More information will be forthcoming on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings.

We are tentatively planning to hold a Sunday morning worship service on May 17 in the sanctuary. While there are no restrictions on the number of people in the building, we will still be practicing social distancing by family group. 
We will continue to broadcast the service by FM radio to the parking lot indefinitely for those not yet ready to come inside by reason of compromised immunity. 

I am meeting with our deacons in the morning to discuss a plan for reopening going forward. Remember, anything we plan now is tentative and subject to change. Thank you for remaining flexible. Thank you for extending grace and understanding to one another, especially since there are so many differing opinions of the what, when, where, and how we should move forward. Remember what the Scriptures say in Colossians 3:12-17.

Tomorrow as we gather, we will be studying John 21:1-14 together in our series "Resurrection Scenes." This will be "Breakfast with the Savior, Part 1." 

FIGHTER VERSES THIS WEEK:

Lamentations 3:31-33 (ESV)
"For the Lord will not cast off forever,
but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion
    according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
for he does not afflict from his heart
    or grieve the children of men."


BONUS
Here is an article entitled "Be Our Guest: Onsite Worship Resumes at Various Churches" that describes what several churches have done as they reopen for in-person services. We will be considering what it will look like for us. Pray for us as we seek the Lord's wisdom.
In preparing for this week's message, I thought of this gospel song, Then Jesus Came, here sung by the incomparable George Beverly Shea. Listen, and be blessed. 

See you in church!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Greg