MIDWEEK MESSAGE #93
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #93. I hope you are doing well physically and mentally as we all struggle through this new round of the pandemic.
Sunday sure was different. Admittedly a number of emotions ran through me Sunday morning as I sat in my office and thought and prayed. I started musing about the fact that Sunday would be different. No one was in the audience except Jo (who has heard me preach a ton down through the 48 ½ years of marriage), and Joe Pavich, who came to run the live stream. My struggle was how much I look forward to Sunday morning and seeing people. Sure, I do get to do what I have done for close to 50 years: preach. But I also know I’m a social creature and I really look forward to seeing people, laughing with them, hugging them, fist bumping them, and just greeting people. I love seeing smiles, the hugs and laughter of children, and the joy of connecting with people I have grown to love. I love seeing new people and the fact we have some momentum right now makes it a bit harder to take this break. But that is the way of life in 2022…and in 2021…and in 2020. I just think there is great value in meeting together. I wrote that and more in my blog on Sunday.
I was excited to hear so many tuned in via FB or YouTube. That was really encouraging. (Funny side: when I was practicing early Sunday morning-which I always do-I found myself looking around at people. That was sort of an effort in futility since no one was here or was going to be here later. So I had to practice focusing on the camera). So the question you may be asking is “What is the verdict about this Sunday?” At this writing, I can honestly say, “I don’t know.” That will be evaluated later this week. So stay tuned for an email and an announcement on FB.
Last week I began highlighting the new Care Team Ministry which Hope East is going to launch on Sunday, February 27th with a pitch-in after the second service. HOPE #1 focused on the desire to offer care, love and compassion to our church community. The hope is for us to create a ministry system of different teams that will come alongside people within our church congregation (and ultimately as an outreach as well). We want to be there for you! So let’s begin introducing the Care Teams. There are a total of 8 Care Teams so I’ll take two each week in order to give you more information to consider.
HOPE #2:
- Wellness Care Team. The responsibility of this team is to be there for those who are suffering through an illness or find themselves in an emergency or hospital situation. The primary purpose of this team is to offer prayer, get well cards, flowers and (if needed) to deliver meals. If you find this type of ministry “up your alley” then please consider becoming a part of this team.
- Remembrance Care Team. This team’s primary concern will be ministering to those who are living through a death in the family or having a funeral. This team would provide meals for the family, offer prayers, cards, flowers, and possibly even coordinate a funeral meal. If you love cooking or sending cards or feel strongly about the importance of this team, please consider becoming a part of this team.
I’ll defer to Hope at this point by simply saying that if you have any questions about either of these ministry teams, please talk to her. I guarantee she will not only talk to you, but also give you a more detailed explanation of these two teams. Next week, I will cover Teams 3 & 4.
In last week’s MM I also mentioned that one of our goals last Sunday was to begin garnering interest in small groups. I guess it is sort of hard for you to sign up at the info table when you aren’t here! J So this week we will try it again if the decision is made to have services. You do have another option: call the church office and express an interest. We are looking for names of anyone interested with three options: 1) teach/lead a small group; 2) host a small group in your home (but that doesn’t mean you have to lead it); or 3) just participate in a small group. Like I also said last week, this is not going to happen overnight so please have some patience as we do the necessary work behind the scenes.
I’d like to leave you with something I read late last week. It is from Karl Vaters, a pastor of small town churches. The title of his thought was WHAT THE CHURCH MUST RELY ON WHEN THE ROAD AHEAD IS UNCERTAIN. I’m not going to reproduce his entire article but some tidbits from it.
- When all else fails, the long, slow, but always-reliable process of restoring and nurturing relationships is what will get us through.
- We live in the greatest time of global uncertainty since WWII. Every time we think we can see the end of the tunnel, it’s just another curve in the road.
- In times of uncertainty, one truth has stood strong and tall for me lately. Better systems won’t get us through this. Only better relationships will. {End of his comments}
Let’s face it. No person alive has led his family, his church congregation, (or the country for that matter), through what the last 2+ years has brought us. That is not downplaying the World Wars, 9/11, or other upheavals. But I am reminded of the old saying, “The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train.” Would you agree that is how a lot of us feel? We are apt to say, “If it isn’t one thing it’s another.” Again…is that not how many feel?
One thing this pandemic has taught us is that “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” {Charles Dickens in “The Tale of Two Cities”} My version: “the best laid plans of mice and men often go down the tubes.” Any system in place has the potential (and some have) to go haywire. But there is one thing which can be a constant and can deepen: our relationships. It starts with our relationship with Jesus and continues to build in our relationship with others. And in this the church must lead the way. While the world is falling apart, relationships with others are being skewed because of anger or loneliness or fear, the church must be the one entity to show the world the difference faith in Jesus can make. While we may not always agree, we can agree to disagree. Jesus once told His disciples to “love one another.” He also told them that “by this will all men know you are My disciples if you love one another.” And with those words I will close. I love you all and I hope to see you this Sunday. I hope…I hope…
Pastor Bill
