Life on “Normal Street” hasn’t been normal. It’s been a crazy year. Due to Covid we had to stop having in person church gatherings, meetings, events and even worship. Then we had to learn in a hurry and with highly limited resources how to get our church worship and ministries online. Recording on Thursday, posting on Sunday became the new reality. Then, just about the time we got used to the “new normal” the nation began recovering and life began opening up again. So, we had to define and go back to a “new, new normal”. That is, we had to learn how to go back to in person worship and meetings and ministries all over again. Only the “new, new” normal wasn’t simply a return to the original normal. Life has changed. Trends that were already occurring in life in general and church in particular have been accelerated. Confused, tired, and stressed out about it all? Same here!
The challenge we face now is getting people back to in person church. It isn’t easy. Watching the Worship Service online is a whole lot easier. We get up, go downstairs, have a cup of Joe, maybe add an English Muffin (with jelly on one side), go to our computer (or whatever device we’re using), open the web site, click on the link, watch a thoughtful, beautiful Worship Service and we’re done. It takes minimal effort and about 45 – 60 minutes at most.
When we come to church in person it takes hours, and a lot more effort. But, while we enjoy Worship and other programs available online (it’s a “must”) doing church online isn’t as fulfilling, life changing, and beautiful as being in church in person. Interacting with each other is important. Sharing in announcements, life events, baby news, child news, times of joy and times of sadness and all the other parts of life together is important. Experiencing “community” together is important and it is special as well. Actually, experiencing church in person and sharing life together is essential for us. It’s wonderful that folks out of the area can now watch our worship online, and from time to time while we’re on vacation or out of town ourselves that we can catch the worship online too but nothing, nothing, nothing replaces being here together.
We’re doing everything we can to get people back in church on Sunday morning. I know it’s hard. I know it’s a challenge, but will you all help yourself to a big serving of “live, in person” church every Sunday and will you help us bring others back too? We need you; we need each other; you need us.
Come, experience a great time, an important time and time well worth your investment in a couple of hours on Sunday morning. Remember, it’s not just about what you get, but about what you give to others as well.
See you Sunday morning!!
Dr. Bob