For those of you who have been here for in-person worship over the past month or so, you may have experienced what, to me, has felt like the “normal” worship services we experienced pre-pandemic. Our choir and praise band are singing, handbells are playing, kids are coming up for Children’s Time – it has felt like worship the way God intended it to be! I’m also aware that not everyone is fully vaccinated and there are concerns over strains of the Covid virus still at play, but I have begun to wonder if it’s finally safe enough to start saying we are now living in a post pandemic world? And if it is, that begs for me a much larger question, now what?

While we continue to return to being the church again, it is not and will not be the same as it was 15 or so months ago. But take heart because this isn’t a bad thing as God is always calling the church and the people of God to experience reformation and transformation.

All the churches I know are struggling to understand their identity as they figure out what it means to be the Body of Christ in this new world. For the last year and a half, we’ve been in survival mode, directing all our energies toward making sure worship happens on Sunday, and maintaining basic functions of existing. No one had time or energy to truly give any thought about what happens after the pandemic. So, now that we are inching closer, as we taste what post pandemic life looks like, we are beginning to form a plan for a future that remains unknown. We don’t know what to expect, we only know that it won’t be exactly like it was before.

Normally, by this point in the summer we would have a good grasp on our fall plans and how we intend to lead this congregation forward. This summer, in so many ways we are still trying to wrap our heads around the fact that Sunday morning in-person worship is happening again. So, I wonder if we could just pause a moment to give our minds, bodies, and our spirits a chance to take a breath and catch up?

In truth, well, no we can’t. So, we are moving ahead and now more than ever we need your help. We have big plans for our continued return this fall which will hopefully include BLAST Sunday morning in-person classes, regular CRASH youth ministry activities, several in-person fellowship events, new educational opportunities to learn and grow, and more.

So, how can you help? In short, show up, in whatever capacity you are comfortable and able. Show up for worship, fellowship events, and BLAST and JOLT and CRASH. Show up for church workdays, choir and handbells, adult education and Bible studies. Show up for ministry team meetings, ministry events, and for no other reason than to just reconnect with us so we can truly celebrate being the Body of Christ together again. We aren’t the same if you’re not a part of it and we need everyone to do their part.

You can also step up. We have many ways you can volunteer that can be as simple as a one-time short-term commitment or it could even be a longer-term commitment like serving on a ministry team that meets more regularly. We understand that it’s hard to get into the swing of things when life has been so disrupted, but we are now faced with new opportunities for us to recommit our lives to God and our time and energy to serving. If you have an interest in serving or leading, then prayerfully consider saying, “YES.”

Finally, take time to look up and pray. There’s no way we make it back to who God has called us to be without leaning into God’s goodness and grace. We have come through the pandemic relatively healthy, but we still need God’s guidance to take our next steps. Your prayers for this church and its leaders’ matter, and together we can become who God has called us to be. Thank you for being partners in this amazing journey!

Peace be with you,
Pastor Tony