Hello Church,
2020 is the year where the church feels the tension between doing nothing and doing something. The pandemic encourages us to do nothing... it's the best way to stay safe. God encourages us to find opportunities to do good to all people even in the midst of tribulations. Thus the tension.
We at Emmanuel have been living that tension. We haven't done nothing. We continue to be very active at Holly Hill Elementary. We have also done a Yard Sale, made Easter Eggs, and did a food drive. We most recently are involved in the Salvation Army's Angel Tag Tree ministry. There is also the 8? different ways we have had worship services this year.
But the other side of the truth is that we--and rightfully so--are more hesitant. Our Faith and theology of doing good is coming up against our science of staying safe. So how do we continue through this?
Another truth: the Faith of doing good and the science of staying safe has always been the case. Throughout the centuries our Christian ancestors had to weigh these two things. In some cases the risk wasn't getting sick. The risk was being put in prison or being killed or being alienated by family. In February perhaps these truths seem to be dramatic stories that we could quietly be thankful we didn't need to live through. Now?
Another truth: the mortality rate of Covid is extremely low. However, that isn't really the point. The point is that our comfortable, luxurious way of life has been disrupted by all the different ways we are dealing with Covid. At the very least it is aggravating. At the very most it is scary and tragic.
Another truth: we still need to be the church. Certainly it has and will and should look different. We will need to be more discerning about how to do ministry in a measured and safe way, but this doesn't negate us from doing ministry at all.
As we get ready for another Christian year (Nov 29th is the 1st Sunday of Advent), we should also be getting ready to take another step in learning how to be the church in a different kind of world. We have a meeting tonight at 7:30 to start the brainstorming. Pray for us.
God is Good
Pastor Joe
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