Gathered together....when, where, and how
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The New Testament books were all first written in Greek. And the Greek word New Testament writers use for church is ecclesia which means a gathering of people called together. Since our very beginnings when Jesus gathered a group of disciples who regularly met, prayed, worshipped, and ministered together, part of our very fabric is being together.
We had very few people attend in person this past Sunday, January 9th. I had to look back in our records to February 2021 to find a Sunday with as few folks able to attend.
It felt like the bad old days of Covid, prior to vaccinations. But when I got home after church and turned on the TV to watch part of the games of the last of the regular season it hit me that things ARE better.
Yes, the Omicron variant is a problem. Yes, folks are still getting Covid, and some are seriously ill, and some have died. But looking at the stadiums full of fans, in contrast to last year when teams competed in empty stadiums, I realized things ARE better. Vaccinations are helping, medical treatments have improved, and we have learned that masks can help.
But one big challenge with Covid has been and continues to be gathering. Being together is not the only part of what it means to be the church, but it is and always will be an essential part. John’s vision of heaven in the book of the Revelation depicts a gathering of people all joyfully worshiping God together.
As this year begins, I hope that we can gather safely, to worship, to get reacquainted, to share stories, fellowship, jokes, and prayers together.
I believe we will do so in person and online. We have learned that online is a helpful tool. But it’s hard to hug someone online. I love talking with many of you on the phone, am glad to see folks in online bible studies and meetings, but I am also missing seeing us together in person.
So, let's continue to pray for our current situation to improve. May God who will ultimately gather all things to himself, enable us to joyfully gather without the fear of illness.
We had very few people attend in person this past Sunday, January 9th. I had to look back in our records to February 2021 to find a Sunday with as few folks able to attend.
It felt like the bad old days of Covid, prior to vaccinations. But when I got home after church and turned on the TV to watch part of the games of the last of the regular season it hit me that things ARE better.
Yes, the Omicron variant is a problem. Yes, folks are still getting Covid, and some are seriously ill, and some have died. But looking at the stadiums full of fans, in contrast to last year when teams competed in empty stadiums, I realized things ARE better. Vaccinations are helping, medical treatments have improved, and we have learned that masks can help.
But one big challenge with Covid has been and continues to be gathering. Being together is not the only part of what it means to be the church, but it is and always will be an essential part. John’s vision of heaven in the book of the Revelation depicts a gathering of people all joyfully worshiping God together.
As this year begins, I hope that we can gather safely, to worship, to get reacquainted, to share stories, fellowship, jokes, and prayers together.
I believe we will do so in person and online. We have learned that online is a helpful tool. But it’s hard to hug someone online. I love talking with many of you on the phone, am glad to see folks in online bible studies and meetings, but I am also missing seeing us together in person.
So, let's continue to pray for our current situation to improve. May God who will ultimately gather all things to himself, enable us to joyfully gather without the fear of illness.
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