A Way of Life
Since the pandemic entered our world, we have all longed for the day that it would be over. We were hopeful when positivity rates started falling. We were happy to get vaccines on board and see some return to normalcy. But then new variants started showing up. Positivity rates started climbing. Health care systems continue to be overwhelmed. At Christ Church we have lost loved ones due to the disease. The CDC continues to scramble to stay on top of things. All of this to say, COVID has become a way of life.
With Covid seemingly entrenched as a part of life, I thought a word of encouragement may be in order. If we go it alone I am afraid that we will become overwhelmed and succumb to discouragement. We need each other. It is in all of our best interests to continue to seek to serve our neighbors despite our own COVID fatigue and in the midst of theirs. There are so many ways to serve one another as we move forward together. Here are a few that come to mind:
- Make meals for those who are down with sickness.
- Fill a volunteer slot at church for someone who has to quarantine.
- Consider how getting a vaccine or wearing a mask may help a neighbor.
- Call or send cards to folks who are more isolated.
- Encourage a healthcare worker any way you can!
- Listen well to those who need to work through their own ruminations.
- Join our Zoom Worship if you are not able to attend in person.
And above all pray. Pray that we would seek the Lord in the midst of all of this mess. Pray that our Great Physician would bring relief to this weary world. Pray that the Church would find its voice to point collectively to the One who is gentle and lowly in heart, whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30).
Perhaps you picked up on the Zoom worship above. This Sunday we will begin hosting a Zoom worship service at 10:30 weekly. It is our hope that those for whom in-person worship is not advisable long term or temporarily not warranted, the Zoom service will be a place of community where sisters and brothers can worship together. An elder or staff member will host the service and collectively work through the home worship guide. The sermon will be recorded at the 8:30 service and posted for collective listening. Prayer requests can be shared. Signup to join your Christ Church family if you find yourself at home!
As we talk about a COVID way of life we are reminded of the way of life that Jesus laid out for his disciples. This week we will begin a series on the Sermon on the Mount that will take us through Easter. In particular this week we will be focusing on the Beatitudes (Matt 5:1-12) as a gateway to understanding the whole of the Sermon.