Pastor’s Perspective 11-17-2020

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Like everything else this year, it will be different for many of us. We’ve already heard words of caution about families getting together to share that special meal together. In some states, there is a limit to the number of people and the number of separate households that can gather and where they can gather. I understand the concern about gatherings contributing to the spread of the virus. Family and friends should certainly take all necessary precautions to gather safely. Still, it’s almost inconceivable that we are at a place in our lives where the government can dictate when and how families can be together.

The impact extends far beyond individual families to God’s family. I have said before that we have been forced to rethink how we do church. After weeks of preaching to a camera in the spring, we have successfully transitioned to in-person worship services with extra protocols in place to keep people safe. Our tech team has been working overtime to ensure our church family has access to everything we’re doing online. I want to give a shout out to several of our youth who have stepped up to run the cameras every Sunday for months now! At the same time, there are some special things we haven’t done since COVID struck back in March.

I miss celebrating the Lord’s Supper with my church family. Back during Holy Week, we invited individual families to observe this in their cars as they drove around our church campus. That was seven long months ago. We have made providing church members the opportunity to receive communion on Thanksgiving Eve a priority. You are invited to exit your vehicles and walk to the base of the front steps to the sanctuary to receive the elements from one of our ministers. Or you are welcome to remain in your car and receive the elements from one of our ministers under the portico entrance off Rockledge Avenue.

The other opportunity you will have is to write on our wall of Thanksgiving. We invite you to think about things for which you are thankful specifically this year when so many things have been taken away from us. It is both healthy and biblical to count our blessings, especially in seasons of difficulty. Our Thanksgiving wall will be a testimony to our community of the faithfulness of our great God and loving heavenly Father. Know that I count all of you – my church family – among my greatest blessings. See you Sunday! ~ John