The season in which we find ourselves in is most unusual. It is also distressing for many and a time when anxiety levels have risen dramatically.
It is a season to ‘rest’ in our faith in a faithful Father (as we have with young Elijah). To rest in our faith is to worship God wholeheartedly, trust in Him, to live our lives as Jesus lived His, to be faithful and obedient to the word.
We live in a community divided in its practice and belief about COVID. That reality is reflected in our faith community. Some adhere strongly to the health directives given by the government. Some believe strongly that it is dangerous to do so. And there are many who sit somewhere in between.
In the past, through announcements in the newsletter, at church during services and in special letters (like this) I have asked that you honour one another – that is, take regard for your brother and sister. If we don’t we run the danger of being arrogant in our faith and not loving our brother and sister.
Consider Paul’s plea to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 8.
I know it’s about ‘food sacrificed to idols’ and we don’t do much of that – but for me there is a powerful principle embedded in Paul’s argument. That is, ‘concern for people who believe differently than you but who follow the way of Jesus’. That is, exercise concern for those who you might consider weak in their faith.
It is according to Paul, a dangerous thing if what we do and say causes another brother or sister to falter. Paul says, ‘we need to do what we need to do’ to hold them up.
Remember what was said of Jesus in Isaiah 42:3 “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out”.
Jesus himself quotes this in Matthew 12 when the Pharisees are questioning the actions of Jesus and His disciples. This is the life Jesus lived!
I raise all this, for I see tension rising in our faith community that is leading toward division (factionism). I raise this, for some, in particular some of our older believers and some with compromised health, have expressed to me that they feel unsafe coming to church.
Yes, they also feel that about moving around the community – but if one person does not feel safe coming to church for any reason – we have some work to do.
I like to believe that we have been establishing a ‘culture of honour’ in our community. That whatever we do we ‘keep our love on’ toward the people we worship with. That we consider the ’smouldering wick’ and the ‘bruised reed’ before we consider ourselves.
To that end, when you are coming to gathered worship please do that which will give strength to those around you.
Monitor your own health – stay home; get your health checked if you are crook; and let us know so we know how to pray and care for you.
Check in when you come to church – use the QR code or paper check in
Wash your hands
Apply social distancing practices to your sitting
Wear a face-mask unless you are eating, drinking, or leading the worship.
If you have a valid health reason for not wearing a mask we will honour that.
Vaccination is not mandatory to attend worship
Most of all ‘care for one another’ Ask Holy Spirit to ‘guide your care’ and ‘direct your speech’ so that the ‘love of Jesus’ triumphs. Let us spur one another on into faith in Jesus!
Ps Mark