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Dear All Saints’ Church Family, I am very much looking forward to regathering for in-person Sunday worship. I sure have missed seeing you all, personally connecting, and worshiping our Lord in unity while we are all together in one place. I know that many of you are looking forward to coming back together again as well. I assure you that we are working diligently toward this and will have more information and a target date to you in the near future. In order to achieve our regathering goals, a great number of logistical details must be addressed. If you are willing to assist with this, please contact the church office.
The days we are living through are certainly unprecedented for our lifetimes. COVID-19 has confronted all of us with unforeseen challenges. Times like these are certainly stressful and stress always heightens the risk of division. I recently read an article by Brett McCracken of the Gospel Coalition entitled, “Church, Don’t Let Coronavirus Divide You.” I have shared this article with the staff and Vestry. I also want to share some related thoughts with each of you. Like the culture at large, people in our church family find themselves in different places regarding the level of public interactions in which we are willing to participate. This is a highly personal decision, involving many considerations. For some people, precautions seem excessive. For others, the same precautions are essential. All of us must together exercise humility and have listening hearts, understanding that each person and family is doing the best we can to make responsible decisions. For some, this means worshiping from home for the foreseeable future. To this end, we plan to permanently livestream Sunday services. For others, participating in public worship in person as soon as possible is a priority. Exercising patience and understanding toward one another will strengthen us during this time and avoid division. I encourage us all to heed Romans 14:13, “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” Similarly, let’s keep in mind 1 Corinthians 8:9, “But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” As Brett McCracken emphasizes, “As hard as it will be to practice patience, remember that in the scheme of eternity this season—whether it’s months or years—will be but a blip.” That in no way minimizes the challenges of this season. As we move toward regathering, let us “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). Likewise, let us give thanks to God for all of the incredible blessings that are ours, and may we pray for his heart and mind to move forward together to obey his call for such a time as this.
In Christ,
Scott+
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