Stepping Forward
Do you remember where you were when???
It’s a common question that pops up whenever talking about historic events. I’m not entirely sure if we do this because we love to recall the details of what was going on when something significant happened…or is it that a timestamp naturally gets set in our mind?
Regardless, this last year with COVID-19 certainly qualifies as one of these moments.
A new-normal or an old one?
As things open back up and begin to feel familiar, the temptation is to assume the ‘new-normal’ will look much like the ‘old-normal’. It could…though folks who pay attention to these things would suggest not. They figure not only will there be differences, it will take some time before we get a sense of what the ‘new-normal’ will look like.
They actually suggest these shifts were already underway before the pandemic and that COVID simply ‘turbo-charged’ the changes which run far deeper than masks and social distancing. They have to do with things like purpose and value of life, importance of community, what is the good life and what does Jesus have to do with any of this.
So what’s a church to do???
Great question…and one our Session/staff has already begun working through. It’ll take some time to understand, and a bit more to know how to respond. If the shifts are slight, the work will have been good for those involved. If they aren’t, the time will prove invaluable.
In the meantime…
It’s a common question that pops up whenever talking about historic events. I’m not entirely sure if we do this because we love to recall the details of what was going on when something significant happened…or is it that a timestamp naturally gets set in our mind?
Regardless, this last year with COVID-19 certainly qualifies as one of these moments.
A new-normal or an old one?
As things open back up and begin to feel familiar, the temptation is to assume the ‘new-normal’ will look much like the ‘old-normal’. It could…though folks who pay attention to these things would suggest not. They figure not only will there be differences, it will take some time before we get a sense of what the ‘new-normal’ will look like.
They actually suggest these shifts were already underway before the pandemic and that COVID simply ‘turbo-charged’ the changes which run far deeper than masks and social distancing. They have to do with things like purpose and value of life, importance of community, what is the good life and what does Jesus have to do with any of this.
So what’s a church to do???
Great question…and one our Session/staff has already begun working through. It’ll take some time to understand, and a bit more to know how to respond. If the shifts are slight, the work will have been good for those involved. If they aren’t, the time will prove invaluable.
In the meantime…
- Trust the Lord…Be excited and encouraged. Don’t let the unknown become a source of fear. We are not entering into this alone. Not only is God with us…He has gone before us.
- Join us on June 16th…Session will be speaking into this a bit at our congregation meeting and sharing how we’ve begun to step into what lies ahead.
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