CHURCH UPDATE

Here's something to consider:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

At this time, a year ago, none of us would have imagined the way this past year has gone. At that time, most of us had no understanding of what COVI D was. Now, a year later, none of us have been unaffected by COVID, even those who have managed not to test positive. We are still adjusting to what is now referred to as the new normal. It is unsettling that what was normal a year ago is not normal today. While that is true, it is also true that the words of Matthew 22:36-40 have not changed in the past year. What that passage said a year ago is still true today. Despite changing circumstances, we are still to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts and with all of our minds and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

In the midst of this crazy time, the body of Christ is still at work, loving God and loving each other. Melissa and I can testify to that as we received the blessings of prayer support, words of encouragement, meals, offers to help, and even Christmas carolers to bring us cheer when I tested positive for COVID just before Christmas (God was gracious and answered prayers; I am well and back at work). Our brothers and sisters in the Lord got creative to find ways to serve us, and we truly felt a part of the body of Christ even though we were isolated during our time of quarantine. Those blessings were a true testimony to the fact that the church is still functioning. Maybe a little different than usual, but nonetheless active and serving.

Like all of you, I long to greet one another in person and worship together. As much as we would like to return to some semblance of normalcy, the reality of COVID prevents us from doing so. The elders have discussed and weighed the pandemic's current status and have determined it is prudent that we wait a little longer before we come together again for worship services. We believe this is necessary to minimize the risk of infecting one another. Hopefully, by sometime in February, we will be able to resume services.

As we patiently wait to be meeting together again, I encourage you to continue to love the Lord your God with all of your heart and with all of your mind and to be creative at finding ways to stay connected and to love one another as ourselves.

Praying we will see each other soon,

Linden