"From One Lent to Another, With Love" by Jason Edwards
The last time we worshipped in our sanctuary last March, we were in the middle of a Lenten series called Dissident Discipleship. The series called us to a collection of practices aimed at helping us live into Jesus’ great commandment to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10: 27). These commands from Jesus should greatly impact the way we always live our lives, just as they’ve certainly shaped how our church has chosen to navigate this pandemic from its beginning.
Soon after COVID-19 began to impact life all over our country and world, we formed a COVID response (Re-opening the Church Building) task force, filled with members possessing expertise and experience in medicine, city leadership, educational leadership, police leadership, civilian military leadership, and church leadership. Our pastors have collaborated with and submitted to the guidance of this group throughout this pandemic. We’ve wanted to understand, based on the best science and guidance available: How can we best contribute to solutions and not problems related to COVID-19 in our church and community? What are the safest options available to us that will allow us to continue to minister to our church and community through worship, discipleship, care ministry, communal engagement and missions? How might we help as many people as possible make it to the other side of this pandemic, alive and well? How might we fully and faithfully do the best job we can loving our neighbors as ourselves right now?
There are no perfect answers to these questions. We’ve hoped for and appreciated grace and understanding as we, like so many others, do the best that we can. We know that gathered churches are considered “super-spreaders” of this disease, and that even the best safety precautions (which we also work to follow when we are in person for ministry events) often don’t mean an event is completely safe. So, with this in mind, and under the guidance of our task force, we’ve attempted throughout to err on the side of safety. Because we love you. And, because we love others.
Like many of you, your church staff has been personally affected by COVID-19. Members of our staff have family members who have had mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. We have family members and loved ones who’ve contracted COVID-19 and months later are still dealing with difficult and damaging effects. And members of our staff have family members and loved ones who’ve died from COVID-19. We’re not the only ones who’ve been impacted in this way, of course, but it is worth noting that this has impacted us.
With all of that in mind, we will continue to do our best. We will continue to listen to scientists and medical professionals, and we will continue to ask for guidance from our task force. We will do this as one of the ways we listen for the voice and guidance of God. We will do this as one way of loving our neighbors as ourselves.
The last time we were able to worship in our sanctuary was during the Lenten season. It’s hard to believe we are now about to enter that season once again. This year our focus will be on developing a “Mindful Faith.” One aim of this series is to engage in practices that help us “discern the voice of God, uncover our true self, and live a life of meaning and purpose” (Phileena Heuertz). Perhaps this will help some of us have a greater sense of who we’re meant to be and how we’re meant to approach life next. As we look with hope to the days beyond this pandemic, this seems like a pursuit both healthy and holy. Let’s do it together.
With love and hope,
Jason Edwards
Senior Pastor