I've come to believe that life is a series of endings and beginnings. Winter ends and gives way to spring. High school ends and begins adult life. The dark of night always ends and we welcome a new day. There will be endings that we grieve and endings we are thankful for. But either way, I am certain that with each ending God brings a new beginning. These are opportunities to start again and to embrace the next season of life.
We will be doing a Covid safe “Resurrection” egg hunt at our Sandown campus. Donations welcome.
While I couldn't say the exact timing, I am certain that this pandemic will end and God will bring us to a place of new beginning. In truth, that is an ending and a new beginning I am looking forward to with great anticipation. I know that things with Covid are still somewhat uncertain. But we are stepping out in faith to embrace this new beginning. Although we are still in the process of rebuilding our support teams, trusting that God will provide, we have made the decision that we will relaunch in-person worship on Palm Sunday, March 28th.
Recognizing that not everyone will be ready to return, we will continue to offer a great live stream worship. But for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter we will offer in-person indoor worship. And I, for one, could not be more excited! I feel as though God is giving us a new beginning and I believe he has great things in store for us. Many years ago the prophet Joel spoke these words from God to the Israelites.
“I will restore to you the years that the locusts have eaten.”
I believe God is speaking a similar promise over us today. Covid has disrupted ministry in many ways. But I sense that God is preparing to restore what has been lost, that He is preparing for us a new beginning with opportunities for ministry greater than we have ever seen!
Over the next few weeks I would ask you to help us prepare for this new beginning in a couple of different ways. The first is to find your place of service. To relaunch in-person worship we particularly need help in the areas of hospitality, technology and music. But even if God is not calling you to one of those areas, there are many other teams that you could connect to. You can find all the info and a reply form at this link.
The second thing I would ask of all of us is to pray. There will be challenges ahead of us. But every challenge is also an opportunity. So please pray that God would open great doors of opportunity for our mission. Pray for the workers to come forward that we need. Pray for our pastors and our leaders. And pray that when we come back together, God's Holy Spirit would fill those times of worship like never before!
I love you all and I can't wait for us to be back together in person.
God Bless,
Pastor Steve
Coming this week: There is a new session of ROOTED beginning this Sunday evening. ROOTED is a powerful and amazing small group experience. This Spring session will be offered as Zoom group online. For those who cannot attend Sunday, there will also be a Tuesday group offered. To register or for more information, contact Karen at karenLSmclain@gmail.com
Easter Eggs-perience on Saturday March 27 at our Sandown campus. We need donations of plastic eggs and candy. They can be dropped off at any time at the DeClerck Gallery 92 Newton Road Plaistow (next door to the Rock church building). Just come in the glass door and drop them in the box. We will also need volunteers. For all the details or to sign up to help, check out this link.