Dear SCC & Friends,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 3:14
Update #52
Milestones give us a sense of progress. How far we’ve come…Fifty-two COVID Wednesdays ago I started these weekly updates, and hardly anything has been the same since. Normal may be defined as conforming to a standard, usual, typical or expected. At the onset of the virus, I figured a month or two and then back to the way things were. Do you remember when we had weekly services inside our sanctuary without masks or distancing? Normal was our Sunday School of nearly 100 children…coming to church unconcerned about contracting or spreading a virus. Normal were annual events like our men’s and women’s retreats, Marriage Advance, Breakfast at Madero and gathering for special occasions. Zoom Home Groups and Bible Studies weren’t even on the table…. Normal expressions of hugs and laughter, lingering after the service in meaningful fellowship. When normal is right, it is not boring but serves to give us security and balance in the ebb and flow of our lives. At some level, we have all been affected by our new normal.
I think back nearly 50 years ago, and normal church was a two and a half-hour Saturday night meeting in the basement of an Episcopal church. Thirty years ago, normal was meeting at the Board of Realtors with our Sunday School across the parking lot in a Karate studio. Seven years ago, normal was paying $12,000 a month to rent the facility that we now own and receive rent on. Normal one year ago was different in form, but not substance. We now meet in a tent, have shorter services and stand in the fact Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, yes and forever. ~Heb. 13:8 Our Savior was born in uncertain times… Poverty and disease were rampant… social upheaval and human slavery a given… political corruption and unbridled paganism were the norm. Yet, it was in those uncertain times that His church was established and continues to this day. Jesus said, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. ~Matt. 16:18 We too are living in uncertain times, but with absolute certainty that the Lord is working all things according to the counsel of His will. Whatever normal is or shall be, you and I are on the right team. He’s the Potter, we’re the clay. Keep up the good work!
Blessings and love,
Kevin