The Sanctuary
Hello Sanctuary Family!
I trust that this finds you well and in good spirits as the self-quarantine continues to affect our coming and goings. It’s mostly just staying now though, right? My grandfathers were called to war, now I’ve been called to sit on a sofa. I can do this. Prayerfully we’ll see some light at the end of the tunnel in the next few weeks as we begin to plan public Sunday worship dates.
Remember in all this Romans 8, “Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s an anchor verse for sure. It’s a love that’s disease-proof, disaster-proof, and death-proof. I don’t deserve this love, but I can’t lose it. No matter what. Let me tell you, that’s an anchor that holds.
The church isn’t something you can cancel. It’s what happens whenever ordinary people show the world the good news of Jesus. I know that the church isn’t a building. I know that Sunday is just a part of church life, but last Sunday felt like a condensed symbol of loss. It hurt to know that our people would feel the loss too. It’ll be the same this Sunday.
Even though we’re not gathering in-person as a church, and our ministries that you’re involved in have been suspended, the physical needs of the church still go on. We still have the tangible opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others inside and outside our four walls by making a phone call to say, “What’s up?!!” By sending a greeting card, text, or email. Another way is by sending your tithes and offerings by mail to the church as some are doing. Now, you know me, from time to time I need to be reminded that I’ve forgotten to take the offering on a Sunday morning. Also, you’ve heard it said on more than one occasion that people are the most important thing to God, true that. Yet it also takes our finances to continue to be effective in reaching them. Please prayerfully consider giving what you’re able to in faithfulness while the church doors are temporarily closed.
Erica will be posting a timely word during this Lenten season tomorrow entitled, “Take Me Home” for you to take a peek at. What will your last words be? Even though our world has changed, the power of God hasn’t. The truth of Scripture hasn’t changed. The hope of Jesus has not changed. Our mission as a church has not changed. Let us not give in to fear. Rather, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus, the author, and the perfecter of our faith.
In Christ,
Art