According to my count, we now have 14 of our worship leadership, including family members, who are under quarantine due to COVID infection. As a result, it has become necessary to make the hard decision to return to online worship beginning next Sunday, December 20th. This is especially disappointing due to our joy in coming together to celebrate the Christmas season. Since being diagnosed COVID positive this past Sunday morning, Robbie and I have been forced to approach this Christmas season in a completely different way.
For one thing, we are separated by 17 steps between the downstairs part of our home where I am, and the upstairs portion where Robbie is. I’m positive and Robbie is not, so we talk to each other these days by phone. Robbie prepares food and I pick it up at the top of the stairs. I must let her know when I need to come upstairs to take my medicine so she can put her mask on and step away from the area where I am going to be. The space where I am is certainly quieter, but it is also lonelier. I don’t like the feeling of separation especially at Christmas.
We have not been able to shop for our family yet. We cannot go out of the house and we cannot be together to do any shopping online. We like to Christmas shop for our grandchildren together. It may be that we can get our shopping done in a few days when I am COVID free, but it will be a last minute kind of thing where we will be rushed and robbed of the full enjoyment of it.
Prior to testing positive, God had given me every sermon topic that He was leading me to preach throughout the Christmas Season. I was able to preach the first sermon and have the second ready to preach, but missing two weeks puts me behind with the second sermon to preach online next week. I cannot wait to preach even though I’m behind in the schedule God gave me. Thank you, Bradley Elliot and Earl Pirkle, for your friendship and able leadership to preach for me. I give thanks for able preachers in our church and area who are eager to be called on when needed.
Thank you, Chuck Whitehead and Deacon Body for your prayers and leadership during this difficult time. Your support and continued ministry in contacting your families is essential. All of our deacons have been called to serve the Lord and His church. They all are committed to lead our church fellowship and keep us together in ministry and outreach. I am confident that during this return to online worship, our fellowship will continue to thrive through the leadership of our Deacon Body and your diligent devotion and loyalty to the Lord.
COVID has been more of an inconvenience than a crisis in our family. My symptoms have been mild and I give God praise for His healing hand of mercy. None of those among us who have tested positive have been critical so far. Praise the Lord! To give enough time to get everyone past the quarantine requirements and account for spread to other family members, we need to allow 6 weeks to pass. We plan at this time to worship online until Sunday morning, February 7th. God is already speaking to me about our coming back to in-person worship with an emphasis on reconciliation. He has led me to 2 Corinthians 5:20. We will call our first Sunday coming back together, “BE RECONCILED TO GOD SUNDAY.” Praise God for His ministry of reconciliation which brings us back together and binds our wounds with His amazing love and mercy.
For one thing, we are separated by 17 steps between the downstairs part of our home where I am, and the upstairs portion where Robbie is. I’m positive and Robbie is not, so we talk to each other these days by phone. Robbie prepares food and I pick it up at the top of the stairs. I must let her know when I need to come upstairs to take my medicine so she can put her mask on and step away from the area where I am going to be. The space where I am is certainly quieter, but it is also lonelier. I don’t like the feeling of separation especially at Christmas.
We have not been able to shop for our family yet. We cannot go out of the house and we cannot be together to do any shopping online. We like to Christmas shop for our grandchildren together. It may be that we can get our shopping done in a few days when I am COVID free, but it will be a last minute kind of thing where we will be rushed and robbed of the full enjoyment of it.
Prior to testing positive, God had given me every sermon topic that He was leading me to preach throughout the Christmas Season. I was able to preach the first sermon and have the second ready to preach, but missing two weeks puts me behind with the second sermon to preach online next week. I cannot wait to preach even though I’m behind in the schedule God gave me. Thank you, Bradley Elliot and Earl Pirkle, for your friendship and able leadership to preach for me. I give thanks for able preachers in our church and area who are eager to be called on when needed.
Thank you, Chuck Whitehead and Deacon Body for your prayers and leadership during this difficult time. Your support and continued ministry in contacting your families is essential. All of our deacons have been called to serve the Lord and His church. They all are committed to lead our church fellowship and keep us together in ministry and outreach. I am confident that during this return to online worship, our fellowship will continue to thrive through the leadership of our Deacon Body and your diligent devotion and loyalty to the Lord.
COVID has been more of an inconvenience than a crisis in our family. My symptoms have been mild and I give God praise for His healing hand of mercy. None of those among us who have tested positive have been critical so far. Praise the Lord! To give enough time to get everyone past the quarantine requirements and account for spread to other family members, we need to allow 6 weeks to pass. We plan at this time to worship online until Sunday morning, February 7th. God is already speaking to me about our coming back to in-person worship with an emphasis on reconciliation. He has led me to 2 Corinthians 5:20. We will call our first Sunday coming back together, “BE RECONCILED TO GOD SUNDAY.” Praise God for His ministry of reconciliation which brings us back together and binds our wounds with His amazing love and mercy.
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