This past Holy Week emphasis and Easter Celebration leaves us with exciting reflections. Our church family held services every day during Holy Week with taking only Thursday off to rest and reflect. Look at the attendance report from the week’s activities:
This is our first full week of ministry together since the pandemic began over 2 years ago. When COVID struck our services, we were averaging around 130 per Sunday morning service. Since then, families have moved away. Some have relocated to other churches. Our church, like all others during these circumstances, has been impacted by the interruption of protocols like mask wearing, social distancing, virtual worship services, as well as disruption in fellowship and outreach.
Churches are not meant to be limited to online contact. Churches depend on fellowship and close communion to build relationships grounded in faith and trust in Jesus who is our Savior and Lord. For this Easter week to be our first full week of ministry since COVID began, I believe God gave us an outpouring of His grace and joy as we were free to come together again. Over 300 souls sharing the Glory of Easter together is a true picture of God’s presence among us, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all thing in common” (Acts 2:42-44). Easter week was a New Testament, early church fellowship moment. We shared a glimpse of what it must have been like when the early church came together following the ascension of Jesus back into heaven.
I also saw God work in a powerful way during our Children’s Ministry outreach and egg hunt at Flowery Branch Park. There were at least 20 out of the 64 attending who were new families with their children. The event was publicized on Facebook and as a result 3 new mothers and children came to share in the activities. Our leaders welcomed them, loved on them, and helped them to feel at home. A birthday group was there and were welcomed to participate. Our members invited their family members with children to come and join in. It was a great in-gathering of people, which reminding me that God is about to rebuild our ministry to children in coming days. I could see Jesus among us loving on children welcoming them into His arms, “Suffer the children to come unto me and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for such is the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:14). When you have children at church, you have the heart of God.
In all, God was among us all week long during Holy Week. I praise God for the evidence of His grace and glory among my dear church and its people at Grace.
- Monday – Wednesday Holy Week Prayer Services – 60 attending/ averaged 20 per night praying together.
- Good Friday Service – 61 attending to focus attention on the Cross
- Children’s Easter Egg Hunt – 64 total with at least 35 children
- Sunrise Service and Breakfast – 71 attending and fellowship around the table
- Celebration Easter Worship – 83 attending in Praise and Thanksgiving
- Total for the week – 339 to the Glory of God
This is our first full week of ministry together since the pandemic began over 2 years ago. When COVID struck our services, we were averaging around 130 per Sunday morning service. Since then, families have moved away. Some have relocated to other churches. Our church, like all others during these circumstances, has been impacted by the interruption of protocols like mask wearing, social distancing, virtual worship services, as well as disruption in fellowship and outreach.
Churches are not meant to be limited to online contact. Churches depend on fellowship and close communion to build relationships grounded in faith and trust in Jesus who is our Savior and Lord. For this Easter week to be our first full week of ministry since COVID began, I believe God gave us an outpouring of His grace and joy as we were free to come together again. Over 300 souls sharing the Glory of Easter together is a true picture of God’s presence among us, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all thing in common” (Acts 2:42-44). Easter week was a New Testament, early church fellowship moment. We shared a glimpse of what it must have been like when the early church came together following the ascension of Jesus back into heaven.
I also saw God work in a powerful way during our Children’s Ministry outreach and egg hunt at Flowery Branch Park. There were at least 20 out of the 64 attending who were new families with their children. The event was publicized on Facebook and as a result 3 new mothers and children came to share in the activities. Our leaders welcomed them, loved on them, and helped them to feel at home. A birthday group was there and were welcomed to participate. Our members invited their family members with children to come and join in. It was a great in-gathering of people, which reminding me that God is about to rebuild our ministry to children in coming days. I could see Jesus among us loving on children welcoming them into His arms, “Suffer the children to come unto me and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for such is the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:14). When you have children at church, you have the heart of God.
In all, God was among us all week long during Holy Week. I praise God for the evidence of His grace and glory among my dear church and its people at Grace.
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