Monday, March 16, 2020
“The Lord God is in your midst. He will create calm with His love!” Zephaniah 3:17
That verse from the prophet Zephaniah is one of many verses of Scripture that I have highlighted and underlined through the years. Perhaps it was prophetic that as I opened my Bible this morning I looked down on the pink highlighted verse that reminded me that God is always with us and when we turn to God we can find calm amidst the storm.
In consultation with church leaders and health, government, and faith officials, we’ve made the decision to suspend all in-church worship services and meetings until further notice. We cannot put our members and friends at risk of being infected by others or by passing on COVID-19 themselves just for the sake of coming into our building.
Although people won’t be streaming through our doors to fill empty pews and seats we will continue to offer a live Sunday worship service, a Sunday School classroom for kids of all ages, and Bible studies using online technology. I will be providing a live daily devotional and update through our Facebook page at 9:30 each morning. Our leaders will be calling you and all of our members and friends to check in on everyone because we are a church that loves each other and loves God.
I am so thankful that we made the decision more than a year ago to make use of technology in sharing our Sunday worship service and Bible studies with the world. Yesterday 60% of those who worshiped with our church did so online. At least 82 individuals watched our worship service using either Facebook or Zoom. Last evening, I spoke with a few people who told me that they had friends and family watching our service online yesterday so that 82 number only represents computer connections because more than 82 people were worshiping with us online.
We have held meetings and conversations with our music director, our worship team and our Sunday School leadership. They are going to help me present our live streamed worship services for you and Sunday School for the children of the church during the coming weeks.
Each Sunday morning at 9:30 we will come together with a CALL to WORSHIP. A hymn will be sung, an affirmation of faith shared, music of faith presented, prayers lifted up, God’s Word read and preached on, and it will be a complete worship service. To help you participate in the service, we will be sharing the entire service in advance, including lyrics, by e-mail and posting it on our Facebook page. You can sing at home with us and pray with us to feel like you are part of the service.
After worship, at 10:45, our regular Sunday School starting time, our Sunday School will open online for kids with a One-Room Classroom. We want to demonstrate to the children of our church that they matter and their growth in knowledge of God and Jesus Christ is important to St. Paul’s even when our doors are closed.
St. Paul’s church leadership and I want you to be safe! We want you to stay connected with our church and more importantly with God. We also want to make sure that you have what you need and are not hesitant in reaching out if you need help. Our church telephone number is 856-845-6638 and my email is pdatstpauls@gmail.com. We will be there for you!
We will get through this crisis, but this is real, not some fake story. People are getting sick and people are dying so please don’t believe those individuals who are attempting to downplay the realities of the Coronavirus. To do so only risks greater harm. Our church will be filled with people again in the very near future, but until then we will connect online and by telephone.
Please take the time to pray for the world community, faith leaders, medical personnel, and our church family.
God Bless you all!
Pastor Dave
P.S. Bible study on ZOOM Tuesdays at 8 a.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome!