A New Church In the Works

“Behold, I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19)

Several weeks ago in my blog I described the concept of a new of Church – one that that is at least as focused out where people are scattered (i.e., digitally SENT) as one that focuses on having people come to us (i.e., physically GATHERED).  If you missed that article, you can read it HERE.  While we at McKendree UMC have in our history done a better job than many churches in balancing these two biblical realities, today’s health crisis has highlighted – or should I say, forced – us to be even more intentional about this balance.

So, with that in mind, your staff and lay leadership has been hard at work creating a “new” kind of church for our current “scattered” context.  Some of these initiatives are totally new, while others take existing ministries and “retool” them for our current situation.  Consequently, we not only want you to be aware of them, but also to invite your friends and neighbors to be part of them, where appropriate:

1) All-Congregation Check-In: A team of caring volunteers and staff will be contacting all active families of our congregation over the next month or so to see how they are doing, if they need anything, and see how we can pray for them.  While Pastor Ryan and I made close to 150 similar phone calls to various segments of our congregation during April-May, the availability of a wonderful and dedicated group of caring volunteers will now enable us to check in with our whole active congregation.

2) Digital Learning Ministry (DLD Solutions) for Children of Working Parents: In light of Gwinnett County Schools’ recent decision to go “all digital” to begin the new school year, we are in the process of creating a new ministry called "DLD (Digital Learning Day) Solutions" to provide a safe, supervised space for digital learning for Elementary students whose parents work during the day.  Be on the lookout for more information about this very soon.

3) Racial Reconciliation Team Update:  This recently-formed team has met twice to pray about and brainstorm about the best way for our church to address the challenging issues of racism and racial injustice in our community and world.  Consequently, while our work will eventually include a partnership with other churches, they have felt led that their first initiative will be the creation of an emotionally safe space to share our members' “race stories.”  Look for more information soon about how you can be part of this initiative.

4) Online Worship Enhancements: Since we’ll probably not be reintroducing in-person worship again for a while, look for upcoming improvements and enhancements to our online worship experiences, including more interactive elements, new virtual fellowship opportunities (made possible by moving online worship availability back to Sunday morning), and the possible addition of Facebook to the digital platforms where online worship will be available.

5)  Additional Online Worship Reminder:  look for an additional fun video and/or post in your in-box or Facebook page near each weekend reminding you about the focus of that weekend’s upcoming online worship services.

6) Weekly “Got A Minute? Videos”:  Also look for a new, creative, 1-minute mid-week inspirational video from our pastors and staff designed to help you make it through the week.  These will be shared via our church Facebook page, as well as being sent out to our weekly eBlast distribution list.

7) "In the Word" Scripture Posts: Featuring regular short scripture posts in your Facebook and Instagram feeds to inspire and give hope. 

 8) P.P.V. (Pastor's Porch Visits): In this time of social distancing, many of our church’s members and friends have not been able to have company in their home due to health concerns. That’s why Pastor Brian is introducing P.P.V. (Pastor’s Porch Visits) – a medically safe way for you to visit with your pastor(s) at your home.  If you’re interested in a visit, contact the church office and we'll make an appointment for him to bring his own lawn chair to set up to visit with you on your front porch, front lawn, driveway, or another outside space of your choice at the appointed time.  All visits will include him observing proper social distancing and the wearing of a mask/face shield.  He can also bring individual Holy Communion, Upper Room devotional booklets, and Pastor Paula (beginning in September), as requested. 

9) Sermon by Phone: a new way for those who are technologically-challenged to be able to join in for “worship.” Each week, people can call a dedicated local phone number to listen to a portion of each week’s Sunday worship service (the scripture, sermon, ending song, benediction, and “Old Irish Blessing”).  There’s no need for an ID number or password.  They simply dial the number from any phone and listen.

10) McKendree Parents QUARAN-TEAM: a new private Facebook group providing a safe place for parents to share spiritual and emotional encouragement and support during these challenging times.  Click HERE to request to join.

11) McKendree Online Webpage:  a new page on our church website that will list all of our church’s currently available online opportunities in one, easy-to-find location HERE.

As you can see, your church is hard at work to provide you and those around you with the emotional and spiritual tools you’ll need not just to survive, but to thrive through our continued healthcare crisis.  This list is by no means complete – there are other ideas that we are kicking around but have not yet been fully developed.  And you may have further suggestions or ideas to help with any of these opportunities (or new ones) that will help us “be the church” not just for you, but for our entire community.  If so, please contact me HERE.

In the meantime, know that God loves you and I do, too as we seek to be “People. Doing (virtual) life together. Connecting all through Christ”!

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

          

             “A mighty fortress is our God,

                        A bulwark never failing;

            Our helper he amid the flood

                        Of mortal ills prevaling. 

            For still our ancient foe doth 

                        seek to work us woe;

            His craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate,

                        On earth is not his equal.

            Did we in our own strength confide,

                        our striving would be losing,

            Were not the right man on our side,

                        the man of God's own choosing.

            Dost ask who that may be?  Christ Jesus, it is he;

            Lord Sabbaoth, his name, from age to age the same,

                        And he must win the battle.

            And though this world, with devils filled,

                        should threaten to undo us,

            We will not fear, for God hath willed

                        his truth to triumph through us. 

            The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

            His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure;

                        One little word shall fell him.

            That word above all earthly powers,

                        No thanks to them, abideth;

            The Spirit and the gifts are ours,

                        thru him who with us sideth. 

            Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

            The body they may kill; God's truth abideth still;

                        HHis kingdom is forever.”

                   [--Martin Luther (1529), from The United Methodist Hymnal, #110] 

Though the words are old, they are as timeless as ever: God, and God alone, is the only source of true security and strength that will not let us down in life.  

So, in the midst of our global health crisis -- with all of its unknown consequences for our schools, businesses, churches, and life, in general -- what (more importantly, in WHOM) are you placing your ultimate trust?  Remember that God loves you and I do, too!

GATHERED or SENT? What Is The Church?

“Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25) 

“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15) 

As were many of you, I was disappointed last week when we had to make the difficult decision to suspend in-person worship and events in our buildings once again in light of the continued high incidents of virus in our community. While I have no doubt that it was the right thing for us to do, it was frustrating, nevertheless. Yet, as we prayerfully discern how best to again re-open our facilities, it has caused me to do some heavy thinking, praying, and studying about what it really means to be God’s church.

Many of us grew up learning a children’s song that goes like this: “The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people. I am the church. You are the church. We are the church together. All of God’s people, all around the world; yes, we’re the church together!” (#558 in the UM Hymnal). While I know that most of us intellectually know these words to be true, when we think about “church,” many of us nevertheless still tend to think of it in terms of the worship services, events, activities, and things that take place in and at our facilities. While that is certainly the meaning behind the Hebrews 10 passage above (“don’t neglect to meet together…”), at the same time there has always been a healthy tension in Christian faith and practice between the church being a GATHERED community of believers, and the “Great Commission” calling of Jesus in Mark 16 to be a community which is SENT into the world to share the good news.

Over the last 10-15 years, there has been a increased recognition of the need for the church to do and be the latter (a SENT community) – not necessarily that this takes the place of being a GATHERED community, but just that we have perhaps grown so complacent in our “gathered-ness” that we have failed to “go” or allow ourselves to be “sent” into the world.

Consequently, today’s health crisis has forced the truth of this reality even further – with our buildings and facilities effectively closed to being able to gather in person, we have had to not only re-think what “gathered” means, but to consider more ways to be the church in the communities and neighborhoods where we are “sent” and actually live. Does “meeting together” in heart and spirit for online worship, Bible study, and fellowship count as “gathering”? I think it does, but in a way we’ve never had to consider before. And remember: the early church itself did not meet in its own buildings at all, but in homes and spaces where people lived. Isn’t that precisely what we’re seeing a return to today? Our buildings may currently be closed for a season, but we are not now (nor throughout this crisis have we ever been) “closed” as a CHURCH!

In many ways, at least until this past February, the church in America (including our church at McKendree) was a PHYSICAL church with a digital presence. But today’s crisis has forced us to prayerfully consider that the church of the future (indeed, even of today) must be a DIGITAL church with a physical presence. If that’s true, then perhaps “being the church” is not so much defined by “getting back” to in-person worship in our facilities, but is more defined (or at least is AS defined) by our work and presence in our communities and neighborhoods once again! Don’t hear me wrong – I want to come back for in-person worship as much as anyone. But at the end of the day, if we can’t do that right now (or even for a while), it doesn’t mean that we can’t still BE God’s church!

Instead, the two scriptures above remind me that “being the church” is about being both a GATHERED and a SENT community of faith – neither is more important than the other. But if, over time, one has predominated the other (as perhaps it has), then God may be using our situation today to bring this back into balance by helping relieve us (involuntarily) of the notion that “church” can’t exist without our buildings or our in-person worship services.

Again, I love the praise and spirit that’s present in our in-person worship services, and I love the fellowship and camaraderie that takes place when we are physically together in the same spaces. But in this season of virtual worship and virtual fellowship, perhaps our focus for now should be on recapturing the importance of being a SENT community – on how we can BE God’s church in the communities and neighborhoods where we live!

I don’t have all the answers to know exactly what all that looks like, but I trust that God will guide us to figure it out together, if we will but remain flexible, patient, and trust in the Holy Spirit constantly to remind us of what the church is truly about! Always know that God loves you and I do, too!