In sitting down to write you this week, I put to myself a challenging task. On the one hand, I want to be the caring pastor and shepherd to the flock expected of me. On the other hand, part of being the caring pastor and shepherd from time to time is gently challenging those committed to my charge. The old adage, “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable” comes to mind!
In this there is New Testament precedence. Paul’s heart as a pastor and encourager is found in his letter to the Philippians: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.” Paul comes alongside as an encourager, rejoicing in his partnership with these people. I rejoice in my partnership with you.
I am compelled, as well, by the spirit of Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another ….” The King James Version puts it a little more strongly: “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” My aim is to encourage, and while provoke might be too strong a word, perhaps goad is a better one.
My subject is returning to in-person worship. Candidly, I wish to see more of you attending Sunday services. Part of this is selfish – there is more energy when there are more people. You are missed when you are not here, and some of you I have not seen in 15 months or longer!
Then there is the Church’s long conviction that the body of Christ is intended to be corporate in nature. We are not simply individuals who happen to belong to a certain congregation. In truth, what we are is the local expression of God’s one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. And we are embedded in this holy and sometimes maddening body. So, when we are dispersed as we have been for so long, the body is weakened by the absence of its members.
So, let me put this question before you as plainly as I can: if you are fully vaccinated and going out to dinner or having people over in your home, exercising at the gym and otherwise carrying on as you were pre-covid, then what is keeping you from attending Sunday worship? This is a judgment free zone; I simply ask you to ask yourself this question!
If you (or your spouse) have an underlying health issue, or you are not fully vaccinated and do not plan to be for whatever reason, or if you are concerned about your unvaccinated children, I can understand that.
If you are caring for an elderly relative, or working on Sunday morning and evening, or getting out and enjoying some travel after having been cooped-up for so many months, I get that, too.
But if these categories don’t apply to you, ask yourself “What is holding me back?”
As St. Paul would remind his readers, know that I love you. AND know that it is for your well-being that you be in church on Sunday. Plus, more people means more joy! We have three services – more than usual for the summer – because we want you to know that there are more opportunities - safer ones - than at any time since March 2020.
Lastly, did I say that I miss seeing you?
Affectionately,
Fr. Chris