Church Family Update - August 14, 2020

Prayer requests:

We should continue to keep our teachers and students in our prayers as they continue to prepare for the return to school under these unusual circumstances. 

Hopefully you received the message from Council that was sent out yesterday. Council will continue to convey information regarding the discussion we had at our council meeting this week. 

A Devotional Thought:

“Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord…Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them…” Exodus 15:1,20-21

Picture the scene. The Israelites had just been released from 400 years of slavery. They were subsequently chased by the most powerful army in the world but God miraculously delivered them from the hand of Pharaoh. 

Now there they are on the other side of the sea after it has come crashing down upon their enemies. What’s the appropriate response? Singing! Dancing! And tambourines. Worship is always the appropriate response of God’s people when God intervenes with His saving grace. 

In some ways we’re still crossing the Red Sea. The storm of the pandemic is not over yet. And it may not end for quite some time. But God is still with us as we cross this sea. He hasn’t left or abandoned us. And He never will. 

The passage I quoted above tells us about the song that the Israelites sang once they made it to the other side of the Red Sea. One day we too will be on the other side of this trial and I have no doubt that we will gather and sing like never before and it will be glorious. 

But here’s something I want you to think about today. I know this is a little speculative but I’m fairly confident that many of the members of the household of Israel were also singing while they crossed the sea. Maybe that singing was a little more subdued but I picture men and women and children softly singing to God as they crossed the Red Sea—offering praise and prayer to God even while they fled from their enemies. And then bursting into loud song once they were all gathered together on the other side.

If you got the message from council yesterday then you know that starting this Sunday we are moving into a new phase for our Sunday morning worship gatherings. We are now able to sing during our services. Yes, it will be somewhat subdued because we will have to wear masks and not all of our church family members will be able to be there. But it’s a step in the right direction and I’m thankful that we’ll be able to sing together this Sunday as we walk through this storm together. 

So if you are choosing to stay home and participate online, that’s great, make a joyful noise to the Lord from your home and we’ll worship together in spirit. And if you choose to come to the church building for worship this Sunday, feel free to bring your tambourine or a cowbell or anything else to make a joyful noise to the Lord. And wear your dancing shoes if you want. It’s time to sing!

See you on the Lord’s Day!

Pastor Jason