Good day, faith family. I pray that by God’s grace you are thriving even in difficult circumstances. I want to inform you of the new guidelines and recommendations put in place by our governor and of how our church will function for the time being as we move forward during this pandemic. Heeding the words of Proverbs 18:13, “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame,” I have waited to address this until more information was made available.Yesterday evening I met with our deacon body to discuss the latest developments of this Covid pandemic and to hear from Sheriff Brown. According to our governor’s most recent statement, restrictions on seating capacity for church services remains the same. The governor has mandated that the citizens of Louisiana wear masks in an effort to fight against the spread of Covid-19. While this is not a law (and is, therefore, unenforceable) we do want to be good citizens and neighbors. We are asking everyone to prayerfully consider wearing a mask while in close proximity to one another. Once you are seated for worship, we hope that you’ll feel free to remove your mask and worship the Lord comfortably since our seating arrangement is designed to accommodate a 6 ft gap as recommended for social distancing. Please know that we will not be policing anyone (the mandate specifically excludes churches from penalty). We will continue to respect your personal choice in this matter. We understand that there are some in our church who have health issues that make mask wearing difficult and others who have strong convictions in opposition to this mandate. We will continue to encourage everyone to practice social distancing, use hand sanitizer, and stay home if you are sick.  

It’s obvious that this pandemic has caused hardship to many. One troubling difficulty is the division it has caused in our country, communities, and even our church. Next week I plan to address this very issue. For now, I will point you to Philippians 2:1-5, “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”

We want to be considerate and loving to one another for it is Christ that binds us. Don’t forget that we are brothers and sisters in Christ, a bond forged by the very blood of Jesus. Let us consider each person as more important than ourselves. Let us maintain love and unity even if we disagree. Let us be united in spirit over what is most important: the worship of our Lord and Savior. Hebrews 10:24-25 admonishes, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” This coming Sunday God has given us an opportunity to worship Him. Let us make the most of it.

See you Sunday!

Bro. Brian

My Sundays are not usually what I’d call a “day of rest.” Surprisingly, that first Sunday home was. We had filmed the sermon on Saturday, and I was exhausted from a week of upheaval. That Sunday my family and I woke at our leisure. We sang some hymns, listened to the sermon, and discussed the scriptures more in depth. Then we rested. We certainly needed the rest, but something was missing. It wasn’t normal, but it wasn’t terrible. Unfortunately, by the next week I would begin singing a different tune. The week was long and full of things that I am not particularly good at: writing, filming Bible studies, and being isolated. After filming the Sunday service on Saturday afternoon, I was ready for another day of rest. Sadly, it did not come. My coveted day of rest turned in a big reminder of how broken our world is. As my family gathered for worship, I was overwhelmed with longing for my faith family. Some of my children were not as attentive and worshipful as they were the week before, and Sunday School was filled with constant interruptions. All of this put me in a really bad mood. Then, to top it all off, I almost burned down the house while grilling supper (Don’t ask🙈). The day was anything but restful!

COVID-19 and days like that Sunday are a reminder of how broken our world is. A virus that has shaken the whole world = brokenness. Children’s bad behavior = brokenness. Interruptions to our attempts at spiritual nourishment = brokenness. My own sin = brokenness. I felt like David in Psalms 40:12, “For troubles without number have surrounded me.” Or Psalm 69:1, “For the water has risen to my neck. I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing.”

What I needed that day and every day was a reminder that this brokenness will not always remain. COVID-19 took from me a reminder of a wonderful truth that brings me great joy. You see, the corporate gathering of the faith family reminds me of my hope and my future in heaven. Listen to the Apostle John from Revelation 7:9-12, “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Every Sunday when I gather with my faith family, I am able to look past all the brokenness of this world and get a glimpse of what awaits me. I am able to “practice” for a moment what I will one day do forever. There we will with glad hearts gather around the throne of God and worship Him perfectly face to face. In that land there will be no viruses, no interruptions, and no sin. I long for this!  Like Job, I need to be reminded, “And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” The Sunday gatherings for worship are weekly reminders that one day I will see my Savior with my own eyes! They are a reminder that one day I will sing to my Savior as He stands before me. Sundays are a taste of heaven, and COVID-19 has taken that from me for a little while. Yes, I hate COVID-19, but it has reminded me of how precious Sunday worship is, and maybe that’s the point.  

By His Grace,

Pastor Brian