I miss seeing you. Even if you don't come to worship weekly, I looked forward to when I saw you on a Sunday morning, or maybe at some random time during the week. Whenever you arrived at the building on Williams Drive, it was good to reconnect. You lifted my spirits with your presence.
COVID-19 has made in-person connections difficult and potentially dangerous. Wisdom demands prudence and isolation. We need to stay home and at a social distance to reduce the negative impact of this pandemic. This sacrifice is painful and wears heavy upon us all. Still, working together, we can have a positive effect.
As a pastor, I am concerned about both the physical and spiritual health of folks. Keeping apart helps promote physical wellness during a pandemic. St. James is doing its part in postponing our in-person ministry until it is safe to gather once again. We are providing spiritual care, using technology to offer worship, Sunday School, Bible Studies, and devotions. I am grateful for our staff, who has worked tirelessly to provide these opportunities. I also appreciate the efforts of the Pastoral Care Team, who is making dozens of calls a week to check-in.
Driven by concerns about the longevity of our isolation, I instituted a new ministry this week. We are in the process of forming small groups, which we are calling Faith Teams. Each group of three to four folks has committed to coming together virtually once a week for forty minutes. Brought together by a Faith Team Lead, they check-in with one another and offer mutual support. Using a simple devotional and prayer format, they share faith and encouragement. They are using ZOOM for the conversation; this technology is easy to use and allows folks to connect using laptops, tablets, and regular phones.
Already we have over forty people connected through nine different Faith Team Chats. Participants extend beyond the St. James community to include friends and neighbors. My initial goal is to grow the number involved to a hundred over the next two weeks. Part of "being church" is to come together to offer mutual care and support. Guided by God's Word, our spirits need strengthening through interaction with each other. We need to listen, pray, and to be present for one another with the kindness of Christ. Each of us has the power to make a difference in the life of someone else.
Will you be willing to come together with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ at St. James and take part in a Faith Team Chat? Perhaps you would like to lead one of these conversations? I will give you the resources, support, and some training to get you started. Maybe you would prefer to participate instead? We have leaders that are forming groups and need willing participants. I will connect you. Click the link below and let me know how you would like to get involved.
I am confident that through Faith Team Chats, St. James can continue to bring about our vision to build and deepen loving relationships with God, with each other, and with our neighbors. Not only will this ministry help us to survive these trying days, but it can build St. James. Even during a time of this pandemic, God's Spirit can grow and strengthen Christ's church.
In Christ's Light,
Pastor Walt