Christ Church Family,
I hope all is well with you. I wanted to write to you to inform and encourage you in the unique season of life. First, we plan on complying with the Illinois Executive order issued yesterday ( https://www2.illinois.gov/government/executive-orders ). Will will be practicing social distancing for our service Sunday. We are going to set up two worship areas in our building that will not exceed 50 people in each area. We will cap the number of people in the upstairs auditorium at 50, and then direct everyone else downstairs through the basement door where we will be live-streaming the service as an overflow room. We will be closing off the stairs and keeping the groups separated. Just like last Sunday, families will be worshiping together and we ask you not to come if anyone in the family is sick.
We missed many of you last Sunday but were glad so many were able to join us online. We had almost 300 views on the service and over 800 views of Brandon’s baptism. Praise God! We do not want you to feel obligated to come, but we do want to encourage you to join us live or online. We want to be obedient to Hebrews 10:25 and not neglect meeting together. So if you can’t be with us live, online is the next best thing.
Needs
During this time, if you or anyone you know needs help of any kind please call Jared at 6188891049. We love you and want to be there for you in any way we can. Even if you are sick, call me (Jared) I can come and help. The only way we can’t help is if we don’t know the need. So please reach out.
Also, try to remember small business owners in our congregation and our cities. This is going to have an impact on them in ways it won’t for others. Buy some t-shirts, and meatballs if you can:)
Encouragement
This is a massive opportunity for the people of God. Don’t be discouraged. God is at work. There are two scriptures that help me in difficult seasons, Eph. 1:11 “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” Did you catch that? He works all things to the counsel of his will. One of the things included in “All things” is the coronavirus. You might wonder “But how?” Great question! That is why I rest in passages like Is. 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” We don’t have to understand to trust him. He has his purposes.
Challenge
Men lets make sure our family time goes up more than our screen time. Enjoy your wife and make this time a time of growth with each other. We have a holy obligation to be the leaders of our homes. Pastor your family well. Use the extra home time to work on projects that need to be finished. Fix the garage, cut down that tree, change the oil, and plant some trees. There is all sorts of work that needs to be done. Go for it. And lead your family in worship. All you have to do is call your family together and read a passage from the Bible or a children’s bible, explain it, sing a song, and pray. Preach and sing of the finished work of Jesus to your family and lead without fear!
Ladies, this is a great time to work on domestic arts. Experiment with cooking, learn to sew up the hole in your kid’s jeans, make your home more beautiful, plant a garden, love your husband and children and have fun! This is a great time for you to learn more about working from home. There is always more to learn and enjoy! Go for it!
Parents/grandparents, let’s be careful how we speak about this around our children. They are learning how to respond to difficult situations from us. Let’s teach them how to face adversity with fearless joy. We are Christians! We have nothing to fear and everything to be thankful for!
This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
With Love,
Your pastor, more importantly, your blood-bought brother,
Jared