It is hard for me to fathom that this will be the third Easter that has been affected by the Covid Pandemic. I’ll never forget the moment in March of 2020 when we made the decision to stop in-person worship. Of course, we were really disappointed, but we thought it would only be a brief stint. Since Easter was still a month away, it was inconceivable that Easter Sunday would be affected. But of course, we didn’t have in-person worship for Easter 2020. Week after week of having worship in an empty sanctuary was difficult. Now, I knew that everyone was watching online, but I still felt disconnected. It wasn’t until I had a Sunday off and was able to join worship online that I felt connected with the family of faith. Worshipping online changed the way I felt about Sunday mornings because even though I couldn’t see anyone in person, I envisioned everyone watching online.
When we reopened in March 2021, it meant that we’d be back for Easter. Just as I won’t forget Easter 2020, I also won’t forget Easter 2021. Seeing the family of faith in person had a huge impact on me. It was an emotional reminder of how important the family of faith is to my own worship. It is why a commitment to presence is part of the membership vows. We need each other. Whether we’re online or in-person, we worship together. We’re brought together by Christ, and united in Christ.
Sometimes we underestimate how important our presence is to others. During the pandemic separation, we quickly realized how much we missed people. Did you ever stop to think that while you were thinking of all the people you longed to see, that there were all the people who were thinking of you?
Jesus calls each one of us to bless the lives of others. One of the best and simplest ways we do that is through our presence. Being there for one another offers fellowship, security, and support. The grace of Christ can be revealed in the very way you connect with others. Remember – God chose you to bless the life of someone else.
Rev. Wendy Lambert, Senior Executive Pastor
