No Need for Signups
Our first weekend of gathering again for worship here at Evergreen Bible Church was June 13-14 and we were concerned about being able to stay under our 50-person limit. Since then the limit has been raised to 85 people per service and will go even higher when Clark County is approved for Phase 3. The early evidence and feedback have led us to conclude that signups for worship attendance are not needed for the time being.
To be clear, what we are seeing and hearing from people is that, for a variety of reasons, many of our members are planning to simply continue worshipping via the livestream rather than coming to the church building.
- Caution: Some of our people refrain from attending because their health condition is compromised, or people they live with or take care of are in poor health, and it is important for them to limit the risk of infection.
- Childcare: Since there are no kids classes or nurseries running, many parents of younger children find it much easier to worship via the stream while managing their children at home rather than at the church building.
- Deference: Many of our people have significant difficulty tuning into the livestream worship service, while others who can catch the stream easily are happy to do so, leaving more room in the gathering for those who need it.
- Restrictions: While social distancing is a challenge, more than a few of our members struggle hard with the requirement of face coverings throughout the worship services and would rather wait to attend when that restriction is lifted.
I remain convinced that actual gatherings with other believers provide critical elements of spiritual health that virtual gatherings cannot do nearly as well. That is why I will continue to encourage everyone who can to join us for one of the weekend services. No need to sign up; just come. But I am also grateful for the opportunity to livestream the service to help edify those who are not able to be part of a gathering at this time. Either way, our goal is for God’s truth to become reality in our hearts.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)
Pastor Toby
Categories: Evergreen Connection