Pastor’s Pen 5th December

Church Life and Adaptive Change: 

Overall, humanity doesn’t like “change” if what we’ve been used to has been comforting and pleasant. Connect gathered church has looked the same for decades and has served our community well. However, our world is not the same anymore and probably won’t be stable or consistent for a few more years to come. So, we must all be prepared to adapt and keep adapting to our changing environment and community needs, as we continue to serve God and others.

Today Rex, our chairman of the Elders, will share our plan for Sunday services and gatherings for the next 6 weeks, until Jan 17 when the government will review Traffic Light levels. At this time, we will probably change things again. Our aim is to keep our people as safe as possible while at the same time not excluding anyone from church life.

At the incarnation of Christ, societal life was turned on its head. Life changed for: Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah, Herod and Roman rule, the citizens of Bethlehem, shepherds, wise men from the East. And that was just the beginning. Very soon the whole Jewish religious system was put to the test. Would they adapt to new revelation and a new way of being or would they resist?

Our Lord Jesus Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth (Mt 28:18). He establishes all governing authorities (Ro 13:1-2), to achieve His purposes on earth. Christ is allowing this pandemic, for whatever reason. Therefore, how can we be church in a changing world? How can we love our neighbour as ourselves? We lay down our rights for the good of the “other.” We stay loving, forgiving, persevering, hopeful, faithful, and trusting God.

Let’s be prepared to try new ways of meeting and gathering. Do you know which of our Connect people live in your local area? Why not get together to share food and worship? Invite a neighbour over and get to know them. Adaptive change can be a little scary, but let’s make it an adventure.