Change and Stability

Our journey together through the “Valley of Coronavirus” has confronted us with many changes.  We’ve all felt the impact—a major impact—in our jobs, schools, shopping, travel, friendships, and of course in our church life.  In-person encounters have relocated, for the most part, into virtual connections (I’d never heard of Zoom before March of this year!).  And as we’ve been swept along in the swift current of so much change, we’ve been adapting and learning—and reeling.  I won’t belabor the point, but suffice it to say that we’ve basically been relearning how to function in this world:  big changes.

And this inescapable fact has made it more urgent than ever to fix our mind and focus our attention on what has NOT changed for all who are in Christ.  I delved into this in my March 19 blog post.  If the “new world” of pandemic times is like being carried along in a rushing current of change, the life of faith in Jesus Christ involves standing on an unmoving, ever-steady, always-secure Rock of salvation.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  The Lord will never leave or forsake his people (13:5).  “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

As Stephen Witmer points out in his wonderful article about what hasn’t changed, seven things “… were true before coronavirus and will remain true long after (and forever). They are massive pillars sunk deep down into eternal bedrock, and we can stand on them when much else we relied on has been shaken.” Those seven sure and steady realities are:  God, God’s Word, God’s love, God’s purpose, Jesus’ intercession for us, Judgment day, and our final destination.  These are unshifting, unflinching “givens” established by God.  Failing to focus on them is losing touch with reality; we begin to go out of our minds when we look away from Jesus and obsess over all the Covid-19 ups and downs and breaking news.

So, much has changed, and yet the most important things have not changed.  Let’s shift gears and translate our calling to “stand firm in Christ amidst the flurry of change” into a very specific situation right before us:  our upcoming return to church gatherings. Pennsylvania enters the Green Phase of reopening on June 26, and with this comes the opportunity for Goshen to resume in-person worship services beginning on Sunday, July 5.  (Our last services were on March 8—just think, four months apart… it will be great to see you!!)  As we come back together, let’s think about what it will be like under those same two headings:  what will be different, and what will be the same.

Several things will be different.  And it’s important that we all take time to think and pray over these changes in advance—to set our expectations correctly.  Here are some changes to expect:

• The service times (worship at 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.);
• Length of our family-friendly services (under an hour);
• No in-person Sunday School initially (although the combined adult summer class is ongoing);
• Entering and exiting by the main lobby doors only (access to lower level rooms not available);
• Lingering and socializing outdoors only;
• Wearing face coverings required while indoors (except leaders when they’re speaking);
• Being ushered into the Sanctuary to seats toward the front first;
• Sitting in marked spaces and avoiding other seats (to keep six feet of distancing from non-household members);
• No pew Bibles or hymnals or pens or cards;
• No passing of the offering plate (please drop your offering in the box at the back of the Sanctuary);
• No hand-shaking interlude during the service;
• Livestreaming of the services (you’ll see new equipment and helpers in the rear of the Sanctuary—thanks to all who are making this happen);
• Childcare and children’s/youth programs will not be provided on Sunday mornings initially;
• We’ll livestream the worship services into the Fellowship Hall, where parents can go with their children, if need be;
• Dismissing from the services by rows;
• Note that pew backs, door handles, and other common surfaces will be wiped down between the services.

Let me note one more difference we’ll notice when we regather for worship:  not everyone will be there; some of our brothers and sisters will opt to stay home and join us via livestream.  As I mentioned last week in my blog post, “Getting Ready to Gather Again,” some will keep their distance due to health issues and personal considerations.  So when you notice that so-and-so isn’t in their regular pew, take it as a cue to pray—and make a note to call/text and express Jesus’ love (a recent article by Katie Faris offers much helpful counsel on how to respond to that empty seat at church).  It’s very urgent that all who aren’t returning to our buildings know that they remain dear to our hearts as part of our Goshen family!

Well, I’ve named a LOT of differences that we’ll see (and feel) when we reconvene.  But don’t be overwhelmed—don’t let your mind go racing at all the newness, all the adjustments, all the inconveniences.  Instead, before you come on Sundays, take time to pray (dads and moms, this would be great to do as a family) and ask the Father to prepare your heart to embrace the changes and look beyond them.  This is really crucial for us all:  don’t lock in on the differences, but instead accept them as part of a necessary season of adaptation.

So here’s what has NOT changed at Goshen—several things about our church that are (thankfully!) the same as ever:

• Our commitment to the Gospel—to teach and spread God’s ultimate good news of new and abundant and eternal life in Jesus! (see Gospel summaries on this page);
• Our message—reflecting our resolve to teach and preach and follow God’s Word;
• Our shared zeal to honor the Lord and reach out to his world (i.e., love God and love neighbor);
• Our “Statement of Faith,” which summarizes key Christian doctrine;
• Our mission and vision as a church (see on this page);
• Our approach to ministry through three ordered and essential relationships—to God, one another, and the world (“upward-inward-outward”);
• Our high value on having a “family atmosphere” as a church, and practicing warm, attentive hospitality;
• Our eagerness to love and serve those who are hurting;
• Our staff team, and our church elders, deacons and deaconesses, officers, and numerous other ministry leaders;
• Our provision of ministry activities (many of which are virtual for now; some in-person) for families, youth, young adults, seniors, men, women, singles, marrieds (various Bible studies, small groups, prayer gatherings, and activities are ongoing—contact the church office for details);
• Our commitment to global missions, including support of thirty-some dedicated, Christ-centered missionaries around the world (22% of our budget goes to these vital Great Commission ventures!);
• Our facilities—give thanks to God for providing our wonderful buildings (and you’ll notice restroom renovations that have just been completed);
• Our church budget—which for 2020 is $828,900 (pandemic or not, our need for consistent giving remains—so thanks for your contributions to God’s church).

Being the church of Jesus Christ means a constant ebb and flow of changing and staying the same (and, of course, we seek God in his Word for the wisdom to know when/how we must change and when/how we must not change).  It’s normal for our church body to experience growing pains; we should expect it.  Life this side of heaven is a grand spiritual pilgrimage journeying through this complicated “land” as we fix our eyes on Jesus and follow him all the way home.  And on the journey, there are many, many bends in the road—times and places when we can’t see what’s ahead:  moments when change is sure to come.  We should expect it.

In fact, we should recognize that God is using today’s crisis to grow us in our faith.  He works all things together for the good of his people (Romans 8:28), even the Coronavirus.  So it would be a mistake to say we want to go back—we just want to return to life as it was, life before all this mess.  That would be to deny God’s loving, faith-refining purposes today.  Be assured, in a deep sense it’s for our good to face our frailty and have our grip on the comforts of this world loosened by Covid-19—so we might be more ready to say, “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

I really look forward to seeing all who will be able to come when we begin our Sunday gatherings!  Join me in praying that the Lord will be praised, and we, his people, will be refreshed in spirit and built up in faith as we gather.  Let’s pray that the biblical vision of church body life in Ephesians 4:1-3 will be our Goshen experience:  our church family is charged “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”