Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever
circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know
how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of
being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can
do all things through Him who strengthens me. – Philippians 4:11-13
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
As we look ahead to 2022, it would be easy to be discouraged and dismal if we
were to focus on the current rising Covid statistics around the world. We could dwell
on the steps backward we have had to take from the forward progress we’ve made.
We could mourn the return of restrictions on our ability to travel and to gather
together. We could become resentful at the various agencies and officials who are
recommending that we return to practices and protocols that we had hoped we
could leave behind for good.
We could do those things, but that would not be the reaction that God would have
us take. It would certainly not be the reaction that the Apostle Paul would
recommend for us; And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians
3:17)
It is possible to simultaneously acknowledge the circumstances we are in and the
setbacks that we are currently facing AND be grateful and hopeful.
We can focus on the vaccines and other medications designed to lessen the
severity of symptoms. We can focus on the ongoing faithful and diligent work of our
healthcare professionals. We can focus on the ongoing work of the scientific
community as they learn more about the original virus and the various mutations as
they arise. We can focus on the growing availability of testing. We can focus on the
willingness of our community to keep one another safe as we take steps to protect
one another. We can focus ourselves on all that God has been doing and continues
to do through all of the above to love and nurture us.
Austin and Travis County have recently returned to a Covid Stage 4, and we want to
do what we can in our own church community to acknowledge this. Our current live
worship services still meet recommended guidelines for Stage 4, provided those in
attendance have been vaccinated, remain masked, and maintain social distancing. It
is probably this last recommendation that we will need to become more vigilant about
in order to keep one another safe. We have gotten a little lax in terms of reminding
one another to keep our distance from each other in the sanctuary. (We like one
another and we like to hug!)
We plan to continue to offer in-person worship, but we will be going without
fellowship gatherings after worship, and we will be reminding each other to revert to
those distances that we were so good at maintaining a year ago. As we take these
small steps “back”, may we do so mindful of the larger steps forward that have been
taken on our behalf. (Just think how thrilled we would have been 12 months ago to
gather in the sanctuary together, and to know that we had been vaccinated against
the worst of the virus and its effects.) May we not focus on what we are giving up but
on what we can still do together and what we still hope to regain in the future.
May we then not be “satisfied” with our current state, but as the Apostle Paul said,
may we be content in it.
Peace,
Pastor Layne