Author Archives: dave
Stay-At-Home Order, Monday, March 23, 2020
Hello again Horizon Central family. The news keeps coming. Here is the latest from Governor Holcomb’s office. We now have a Stay-At-Home order. Here is a link to the FAQs.
For the church it means we will not be meeting live and in person for any group. We can figure out how to meet virtually, for example, for the Wednesday evening marriage group. For Sunday, we will stream something. We need to think through whether that will be live or recorded and then streamed.
Either way, stay in touch (not literally, but figuratively, as Jesse reminded me yesterday.)
I’ll leave you with my personal verse for today. Maybe it will encourage you. I’d remind you that Isaiah wrote it in the midst of prophecies of judgement. That context matters because as the immediate reality was mainly doom and gloom, the long distance outlook was amazing!
(Isaiah 49:13) Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people
and will have compassion on his afflicted.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Hi friends!
Saturday is here and that means tomorrow is Sunday (No kidding, right?) But it is a good time for a reminder that we are going fully online for the time being. Join us, please, online at 10 am tomorrow if you don’t have a responsibility to help make things happen – whether for the service portion, office things or Project Love when service is over.
And thanks again for stories I’ve heard of people reaching out to one another. Keep doing that. In fact, since restrictions keep getting stricter, please reach out to someone – especially someone from church in one of those high risk groups. If they have a need, then they of all people should have that need met by one of us. If you have a request or urgent need please do not hesitate to make it known.
Finally, today I’m reminded of a well-known verse from the Old Testament. It’s odd how sort of trite or overused it seems at most times. Now, however, especially when we look at it together with the verse before it, they have both meaning in them that has rarely seemed so meaningful before. Notice the “pestilence” part, which is another word for a fatal epidemic or disease.
(2 Chronicles 7:13-14) 13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
A Verse for Today
My verse for memory and meditation today has been Isaiah 40:31. The verses that come before that are a great lead up to it and make a very hopeful end to that chapter.
So please read Isaiah 40:29-31,
“29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.”
Sooner or later this whole pandemic will be over, but we should look to the Lord to renew our strength even now. There is a lot we are being told not to do, but one thing we can certainly do now is “wait for the Lord.”
Update Thursday, March 19, 2020
OK team. Here is the latest plan for Sunday. We are planning to live stream a worship service from the church office. We will have some worship music, prayer and a message from Luke 12.
This will be followed by a food giveaway from Project Love and Mavis has already outlined some changes there. People will receive food at the door one at a time rather than everyone milling around inside.
Those who are going to serve and help make things happen are really the only people who need to be here. I do hope, however, we can all find a way to take part online.
It has been super encouraging to see people serving one another and making sure people are cared for with food and whatever they need. Do keep in touch with one another, pray for one another and make sure someone else is OK. And then, if you personally have a need, please make it known.
Times like these can be real faith builders for Christ’s people. We, more than anyone, are confident that the big story ends well. And for now let’s come to Jesus and encourage others to do the same.
“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:17)
Update: Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Dear Horizon Central Family,
My daily verse for meditation today was Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
That has been a great encouragement so far today!
Looking ahead to this evening, for those who are a part of the marriage group that is supposed to meet at our house, we will just go ahead and meet. The CDC guidelines say to limit group size to 10, but we were not anticipating more than that anyway – and you know who you are if you signed up. And we have enough room in our whole kitchen, dining, living area to keep some social distancing in place.
Looking ahead to Sunday, we were planning to cancel Sunday school for our kids till, well, further notice or something. Then things got tighter as far as recommended restrictions. So yes, we are just putting things on hold.
As for the regular Sunday service, we normally live stream anyway and will continue to do so. The doors will be open, but without Sunday school, that will limit our ability to serve families with younger children. And of course anyone who is sick or at risk of getting sick, please use some wisdom in keeping with good health practices.
Finally, none of this really prevents us from digging in deeper with Jesus or taking care of one another. In fact, there is probably no better time than the present to call, text or check in on someone to make sure they are OK. This is a perfect time for the body of Christ to stay active in meeting one another’s needs.
Let’s close with 1 Peter 4:10, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
