A year ago, I began this Easter letter by saying…
“This is an unusual time.
I read today that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is closed for the first time since the Black Plague in 1349.”
And I then proceeded to hope that we would return to worship withing a few short weeks, or months, and celebrate a postponed Palm Sunday and Easter celebration together.”
Clearly, that is not the way that things turned out.
Nevertheless, we have held together, encouraged one another, found new ways to worship, new ways to be “together,” endured, and overcome, many challenges along the way.
Today we can better see the light at the end of the tunnel. Three different vaccines (so far) are available in the United States, and many of us have begun, or have already completed, the process of vaccination. Things are, finally, beginning to “open up” and return to the normal that we once knew, and yet… many things have been changed forever. We continue to watch the signs, and to discuss, and evaluate, ways in which we can meet safely without endangering the most fragile among us. And we continue to hope that we can return to “in-person” worship… “soon,” and we hope that we will not be proven wrong as we were a year ago.
Nevertheless, we press on toward the prize for which Christ has called us and we continue to do as much as we are able to do. We will celebrate Palm Sunday, together, in our church parking lot and online on YouTube for those who aren’t able to be here, or who don’t yet feel safe in trying. And, because we can’t find a safe way to make Easter feel “normal” and include music and banners, and other things, we will celebrate Easter online as we did last year, and hope, again, that next year will be different.
I leave you with the same words that I used last year, simply because they still ring true.
In the meantime, I hope that you will take the time to use this time, before, during, or after the calendar Easter, to prepare your hearts and draw closer to God.
And, until we meet in worship again, please take the time to check on one another, take care of one another, and please call the church office if you need errands run, or if we can help to meet any other needs that you might have.
Take heart. Have hope. We will get through this… together.
Blessings,
Pastor John
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Pastor Partridge 