Don't stop "gathering" together

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Let us not give up meeting together, the writer of Hebrews tells us. Unless, of course, a massive virus breaks out and the government limits public gatherings to the size of two basketball teams.

We are in unprecedented times. Earlier today I was listening to a pastor talking about how the last time his church closed its doors on a Sunday was during the Spanish flu of 1918, when the local government asked every church to shutter its doors in order to help prevent the contagion from spreading and the death toll from rising. I suppose as long as this sort of thing only happens once every century, we can manage.

Our hope regarding the upcoming Sundays is to continue to live stream our service through Zoom and Facebook Live, so that we can at least “gather” virtually as a congregation. But certainly Sunday morning, as important as it is, is not the only way we can connect with each other, support each other, pray for each other, or offer to meet each other’s needs. As schools, restaurants, movie theaters, recreational spaces, and so many more public spaces are shutting down, use your free time to check in with your brothers and sisters: parents cooped up with school-aged kids at home; older brothers and sisters who are at greater risk, hoping to not get infected; single brothers and sisters, isolated from the world and feeling lonely; and those who are still traveling to work every day and dealing with increased stress and anxiety. Take the time to call each other and let your brothers and sisters know that they are loved and thought of, and be of any help you can be during this time.

If you have not already done so, take advantage of this time to add or update your name and info and picture to our online directory, You can access it by going to newlife-ct.org, hovering over the “Connect” drop-down menu and clicking on “Members,” or by downloading the CTRN Online Directory app on your phone or tablet. You control how much information to share (including whether or not to add a picture), and you can also print a hard copy of the directory from the website. If you need help setting it up, contact me.

We may not be able to gather together as a whole church family for the foreseeable future, but that does not mean we have to give up encouraging each other. Be intentional during this time about reaching out in love to your brothers and sisters.