My family and I are very grateful for the prayers and the kindness each of you poured out to us while we came down with COVID19. Since that Thursday night our whole family has come down with it and recovered from it. The girls bounced back right away just as our doctor had predicted they would. Bekkah and I are probably around 85% back to normal and are feeling well, though a bit tired.
While we were quarantining and recovering, we had a lot of help from members of the church. There were some things that happened at the church that people handled while we were away, and it was wonderful to hear that happen.
When I imagined what it meant to thrive together as a congregation, this is definitely one way I thought it would happen. When a congregation comes together and can worship when their pastor is unable to be with them because members have stood up and said yes to helping, that is how we thrive. It is the whole body of Christ working together that makes this place happen, and it is what will help the ministries of this congregation grow and thrive in the years to come.
It doesn’t matter how big or small the way that we help each other out amounts to, because there is no gift, no talent that is considered any less than another. Consider Paul’s conversation about the parts of the body when compared to the body of Christ. Think about the way how he talks about the spiritual gifts we all have and how each one is necessary for the others to thrive.
We are no stronger than the weakest part of the body, which is why we need to lift each other up and support one another. Which is also why I said at the beginning of this letter that it was such a joy and a blessing to see people come together to make worship happen while we were away. It was a blessing to see people help around the church during that same time. It is the corporate work of the whole body of Christ that enables us to thrive as a congregation.
I want to thank everyone who helped while we were sick and know that there is always room for more people to help and support the ministries of Bethlehem. There is also room for new ministries at Bethlehem. If you see a gap that you think needs to be filled, lets talk about. If you have a passion for something and want to help, make it happen, let’s talk about it. Now is the time to work together and lift one another up in all that we say and in all that we do.
Together we can help make Bethlehem thrive and as we look to the future, we can then look at helping to make it grow. Thank you all for all that you do I pray that we can continue to do what we do and more as we spend this year thriving with the Lord’s help.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
