A Journey in a Different Kind of Ship

          Recently, a colleague observed that ministry in the midst of a pandemic is kind of like trying to navigate without a map.  While you might have some idea of where you want to go, you have no idea how you’re going to get there.

          However, in a recent article for Faith + Lead, Tim Thompson observes that even a map would not help us, as the landscape is constantly changing.  Instead, he suggests that ministry right now is more like navigating an asteroid field. (Cue visuals of the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars).  In an asteroid field, the asteroids are moving, and so is your ship.  You have to adjust to the constantly changing landscape in order to reach your destination.

          The goal (or destination) is not just to survive the asteroid field, or even to land somewhere that you can hide for a while.  Rather, when it comes to the church, the goal continues to be making disciples.  Even though conditions keep changing from day to day and from week to week, we are still called to help people grow in their faith and in their discipleship, as we share the love of God with all people.

          This means finding ways to encourage and to teach daily prayer and weekly worship.  It means encouraging reading the Scriptures, and learning, and service to others.  It means encouraging and facilitating relationships that will lead to spiritual growth, and encouraging and teaching generous giving.  It means becoming part of God’s mission to love and to bless the world.

          It has never been true that all of this can be accomplished in one hour on a Sunday morning.  And, as I mentioned previously, simply coming to worship services does not make you a disciple of Jesus Christ.  While it would certainly be nice to be able to encourage some of these things in person, there are other ways to be disciples and to make disciples.

          Another pastor recently shared how his grandmother did her confirmation by correspondence.  There was no pastor nearby, and so she wrote letters back and forth to a pastor in a different community.  This is how she explored what it means to believe in Jesus and prepared to affirm her baptism.

          I have also heard stories from those who lived in Russia when Christianity had been officially banned.  They could not gather for public worship, and so they had evening prayer in their homes – sometimes even with soldiers outside listening at the windows.  It was not led by a pastor, but by a member of the household.

          During this pandemic, there have been opportunities for parents and guardians and grandparents to share a children’s story and activities at home each week.  There have also been opportunities for people to worship online at whatever time they are able to do so.  Many of you have had to work harder than usual to nurture relationships that can help you to grow spiritually, but you have found ways to do so.

          Some have used the mail more often – sending notes, or newsletters, or sermons, or offerings.  And some have learned how to use electronic means in order to keep in touch.  Whatever means we use, our purpose is still to share the love of God with all people.

          May the Holy Spirit continue to be at work in us, and among us, and through us, sharing God’s love while dodging asteroids.

          In Christ,

          Pastor Lynne Hutchison