When Grace Meets You In Your Car

It's been a long, strange trip so far, this pandemic has. 

So far we have worshiped online for 24 Sundays. I don't know how you're feeling, but I'm feeling like it's been a thousand years since we've seen each other. I think I can safely speak for Pastor Nate here in saying that both of us MISS YOU. We miss worshiping together, we miss seeing you on Sunday, we miss singing together, and we miss physically being together. 


That being said, my oh my was it GOOD to see you on Sunday at Drive-Thru Communion! 

Was it our ideal way to receive communion? No. But nonetheless we trust that the Holy Spirit was at work in the way she blew through here to feed God's people this sacred gift of grace. Your smiles, the joy that came with getting to just see one another in person...it was powerful. I think for me, it proved that God can indeed work in unexpected ways even if it's not the way we've always done it as the church over the last 2000 years. 

Even as a dispersed community, were were still able to welcome some young ones to the table for the first time! With the sudden change in plans in late March, they were not able to gather together to celebrate their first communion in the traditional way. Even in these strange times however, families were still able to recognize this special milestone. 

How did they celebrate?

One of our students came in his grandpa's mustang; another got dressed in a shirt and tie to ride to church followed by a special time with family at home; and another watched worship in the afternoon with his family and they took communion during their worship time. You can see a short video that features some of our first communion students below. What a joy it was to be able to share in this feast of God's love with our new dinner table guests!

I'll be honest with you, my dear siblings. There have been many times during this pandemic where I have struggled to find God's presence. But....no part of me questioned that this past Sunday. It was obvious. It was beyond clear that God was in your cars as you pulled up, as you drove away, and as I pictured you all sharing in the meal together in your homes. I hope you, along with the 175 others who received communion on Sunday, were all able to sense that presence as well. 

I often say that food is one of God's love languages. This past Sunday, God gave us a taste of that love in the form of a wafer and a little plastic cup of juice that was shared in our homes. God is certainly good! All the time!

Peace be the journey,
Pastor Dara