Good morning and Good Monday! I’m glad to begin this week with you in the Pastor’s Workshop.
As a pastor you plan your message series hoping to address issues the church family is facing. The intent is to focus on matters relevant to the challenges we’re going through. The prayer is even as we “go through” whatever the day or season of life holds, we will also “grow through” these experiences as we go through them with faith in Christ.
Such is the hope for new series we’re about to launch called “Ready to Reopen”.
Reopening is not as easy as flinging wide the doors and saying, “Come on in! It’s business as usual.” After months of being shut-down, separated and stressed, a weariness and leeriness has set in. We sense that in some ways our world has profoundly changed. Like after 9-11, things will be different. There’s part of us that wonders, “Is it safe?” and “What will this new normal be like?” More than that, “What do I need to do to get ready?” That’s the question we’ll address in the series.
There’s also a caveat to beginning this series.
It’s all predicated on the Bishop giving a “green light” to reopening within the next six weeks. If so, we’ll be a position of returning and the series will be relevant. If not, we’ll save the series until we receive the go ahead.
This is my way of saying that even as we do our work today it may not be what gets preached this Sunday. Welcome to the world of a pastor! You’ve got to be flexible.
With all that said, the Scripture for our series “Ready to Return” is from Judges 6 and 7. It’s the story of Gideon. As we look into his story we’ll see lots of parallels with our own story in these days of Reopening. How does his story inform and empower us to live our story with our gracious God? This is the “journey” we’ll take together.
Assuming all goes well, our particular text for this week is Judges 6:1-10. This Scripture sets the stage for the story of Gideon. Even as this mighty man of valor leads his people forward, our hope is God will lead us.
As always on Monday we “immerse” ourselves in the Scripture. You know the process, read and re-read the text, silently and aloud. Listen to the words and phrases. What images capture your attention? What ideas “pop up” for you? What feelings do you experience? Rephrase the story in your own words. Make sure to write it all down in your notebook!
In many ways the pandemic has “impoverished” (verse 6) us. The more we get in touch with what has been threatened and lost, the more we will hear the power of the words, “I am the Lord, your God.
I look forward to working through this series with you. I pray it will be a blessing during this time of transition. I am confident as and whenever we reopen the Lord will lead us into new places of fresh and deeper faith.
In that faith I’ll see you again tomorrow in the Pastor’s Workshop.
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the gift of this Monday. As our country, community and church reopen guide us in Your ways. Help us all to be safe. But more, help us all to be committed to keeping others safe. Through our faith help us to be flexible. As we go forward strengthen us to grow in faith. As we live these days, let us walk in Your light, through Jesus Christ our Lord in whose name we pray. Amen.