Messiah family and friends,
Well, the Easter holiday has passed and, the weather is warming up and there is an expectation in the air. As with the changing of seasons, there is excitement as we start to plan regathering as a church. It feels so good to see the light at the end of this Covid journey. For me, the excitement of regathering is real. I look forward with excitement and joyous expectation as I think of us worshipping together in our sanctuary. In our sanctuary…yes, I just repeated myself.
I think that we often see a day with which we look forward to with anticipation and excitement. I want to tell a story. Going back to my youth and growing up in rural Minnesota, I remember looking forward to my 16th birthday, I remember thinking, I can’t wait to be 16, I would think “I wish today was my birthday”. Back in those days, 16 was the magic age to take your driver’s test and get your license. I think I must have focused on that day for about 6 months. Every day, I looked forward to my birthday, which I knew was coming, but it sure was slow coming!
Having a driver’s license opened up the doors to freedom, I wouldn’t need to ask for a ride here or there. I would have the freedom to go where I wanted when I wanted, there would be no holding me back. I could go to the lake, fishing, cruising, in short, I could make my own set of rules. My 16th birthday came, I took my driver’s test, passed and now I possessed the magical key to freedom.
I remember getting home and asking Dad for the keys to the family car. Nope, was the quick and final answer. He was clear that I could use the family car when it was available, I soon learned it would not be available much. A few other rules I had not expected came into play, you must pay for your piece of the insurance, you must return the car with at least as much gas as when you started, on and on the rules were laid out. I quickly asked. What if I purchase my own car? Sure, he said but the rules still did not change much, insurance, gas, need to check in with him on where I would be going. Suddenly all this wonderful freedom I had imagined was going away. I quickly learned that when doors are opened, that new joyful experience often comes with added responsibilities.
I wanted to tell this story, we here at Messiah are starting to move forward to the wonderful day ahead where we can regather for worship as a community. We are excited at the idea, at the hope of seeing each other for worship, small groups, and service teams. We are moving forward with plans for regathering, there is a lot to be figured out at this point. I think we all know that when we do, there will be new rules and guidelines which we will be required to follow for our safety and yours. We will be taking small steps and there will be much to learn, and we may not always get it right the first time. I ask that you be patient with us as we start to develop our plans for regathering. We will get there, and things won’t be the same as before, I must be upfront with you, life as we have known it will change, there will be a new normal. There will also be a renewed sense of community as we will be seeing each other face to face and not screen to screen. I look forward to the time when we can regather and worship in our sanctuary, what a glorious day that will be.
Faithfully
Charlie Radabaugh
Messiah Council President
