Out of the Boat – Aug 2nd and 9th

This Sunday and next Sunday

NO ZOOM CHURCH; WHAT WILL YOU DO?

I KNOW, that question (all in caps) may seem hyperbolic. Having a Sunday (or two) “off,” for just about everybody else, may not seem like that big of a deal. For pastors (and their families), it feels quite different. NONE-THE-LESS, I encourage you, along with Council, to take advantage of our schedule variation as we suspend ZOOM Church, to explore a few options.

• OUTDOOR TOGETHER: host a safe, outdoor, physically distant, in person prayer and fellowship gathering. Invite one or two people, or one other family, to an outdoor space. Share the Lord’s Prayer, or follow the WOW, SORRY, HELP, THANKS liturgy.
• MINI ZOOM CHURCH: do the same as above, but with one or two other parties, as you host your own ZOOM meeting.
• WATCH A YOUTUBE/REFLECT/COMMENT: watch a previous message you may have missed, reflect on it, and save some comments/questions. I’d love to hear them!
• YOUR IDEA: there are so many ways you could go UP, IN, or OUT! 

The last time we met in person in Maple Leaf, was Sunday, March 1st. We launched ZOOM Church, Sunday March 29th, and have been cultivating that new SACRED SPACE every Sunday since. We have acknowledged, all along, the Holy Spirit calling us to cultivate new forms of fellowship, spiritual discipline, and service, BEYOND SUNDAY. Will these next two Sundays, without ZOOM Church, cause feelings of disorientation? Will they be a reminder of how much has changed? It has inspired me to think about this following exchange, between Jesus and disciples, especially Peter (I included this in our Pray-a-Day emails this week):

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
– Matthew 14:27-30

Peter had lessons to learn, but getting out of that boat was an important step. He did eventually walk across extremely disorienting terrain as he followed Jesus into servant-leadership of the early Church. The Lord was there for him.

WHILE STAYING HOME, OR MOVING ABOUT WITH RESTRICTIONS, WE ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY CALLED TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT, too. Breaking barriers between us and God, or between us and our family members, in the context of sharing SACRED SPACE, may be intimidating, awkward, confusing, or even frightening. But we must move from watching (what usually happens when people “go to church”), to truly learning BY doing. Choosing scripture; speaking prayers; sharing transparently, our lessons – and questions – about being followers of Christ, are all things we can do. Jesus says, “Take courage!” “Come!”

I hope to hear stories about Emmaus Road members getting out of boats in a few weeks. I need to get out of the boat, too.

YOUNG CHURCH

Godly Play, Big Kids, and Bigger Kids are all suspended until Sunday, August 16th.

BEYOND SUNDAY

• Four separate Small Groups meet via ZOOM on a regular basis; email office@emmausroad.net for info.
• New Horizons Dinner – served every first Wednesday; email office@emmausroad.net for info.
• Road Crew Happy Hour – Suspended until August 19th
• Aurora Commons – Wonder what their wishlist is? See it here; view the most recent update here.