The Weekly Epistle 12/16/20

You know the saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.”  If you know me at all, you know that I am a planner.  For example, I like to plan out my sermon series in advance.  I was looking forward to this year’s Christmas series, “What’s the Big Deal with Christmas: God is with us, God is for us, and God is in us.”  The first sermon in the series was set for this past Sunday.  Then I got sick!  
 
Mark, who is also a planner, jumped in willingly to preach on very short notice.  It was a wonderful message.  As far as my preaching the first sermon in the series, the plan was to deliver that this coming Sunday.  Then my test came back positive and I am out of commission until Monday.  So much for my plans.  Stay tune on what the implications are for this Sunday’s services.  My staying away this past Sunday protected the church from exposure to my symptoms.  
 
We are still planning on a Christmas Eve service by remote for Thursday, December 24 at 6:00 pm.  A link will be provided in next week’s epistle and on Facebook.  
 
Also, as of 12/27, we will be going to one service.  Our one service will be at 10:45 and livestream will be offered at 10:45. We are doing this on a temporary basis, due to the ever-changing Covid landscape and its impact on our in-person numbers right now.  Mark down the change for 12/27.  
 
While Covid has messed with our plans on so many levels, there is One who is not rattled one bit by all that has taken place.  God’s plans stand firm.  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).  Those plans that God has for us are not interrupted by any pandemic, or human choices, or even if someone’s intention was for evil.  God has a future for us.  
 
It may be challenging to see light at the end of the tunnel.  But our hope is not in what is seen, but in the unseen.  God is working out His plans to conform us to the image of His Son and to build His church.  God has a plan!  And the beautiful thing is, we are part of it. 
 
When God promised that his people would be prosperous in Jeremiah’s day, it wasn’t a promise that they wouldn’t experience suffering or that it would end even in a short period of time.  He is promising that in the middle of their suffering God would enable them to endure it.  The promise is that suffering is not the last word.  It never is.  God’s people will prevail in the end.  That was true in Jeremiah’s day and that is true for us today.  
 
Light is coming!  In this fallen world, God guarantees that suffering will eventually come to an end. And he promises to get you to that end.  Can you trust Him with it?  
 
Keep looking up, church!
 
Pastor Brian