Pastoral Care Letter (April 3)

Dear friends of the Good Shepherd,

Grace and Peace to you in the name of Jesus.

We’re taught that “the church is not the steeple, but all the people”! The church is a divine connection created by the Holy Spirit when believers gather around the means of grace, including the Word of God. Boy, our belief and reliance on this principle is truly tested these days, when we miss being at our beautiful facility.

In our virtual services, our production team has done our best to bring you footage of the sanctuary, its nooks and crannies. In the near future, you will see footage of the narthex (church entry), the library (many members’ favorite room in the facility), etc. Why? Because we know you miss the place. Maybe you value the place much more than you realized.

However, the “place” or aesthetic qualities thereof are not the central points of the church; rather they are reminders of the majesty of God’s creation, his love for you displayed in the incarnation, and of our relationships stoked and built in the times together in the facility.

Because of those times together in the facility, I was considering the idea of at least meeting in the parking lot for a “drive-in movie”-style Easter worship, whereby you would hear the services over an FM channel. But then, challenging logistics and realities emerged: By the time Easter is here, increasingly fewer among us will venture out as the virus heads toward its purported peak. In addition, more research now reveals that the virus is airborne, causing us to roll up our windows tightly. So we would gather together while not touching each other, keep our “social distance,” and now we would roll up our windows and practice not talking to each other? I suppose printing bulletins at home is no biggie, but what about music? And what if the weather doesn’t cooperate? Do we have a plan B on Easter morning? Furthermore, since our parking lot is long and narrow, including the lower lot, the visibility to the “stage” or “altar” area would be low or non-existent for many. Plus, now that so many of those outside of the area are joining us virtually, do we leave them out on Easter? Or do we conduct both virtual and parking lot services on Easter? That’s asking a whole lot of staff and the production team during these covid-19 times, when we are to limit our time outside of the home. We certainly want to be concerned about the worship/production team’s safety as well.

Yes, we want to be together in person and we’ll take a glimpse of each other as we can, but we remember that the early church did not rely on the building or facility or on the life-long person-to-person contact with the people. In fact, they didn’t really have any structures like the facilities we call “church” today. Once they moved from Jerusalem to Antioch, or Antioch to Ephesus, many “friends” would never see each other again in person. They were confident about and grateful for the fellowship they have through the Holy Spirit, content with meeting each other in person, if not on earth, then in heaven. At least we are given the gift of technology so that we can call on the phone, or facetime each other so easily.

Friends, the people, servants, and leaders of the church are here to visit with you and be with you, virtually, until this period in our lives is over. Elders Bob Neil, Chris Miller, and Dick Orth, plus Congregational Care Ministry Leader Marilyn Voigt and her team have been providing care for you. If you are lonely, anxious, would like to pray with someone, or have any hurts or needs you’d like to unburden and share, physical, emotional, or spiritual, we are here for you. In addition, the launching of our “coronavirus relief fund,” for those members who have been especially devastated financially by these times, is imminent. I myself am in contact by phone or by videoconference with those who desire a pastoral visit. So, if any of you would like to schedule a virtual pastoral visit with me, please let us know.

Protection, Power, & Peace+ to you and your loved ones.

Pastor Johann