It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve written a newsletter. Sorry to disappear but I desperately needed some time off. Since the pandemic began I’ve been working (and thinking) at an unhealthy pace just wanting to pastor well through all this. As usual, this lifestyle of excessive mental work and no rest caught up to me and caused me to crash a bit. Some of you have been worried about me. Thanks for worrying! I’m taking it slower and feeling much better. Each day my strength seems to be increasing. But please continue to pray for me.
The Governor has announced churches can reopen soon—which is exciting—but we aren’t exactly sure what that means yet. Guidelines should be coming out soon. The Ren Council will be meeting this weekend to talk through details of what resumed physical gatherings might look like. I’m still feeling very cautious and am struggling to imagine how we could gather 200-300 as we were on Sundays at our building, especially with so many kids and also guests. Realistically, we may start with some smaller gatherings in outdoor settings and work our way from there. I’m just not sure at this point but we should have more details soon.
One thing I can assure you of is that we will continue online services for a while. The reason for this is that even if we did resume physical services on Sundays I’m certain that a portion of the Ren community will not be ready to gather because 1) they are older and higher risk, 2) they have health conditions that put them at higher risk, 3) they have several children that would be almost impossible to keep socially distanced from others, 4) they just simply aren’t ready. I am committed to serving those who aren’t ready to jump back in—for whatever the reason—and plan on doing online services until everyone feels free to gather.
I’ve picked up in the larger conversation on social media amongst Christians that there are very different opinions regarding when and how to reopen. I’m really praying for the Ren community that we can honor one another and not suffer divisions. This isn’t a time to be rigid in our views and to judge each other. This is a time for the church to model love, consideration and honor. I’m sure that we will have different ways of thinking, and we will have strong feelings, but let’s make every effort to respect one another.
Wow, Ren Church, finances have been really good! I’m just thankful for the maturity of people at Ren that despite not going to a church building weekly you still are faithful in giving. It has allowed us to pay our bills, to continue paying all staff, to bless people in the community with assistance and to give to missions. I have some additional giving ideas for this summer to bless our neighboring organizations who have taken a hit. Details to come on that. But thank you church!
Our present small group cycle is coming to a close at the end of May, and in June we will begin “summer book clubs”. There will be about 10 different groups (give or take) and each group will focus on a different classic Christian book. Those in the group will be encouraged to purchase their own copy of the book to read on their own, but each week in the groups one chapter will be read aloud by the leader so there won't be any "homework". And then the group will discuss the content and pray together. A complete listing of groups is coming very soon so keep your eye out. Some of the books considered are the following:
Screwtape Letters (CS Lewis)
Orthodoxy (Chesterton)
Pursuit of God (Tozer)
Desiring God (Piper)
Mere Christianity (CS Lewis)
What’s Amazing About Grace? (Yancey)
Celebration of Discipline (Foster)
Life Together (Bonhoeffer)
Walking on Water (L’Engle)
Letters to the Church (Chan)
I’m asking everyone who considers Ren Church to be their church to pick at least one summer group to be part of.
I see small groups as the very life of the church right now.
I hope you are tuning in on Sundays to the online services to hear a sermon and worship together. These productions are a lot of work and have their place in building us up. But watching the service on a tv for an hour once a week is absolutely not enough and is not what Jesus has in mind when he designed the idea of the church. It’s in the context of smaller groups that we can really do life together. It’s in the smaller groups that discipleship happens. We share burdens and carry each other’s burdens. We express struggles and pray for one another specifically. All the “one anothers” can be lived out in smaller groups. So please pick at least one summer book club (small group).
The summer book clubs will begin via Zoom as all of our groups have been doing but the hope is that they could evolve into some physical gatherings maybe in parks or backyards. Again, we are taking it slow, one step at a time, but that’s the hope. The groups might gather weekly through Zoom but then try a bonus gathering on occasion in a park. I’m saying this as another reason to participate. Our first physical gatherings may happen through the summer groups!
Lastly, If you or someone close to you is sick or is suffering financially or in some other way, please let me know. The Ren elders and leaders have been praying earnestly for the community and it's helpful to be able to pray specifically. I also want to say that I deeply appreciate the notes and cards and emails and texts many of you have sent to share how you are doing and to encourage me. Keep them coming! I am confident that we are not merely “getting through this” as a church but we are growing powerfully. God is at work shaping us and using our lives to display his love in creative ways. We are still the Church and the gates of hell, a pandemic, the devil himself … cannot stop us from shining brightly in a dark world!
Love you all!
Pastor Scott