Grace Gathering Update [April 4th] [Video]

Greetings Family and Friends at Grace,

On April 1,  Governor DeSantis put the entire state of Florida under a stay at home order. This directive is designed to further encourage residents of Florida to stay at home as we work to flatten the curve of COVID-19.

If you read the order or heard others talking about it, you may already know that churches are listed as essential businesses. In Port St. Lucie’s emergency planning meeting at city hall from Thursday afternoon, Mayor Oravec encouraged churches to remain virtual or “drive-in” style at this time. In the attached video, I include his message about this. 

For those who have stepped up over the past few weeks to take on extra roles to serve the Grace community through music, phone calls, and office tasks, I am so grateful. We would not have been able to “be the church” remotely without your contributions.

At this time, I have decided to discontinue the Wednesday and Sunday individual communion services so we can work to keep each other safe from this virus. With the way our space is designed and the nature of sharing in the meal, ensuring 6 feet is just not always possible. This decision is not one I took lightly, for I know the power of the Lord’s Supper and the blessings it brings. 

LCMS President Harrison wrote to the pastors this week, in light of the upcoming Holy Week, “We pastors struggle with a barrage of changes, of unanswered questions, of rough edges, of theological thoughts and concerns, of practical problems. Many face financial challenges. We struggle with moving targets, changing health regulations and mandates. We want more than anything for our dear people to receive the forgiveness and consoling power of the Word of the Gospel, the Scriptures, and the very body and blood of Jesus. We struggle trying to sort out how it is that the very coming together to receive Christ’s gifts may endanger the flock we seek to love and shepherd.” Then he went on to say, “Dearest brothers, you have Jesus; Jesus only, but that is sufficient. ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Cor. 12:9).”

You may be feeling weak right now, with our social events and spiritual community taken away, at least in-person, jobs lost, and family members far away in places with even more sickness than here. Remember, Jesus’ power makes us perfect in our weakness. I, who’s wrestled with “doing church” in a totally new and complicated way, am also feeling weak. The events of Holy Week, that we begin tomorrow with Palm Sunday, remind us of that every year, and this year it may even mean a little bit more. Let’s rest in that and be open to how the Holy Spirit can transform our hearts and minds.

After Holy Week, we will begin engaging in more community building through online virtual meetings for Bible study and fellowship. You can either call in with a traditional phone or use your computer or other device to see one another. Look for more details once we’re past Easter.

In the meantime, as we grieve the absence of the Lord’s Supper and in-person gatherings, please call and text your brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage them, check on them, and see if they have any needs. Let the church know of any needs we could provide, such as errands or financial assistance.

You know how I despise the manipulative nature that asking for money brings, but here are the ways we and the community need your continued support:

• Please send your offering through the mail or ask that your bank provide us with weekly checks. The expenses at Grace to make virtual services have increased in the last month, and your contributions to the general operations of the church are still needed and appreciated.

• If you have not received or turned in a pledge card for the new building, please prayerfully consider a conservative amount you could offer over the next three years so we can continue to plan for the building project. Anyone can re-submit their pledges at any time over the next three years, especially given the unsteadiness of these times.

• When the stimulus checks arrive, some of you may be in a position of plenty. If you are able to contribute that amount, or a portion of it, back into the community, we ask for your donation so we can make sure others in our congregation and community who have lost their jobs have the opportunity to stay afloat. You can send those amounts to the church, marked “stimulus,” separate from your general offering. If you are one in need of financial support, please let us know so we can plan for financial assistance to those in our church and community who have needs.

• Many in the community are relying on food banks to help them get by financially. If you are led to contribute, please be advised that there are some scams going on right now that pose as food bank donations. I recommend donating to one you know has been in operation prior to these times, for example Treasure Coast Food Bank, where members of the church visited last year. 

Tomorrow we begin Holy Week. We walk behind Jesus as he rides a humble donkey into Jerusalem. We listen as he eats with and serves his disciples one last time. We watch as he’s betrayed and stands before the court. We sit at the foot of the cross, knowing Peter isn’t far off denying him, as Jesus suffers and dies for all of us.

But remember this also: Sunday is coming. As cheesy as it sounds, our church may be empty right now, but we know that our Redeemer lives because the tomb is empty too!

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