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What do the people around us, say about us? ”Oh, that Wakemans Grove bunch; so humble and so gentle, so patient, so caring,” said pastor Jim Hardenbrook in his sermon on Sunday, when he brought us God’s Word from Ephesians 4:1-16. I appreciated how he encouraged us in our daily life as faithful followers of Jesus Christ, especially as we live in our current divisive culture. When the apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church at Ephesus, he encouraged them to “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” When we live like that, people will take notice!

When pastor Jim mentioned the story in Acts 18:24-26 of how Priscilla & Aquila invited Apollos to their home and gently and humbly “explained to him the way of God more adequately,” I began to think about how we incorporate that attitude and action into our lives.

The pandemic changed how we “do church.” The move, for most churches, to online services has allowed for continued virtual presence which provides numerous opportunities for those who cannot attend church for one reason or another. But this also created challenges for, and loss of, in-person attendance. For three years, I have been involved in conversations with church leaders and congregants that revolve around the desire for everyone to return to in-person worship.

And what really drives that desire? We can listen to sermons online 24/7, if we want. Coming back to in-person attendance isn’t about listening to the preacher (much as I’d like to think)! The desire for return is about fellowship; for corporate worship and prayer, for presence, for oneness, Ephesians 4:4-6. Together “we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” 4:15-16.

Speak gently and humbly to each other; begin your invitation to return to church with the words, “We miss you. You are a vital part of the body and we want to grow in the knowledge of Jesus, together.”

“Oh, that Wakemans Grove bunch; so humble and so gentle; so patient, so caring.”

For Sunday August 28, please read Ephesians chapter 3, and 4:17-5:20.

I’m praying for you.

Pastor Deb