June 22, 2021

I am so glad that things seem to be getting back to “normal.” We now have acolytes, and servers, and bread and wine for communion. We are singing out loud in full voice without masks. I even shook a person’s hand last week. I meant to fist bump but the handshake just happened.

We’re not completely out of the woods yet, but I am so thankful for the “new normal” that is setting in.

But I wonder how the pandemic has changed us, and what will emerge out of this “new normal.”

At Prince of Peace, we have greatly increased our digital presence. All of our worship services are now available online and live-streamed every Sunday at 11:00 am. We have a new logo and a new website.

At last month’s Council meeting, we contracted with Emily Nevergall to be our new Social Media Coordinator. Emily will be pushing out our program and our virtual footprint on platforms like Facebook, and Twitter, and Instagram. Be ready in July for lots of new information and connecting points for our ministry.

But while all this new stuff is happening, I also hope we have learned some things from this pandemic. We were reminded by the ravages of the virus that life is fragile and fleeting. We were asked by both political leaders and medical officials to learn to live as a community and think about others (something the Christian church has been teaching for millennia!). We also had lots of time to reflect on where we are headed both as a church and as a nation.

Now . . . everything has not been sorted out yet. And that’s ok. But what I’m finding is that there is a brand new appreciation for many of the things that we took for granted – weekly worship, in-person meetings, passing a collection plate!

I hope that as we arise out of this pandemic, we will continue to remember what truly matters in this life – relationships and community. We were without it for too long. Now it’s time to get back at it.

In Christ,

Pastor John D. Morris, Senior Pastor