Hello, dear family members! Blessings to you, in the name of Jesus our Savior!
We're enjoying warm breezes, budding trees, blooming flowers, even the dandelions which are beautiful in their own way. God continues to unwrap His fabulous gifts of Spring among us! With almost all change, there comes a hope for a better situation, a renewal of familiar blessings, for something new. In our worship services and sermons of this Easter season, we have been looking forward to Jesus' Ascension, His return to His throne of glory in heaven. For His disciples especially, this is change. Jesus is leaving them physically, but He promised to never leave them, to be in them and with them, forever. In His leaving, in this great change, Jesus created something new.
Today and this coming Sunday, we again celebrate Jesus' Ascension. We remember the events of those days, and the new creations of Jesus. New converts to Christianity, new faith in those who had been lost, a new earthly church which grew and boldly proclaimed the Gospel to everyone around them. We celebrate and give thanks for these same new creations today! Jesus is in us and with us and is creating new things in us, and in His church. You and I, we are a new creation, through God's gifts of forgiveness and faith! Thanks be to God for His new creations!
In this time of pandemic isolation, we have some "new" things to consider today at Open Arms. First, our Daycare center will be re-opening on Tuesday May 26th. Give thanks to God for this opportunity, and for the faithful and trusting work of our Staff and teachers. Pray for them often, every day would be really cool. Pray for our parents and their children, that these coming days of new routines, new relationships, new physical interactions will be safe and healthy and uplifting.
Second, we are studying, discussing and planning the best way and time to re-start public worship services at Open Arms. We are committed to a couple of things in this process. First, we will continue providing online worship resources for all who choose not to or are unable to attend in public. We will continue to provide these resources for some time even after we start meeting together. Second, everyone who comes together to worship must feel safe and comfortable in doing so. Almost every part of the worship service we're "used to" will change in some way so that we can be safe and respectful to each other. Once we make a plan, we will share this plan with each of you before we begin. Stay tuned, we will keep you informed as we make progress.
In the meantime, we pray you will remain steadfast in your good habits of Bible reading and prayer, giving thanks to the Lord for all His goodness and care. For those of you travelling this coming weekend, we join together in prayer for your safety and blessed recreation and relaxation! Don't forget, you can worship with us on Sunday almost anywhere you may be!
In Christ's service,
Vicar Mark
mobile: 248.881.7627
"Oh, save Your people and bless Your heritage! Be their Shepherd and carry them forever.” Psalm 28:9
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