Meditation and worship update
Today’s meditation was written by Wayne Brent (Texas, USA). It appeared in The Upper Room online on February 2, 2021.
Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. – Genesis 1:3-4 (NRSV)
While walking to an evening worship service, I saw the soft, warm light from the sanctuary’s stained glass windows glowing in the night. The windows provided a welcome but limited illumination to my surroundings. It occurred to me that this outward-bound light pales in comparison to what we experience during daytime services, when the sunlight pours through the windows and fills the church with brilliant color and warmth. Sunlight is a symbol of the light that God gives to us — how vital and powerful both are for our lives. Just as the brightness of daylight far outshines the light that comes from the church windows at night, God’s light is infinitely more powerful than what we humans can produce. Yet this humbling comparison can encourage us to continue with our outreach efforts so that God’s light can shine through us, illuminating the loving message of God for all people everywhere.Today’s Prayer
Dear God, help us to recognize our limitations, even as we seek to share the gospel with others. As Jesus taught us, we pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:9-13, NIV). Amen.
https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals/en-2021-02-02
Update on in-person worship:
The Conference recommendations for resuming were published yesterday. In addition to suggestions for indoor safety measures was this metric.
“The Cabinet recommends that churches may consider offering in-person worship when the rate of positive tests for COVID in their county has a seven-day rolling average of less than 10 percent over seven consecutive days.”
Franklin County is currently at 13.1%. We will keep checking and let you know as soon as the county rate drops below 10%,