A Personal/Pandemic Letter to My Church on Saturday Evening

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[I took the above picture on Cape Cod a few weeks ago, and it’s a good reminder to me tonight that this pandemic won’t last forever.]

 
 

It’s Saturday evening, and I am feeling a nervous excitement and anticipation about church tomorrow.

I had a funeral earlier today for a woman in our church whom I used to see every Sunday—if you looked at her, it would seem as if she thought that getting to assemble with the people of God on the first day of the week to sing and pray and learn and listen was the greatest privilege of her life.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this time of pandemic is that Jan was right—the coming together of the Church on Sunday is the greatest gift and responsibility that the Lord has given us.

Now, I had assumed (and you know what they say about assumptions….) that the pandemic would be behind us when I returned from summer break, but even these past few days have shown me just how wrong that assumption was.

We met outside for worship, rain or shine, from October 2020 into June 2021, and so I’ve had a few folks ask me if we are going to move outside tomorrow.

As I mentioned, I only got back in the office a couple of days ago and had a funeral this morning on which I have been focused these past few days, so I personally have not been able to meet with our staff and leadership and consider if we need to change our Sunday plan going forward.

Consequently, for tomorrow (Sunday, 8/15) we will continue to follow the Sunday plan our staff and leadership had already developed; that is, this Sunday will be exactly the same as last Sunday—we will NOT be moving outside.  (During the middle hour, our elementary Sunday school program will be held outside, however.)

In the week to come we will evaluate what happens tomorrow, and if I and our leaders think we need to adopt a different Sunday plan going forward, we will make that determination and I will let you know of any changes as soon as possible.

In the meantime, I understand there are some people in our congregation who may not feel comfortable gathering with other Mungarians inside our sanctuary on Sundays.  It might be helpful to know that we post each Sunday’s worship service on our website by 7 PM on that Sunday.  In addition, our Thursday evening service draws a much smaller number of people than do our Sunday services, and perhaps an almost-empty sanctuary might be a good option for folks who are desperate to come to church but who are uncomfortable being in our crowded sanctuary on Sunday mornings.

Finally—and I’ll have more to say about this tomorrow—it seems clear to me that this pandemic is being used by dark forces to divide us.  We are of course aware that other people feel very strongly and quite differently than we do about this pandemic protocol or that pandemic protocol.  You will certainly never hear me say that all beliefs or ideas or policies are equal—some beliefs or ideas or policies may be true and good and some may be false and bad.  But, whether or not someone has adopted the correct views or not has absolutely nothing to do with how we are to think of that person; the command of Jesus to his Church is quite clear: we are to love even the people who are wrong.

Let it not be true at Munger that we let this pandemic cause us to hate other Mungarians.  Let us make the decisions we need to make for our families, let us argue and listen and learn, let us show curiosity and empathy, but let us not give ourselves over to contempt and hatred for the people we believe are wrong.

So, here is what I’m asking you tonight:

  • That you would specifically pray for me, as I seek to faithfully lead our church through this pandemic;

  • That you would specifically pray by name for someone in our church whom you believe to be wrong about the pandemic, and ask that the Lord would give you love for that person;

  • And that you’d pray that the Lord would fill our church services with a fiery joy when we gather together.

 

In Christ,

Andrew Forrest

Making Peace with the Pandemic

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What have you had to let go of this year because of the pandemic?

 
 

I can’t put into words what the picture above means to me.

It is from Munger’s Christmas Commitment Sunday 2019.

On Christmas Commitment Sunday every year, we ask households to come forward, kneel, pray, and say:

“Lord, thank you for how you have provided for us in the year that’s past”

and

“Lord, please bless the work of our hands in the year to come.”

 
 

IF THERE IS A MORE MOVING SIGHT IN MINISTRY THAN SEEING WHOLE FAMILIES ON THEIR KNEES IN GRATITUDE BEFORE GOD, I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

 
 

Looking at that photo again—all those families crowded into our church—makes me want to cry:

Because it can’t happen like that this year.

 
 

Here are some more pics that make me realize how much we’re missing out on this year. Do you see the mariachis by the red tent? Mariachis make me happy. Also, can you see the one with me praying with my family? Man how I love being able to do that every year—it’s such a powerful moment for us: “Lord, thank you thank you thank you.”

 
 
 

None of the above will happen like that this year, which I think is a major spiritual setback for our community, gripped as it is so tightly by consumerism and entitlement.

But there’s nothing we can do, is there?

 
 

Making Peace with the Pandemic

It seems almost obscene to modern wealthy Americans to state the obvious:

Sooner or later in life, you come up against something you cannot ultimately change or control.

In every individual life this is true, but this pandemic is the first such experience in generations that is true for all of us at the same time.

 
 

So, things are different this year and there’s nothing I can do about it.

And so I’m going to make peace with the pandemic.

Things are different this Christmas than I want them to be, but that doesn’t mean that we should stop doing what we believe matters. It just has to look different.

And I’m okay with that. Really.

 
 

Munger Christmas Season 2020

So, here is how things will look at Munger this Christmas.

 

Church is outdoors every Sunday, 9 and 11, rain or shine. (In inclement weather, services will be 30 minutes.) Worried about the weather? As it says in 2 Hezekiah, “just suck it up.”

 

Christmas Eve is outdoors, rain or shine!

  • 3:30 (kids);

  • 4:30, 5:30, & 11:30 PM—all 30 minute candlelight services.

  • We will be offering indoor Christmas Travelers services at 6 PM on 12/21 and 12/22 so we can record a full service to put online. Reservations required—info to come.

 
 

Christmas Commitment Sunday 2020 (12/13)

The spiritual reality behind Christmas Commitment Sunday—namely that gratitude is the only appropriate response to all our blessings—is too important to forgo this year, though things have to look different.

So, as in years past, I want to challenge our church to thank God for his provision in 2020 and ask for his blessing in 2021—to Finish Strong and Start Well.

But this year, things will look different. There will not be regular services on Sunday, 12/13.

Instead, I will lead several brief communion services in the parking lot and the sanctuary will be open from 7:30 AM-12:30 PM for folks to pray inside and drop off their gifts.

Here’s our new plan for Sunday, December 13:
• Sanctuary open 7:30 AM-12:30 PM.

• Only one household permitted in the building at a time.

• 15 minute communion services in parking lot at 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 noon.

We want to give folks the opportunity to pray in the sanctuary as they make their Christmas Commitment. That time kneeling at the rail is important for many of us. If you choose to do so, you will enter through the main front doors and have the whole building to yourself for a few minutes, before leaving through the coffee bar doors. There will be no one else in the entire building while your household is inside.

Of course, if you want to drop off a gift outside, you can certainly do that as well.

(As always, you can make your Christmas gift and set up your giving at www.mungerplace.org/give.)

And, I’m pre-recording a full sermon that will be online that morning as well, so be sure to catch it with your family.

 
 

So, I’ve made my peace with the pandemic. I’m okay with things being different.

This year, a lot about the Christmas season will be different, but Christmas itself isn’t cancelled.

The light still shines in darkness.

And I’m more than okay with that.

What about you?

Munger Is Opening! (ish)

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Great news—we’re going to re-open church! (ish)

 
 

Outdoor Services at Munger: 9 AM & 11 AM

Starting Sunday, 10/4, we’re moving to a new Sunday schedule at Munger: outdoor services in our parking lot at 9:00 and 11:00 AM.

This schedule will continue through October and perhaps through November as well.

(The Sunday 7:30 AM outdoor communion service that we started in July is superseded by these later services and is discontinued. I will miss it, though—I really enjoyed being there in the early mornings with the faithful few.)

 
 

Service Details

  • We’ll be in the main Munger parking lot under the blue sky.

  • Bring your own camp chair or blanket.

  • Services will be 60 minutes long. I’ll be preaching every week.

  • Bathrooms will be open if you need them, but otherwise everything will take place outside.

  • Dress casually.

  • By now, you know the Covid rules, and they apply at church, too: keep at least 6 ft apart from others at all times and wear a mask when you cannot maintain that amount of distance. We’ll have masks available for anyone who needs one.

  • The nice thing about being outside is that you can position yourself as far away from others as you need—take advantage of the space. 6ft apart is the minimum, right?

  • Please respect the space of others and don’t be that guy or gal who puts a chair down right next to another family!

 
 

What About Kids?

We are offering an Outdoor Children’s Area for ages 1-pre K at the 9 AM service only. You must register to reserve a spot; spots are limited. For more info and to REGISTER, click here.

Infants as well as elementary kids get to be in the service with the rest of us!

We’re starting small this week and will add more kids/childcare options in the weeks to come.

 
 

What About Online?

We will post an entire service online at 9:30 AM Sunday as usual; the sermon is also available from 6 AM Sunday on via the Munger website and via podcast.

Please do NOT feel pressure to attend an outdoor service if it not wise for your household to do so for whatever reason; take advantage of the online service instead.

 
 

When Will We Move Indoors?

We will continue outdoor services through October, and very likely through November. So, one possibility is to move indoors the first Sunday of Advent (11/29). But, as with everything else in 2020, who knows?

 
 

What About Coffee?

At this point, it’s BYOC and BYOD (doughnuts).

Actually, it’s pretty much BYOeverything.

 
 

Should I Attend If I’m Sick or Think I Could Be Sick?

If you don’t know the answer to that one by now, I have some magic beans to sell you for a great price.

Here's What We're Doing at Munger About the Coronavirus

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At all times, we want our folks to feel as safe as possible when coming to church; in times of crisis and with fear whispering in our ears, it’s more important than ever that the Church comes together on Sundays.

No one knows the future, and no one knows exactly how the Coronavirus will affect our city.

That being said, there are some prudent steps we can take to be prepared, starting this weekend.

Here’s What We’re Doing at Munger About the Coronavirus:

  • All doors will be propped open, so no one will have to pull on a doorhandle.

  • Instead of passing the offering plate, we’ll have big offering baskets near the exits into which folks can drop their offering. (Giving online is always an option!)

  • We will NOT be serving doughnuts at our morning services.*

  • We will not pass the peace or shake hands. Elbow bumps it is!

  • We will clean and disinfect all surfaces after each service.

*Don’t worry, in place of doughnuts we’re going to have individually-wrapped treats of some sort for those of you who can’t sit through church without a treat! And, because our local doughnut shop depends on our church’s business, though we will not be actually asking them to make our usual order, we will keep paying for it for the time being.

 

Here’s What You Can Do To Help

  • If you’re sick, stay home!

  • If your children are sick, please keep them at home.

  • Bring your own hand sanitizer. (We have supplies for a couple of months, but our suppliers are unable to restock at this point, so if you bring your own sanitizer, it will help our supplies last.)

  • If you’re not sick, come to church!

 

No one knows the future, and we are all in the hands of God. But that’s always true, isn’t it?

We have an opportunity here to show our neighbors the difference faith in Jesus makes.

Let’s do it.

Don’t be afraid; just believe. (Mark 5:36)