Peace I leave with you;
My peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
John 14:27
There is not much peace in the world today, it seems. News of the terrors of COVID-19 have become a regular part of life. Social media and internet worship have become business as usual for churches, including Holy Cross. While we have to get used to wearing masks in public and social distancing in public, meeting on Zoom and Webex, I am missing the company of my church family.
What Good News there is for us, that Jesus Christ does not change (Hebrews 13:8) and that peace is one of His perfect gifts (John 14:27). His peace, or “shalom” in Hebrew, is not a simple absence of violence, but it means that everything is put right. Everything is way it is supposed to be. The gift of peace is quite like a return to the seventh day of creation – a perfect Eden – a world under God’s loving care.
While we wait for the perfect peace to come to our Coronavirus world, we are still able to rejoice. We have peace when we receive the gifts of God’s Word, remember his love poured onto our heads in Baptism and we gladly look forward to receiving the Lord’s body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar.
Allow me to share with you our plans for coming back together. After meeting on Monday, May 18, Church council has decided to continue with recorded services through Sunday, June 21. On Sunday June 28, we plan to return to in-person church services with all sensible precautions in place. It is suggested that you wear a mask when you attend services. All touchable surfaces will be cleaned and sanitized before each service. This will be a church service only. Sunday School, Bible Study, and Fellowship after church will not be held for a while. You’ll be informed about when those programs will be restarted.
As always, the leadership of Holy Cross appreciates your patience and flexibility in these matters. Your safety as well as that of our neighbors is of great importance during these days of pandemic.
Please continue to pray for our congregation and each other during these times. Don’t forget to visit our church website www.holycross-crawfordsville.org to find links for all our services on YouTube. Also friend me on Facebook (Jeffrey Stone) to follow an almost-daily devotion.
God bless you and your family and may He grant you His peace now and forevermore.
Christ is Risen! He is Risen, Indeed! Alleluia!
Come to Holy Cross – Jesus is here – for you!
Your Servant in Christ our Lord,
Pastor Jeffrey Stone
Proverbs 3 Verses 5 to 6. [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
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