"Special At-Home Worship Service #4 (Palm Sunday)"

We wanted to let everyone know that we did not meet together physically as a congregation this week because we wanted to protect our FCC family from any ripple effects from the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). But we did upload a “phoned-in service” for people to watch, as well as providing another “at-home” version for households to go through together.

We understand that it's hard to feel disconnected at this time when so many people are panicking and living in fear -- and maybe even feeling alone and vulnerable -- but we also know that the best way that we can keep one another safe is to prevent the spread of infection. That’s why we’ve been sending daily emails to everyone in the church family to help people know that we’re thinking of everyone.

With that in mind, let me remind everyone to consider the differences between what we need, and what we only think that we need. I mean, isn’t that why so many Christians practice Lenten self-sacrifice at this time of year -- to remind themselves that they really don’t need many of the things that they’ve become accustomed to, but that they really need more of God and less of __________?

You and I need more of God in our lives… and in fact, being sheltered in place can actually help us focus our time more on spending quality time with Him.

You and I need to be reaching out to those around us… and in fact, being surrounded (distantly) by countless frightened people in need of hope can actually help us have a more effective witness to the eternal hope that God gives us.

You and I need to love one another well and appreciate our blessings… and in fact, being shuttered together with all of those “one anothers” and blessings provides us a unique opportunity to look around ourselves and say, “I need to appreciate __________ more in my life.”

Or don’t. You can be blessed by this time in history, you can waste it by grumbling, or you can live through it in fear. I know which choice makes the most sense to me…