Dear FBC Family, 

I trust you and your family are doing well this week.  I continue to be incredibly blessed as a pastor by all the reports I hear about our church family ministering to one another as brothers and sisters during this time, and also blessed to see FBC’s ministry to healthcare workers and vulnerable people in our community. Our church is “being the church” – even as we are prevented from meeting physically. 

However…and this is super important to remember…there is no substitute for meeting physically for worship. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” 

Gathering together for worship is a vital part of our encouragement and growth as believers. That means being in the same physical space as other believers, worshipping the King. Obviously, that has not been possible since mid-March, and God has greatly blessed our online efforts. Our sermon videos have been viewed by thousands of people, and you have been wonderfully faithful as a church to participate in worship in the only way you could!  

But I know our hearts are yearning to see each other again and worship together again. There are some indications that may be sooner rather than later. Please be in prayer for our Governor and state officials regarding this, and please be in prayer for our church as we prepare for this possibility.  

Obviously, when we can gather again, many things will be different. Pray that God will supernaturally give breakthroughs to scientists who are working on a vaccine. When that becomes widely available, Covid-19 will be a thing of the past, and things can truly get back to normal. But until then, re-openings (including church worship services) will need to follow strict safety measures. Our pastors have been thinking very carefully and prayerfully about how to do that well.    

Even when we can meet again, I realize that many of you who are older or have underlying health conditions will feel reluctant to attend in person.  That is totally understandable. Be assured that we will maintain your ability to watch using your computer, tablet, or TV.  We don’t want any of our brothers and sisters to be left out! We are all in this together, and we are not alone.  We have God, and we have one another. If you have any need at all, we are here for you.

This Sunday I’ll be preaching on Matthew 7:12-14. The message will be called “Taking The Road To Life.” The sermon will be posted by 7am on Facebook and our church website. Watch and share, and pray for the day when we can all be together again.          

Yours in Christ, 

Pastor Thurman