The year 2020 has gotten a lot of well-deserved bad press. It is a hated year. I have heard many comments about getting a “do over” for 2020 or wishing this year had never existed. 2020 has been hard on EVERYONE.
We all know about the thousands of thousands who have got sick with Covid-19, the even larger number who have been infected with the virus, and the more than a quarter of a million people, as I write, who have died as a result of contracting the virus. It is simply catastrophic. We will not forget this year.
In addition to the impact on health, the pandemic has had a devastating effect on the economy. News organizations report every day on the huge number of people who have lost their source of income because of the pandemic. Our own local Adventist Community Services outlet reports that it is serving more clients than ever at its food pantry.
A few weeks ago, Pastor Tapp preached a sermon based on 1Thessalonians 5: 16-18, which reads, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (NKJV). What???!!!!
I was happy when Pastor Tapp pointed out that Paul did not say that we should give thanks for all things; he said in everything give thanks. No, we are not thankful for the pandemic and all the harm it has caused, but we can be thankful during the pandemic. As a congregation, we can be thankful that even in an economy that has failed for a significant portion of the population, so many of you continue to give to support the ministries of Sligo Church.
We have not met as a congregation since March 7, so one would expect that the church expenses would go down, and some definitely have. We are not been using as much electricity or water. There is less wear and tear on the building. But as the Pastors say every Sabbath, when they talk to us via a camera, “The church is not the building – the church has left the building.” Our ministry is not only to the people who attend services at the church.
The pandemic has made even clearer that we have a duty and a responsibility to our community. The pandemic has caused a lot of loss, not just lives, and a lot of pain. Sligo Church has reached out to those in our congregation and in the community and is meeting some of the needs of the people hurting around us.
Our church has given food and funds to Adventist Community Services to help provide food for hundreds of families. We have handed out boxes of produce to all-comers, enabling more people to have a healthy meal. The church has teamed up with Adventist Health Care and Montgomery County to provide free Covid-19 testing, a service increasingly vital as the number of infections in the area escalate dramatically. The church continues its partnership with New Hampshire Estates Elementary School and has provided thousands of dollars to support the families of students at the school. Church members have also been invited to adopt families recommended by the school to help make their holiday season brighter. The youth and young adults continue to minister to the homeless in the area.
Your continued support for this church, at whatever level, is vital and is appreciated. I give thanks to God that He has given some of us the ability to continue to support the church even as the world seems to be spiraling downward at precipitous speed. Through your support, Sligo Church can show our community the love of Jesus through meeting some of their needs. The community will be blessed but the greater blessing comes to us as we partner with God in service. The Apostle Paul says, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9: 7-8 NKJV).
Continue to support the church as you are able to, even in the midst of the pandemic. God keeps His promises. He does pour out blessings. I can attest to that.