Really? I couldn’t believe it either. Our property manager identified another property they manage which we could use for worship while we are displaced due to the fire. We were given three Sundays at a vacant office building on Emerald. Sunday, we worshipped in the space that offered a great deal of natural light, attendance was strong, we were gathering some momentum . . . then yesterday I received a call that we had to clear out all our chairs and equipment. That space had been rented to someone else. The challenges have continued to mount ever since the fire. (below is a picture of our location impacted by water and smoke damage)
Good thing God’s Word isn’t just pretty talk. Good thing God’s Word works, and strengthens us all for the journey ahead, with all the twists and turns we have had these past few weeks. As we are separated from the place we have used as our church for the last decade, the sermon series during these first four weeks post-fire are:
Nothing can separate us from God’s Love (Romans 8:35-39)
Nothing can separate us from each other (Romans 12:10-12)
Nothing can separate us from our hope (Romans 5:1-5)
Nothing can separate us from our mission (Matthew 18:18-20)
It’s helpful—this exercise—to re-examine what is necessary and what is important. The building isn’t really important. I think of that day when Jesus visited Mary and Martha’s home. Not only were Martha’s priorities misaligned, she was also so bold as to tell Jesus to scold her sister. Jesus’ lovingly directive answer speaks volumes to us and our priorities, doesn’t it: “Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
We have the one thing that is needed. So, on the last day of August, just four days after the fire, we worshipped God at the Mandarin Palace Restaurant and focused our attention on the one thing that is needed. This past Sunday, we sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to his Word; it just so happened to be located at a not-for-long vacant office space on Emerald.
This coming Sunday? We will worship back at the Mandarin Palace Restaurant. This will be the fourth time in as many weeks we will be in a location different than the week before.
Are you tired of it yet? Well, hey, it’s not my favorite either. But God had something to say to us this past Sunday. Consider just one verse we heard:
"Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer.”
After all the wackiness of packing up all our chairs, altar, worship articles, keyboard, mixer, speakers, flowers and all the rest
(in the rain, mind you); after researching numerous worship site options; after driving around looking at vacant rental sites and talking to realtors, someone looked at my smiling face and said, “Oh, he’s happy.”
I am happy. I’m joyful in hope. I invite you to come hear more about this hope as God defines hope. Come hear how “Nothing can separate us from our hope.”
Peace In Jesus will worship at the Mandarin Palace, corner of Franklin and Orchard. 9:30 a.m. English worship, 10:30 Vietnamese language worship.
Please pray for our congregation!
God will bless us much through this,
Have a blessed week!
--Pastor Dan