A Covid-19 Update from Pastor Jon
Greetings Village Green Community Church Family,
Here is the latest update concerning the ministry of Village Green in the midst of a global crisis that is not changing daily, but hourly.
For the next two Sundays we are suspending the physical meeting together of our congregation. This affects the March 22nd and March 29th services. Even though we may not be physically meeting together, the church will be live streaming those services at our regular 10 am meeting time.
Further, in the midst of the turmoil that this pandemic has created, we want to remind you that the virtual Sunday experience will be reminiscent of a typical service. We will have worship, announcements and a message. Matthew Burkholder will lead us in a time of worship, and I will be presenting a timely message that will hopefully encourage your soul.
You will see a familiar auditorium, with familiar faces, and a familiar environment. We wanted to present to you a sense of normalcy and calm, as well as a comforting reminder that the Lord is ever present and ever aware of the circumstances that has gripped our world.
The Psalmist writes:
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!
A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High.
God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it.
The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!
The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
Come, see the glorious works of the LORD:
See how he brings destruction upon the world.
He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.
(Psalm 46:1-11)
The Psalmist reminds us that even in times when the entire earth seems to be in chaos, the Lord is among us and remains our fortress. Due to the present necessity for social distancing there will be for many of us, moments of isolation. And yet, in those moments when we are forced to ‘be still’, God is reminding us that he is there.
In the midst of every crisis, the Church over its history has been a vehicle for showing the love of Jesus and the hope we find in Him. Today that same truth resonates. Only through the message of the Gospel do we have hope, purpose, and meaning in our lives, despite the ups and downs that we experience. When things are darkest, that’s when the light of Jesus shines brightest.
As each day unfolds with new challenges arising from this pandemic, I want to assure you that the Elders, Board of Directors, and Staff, are closely monitoring the situation. We are here to serve you and we have had a number of members come forward volunteering to help anyone in our church family that needs help at this time.
I do want to ask that you do the following.
- PRAY. Many are being gripped by fear, anxiety, and concern for the future. How quickly has the world been brought to its knees. There are going to be significant challenges in the days that lie ahead, not only for the health of so many affected by this virus, but also for the social, financial, and cultural impact this is going to have.
- GIVE. As you can imagine, the financial needs of the church have not been curtailed in the same way all other aspects of the church have. May I encourage you to please remember the tangible needs of our ministries and to also remind you that we have an easy access portal to PayPal on our website. You can access it at https://villagegreenchurch.com/giving/ or https://www.paypal.me/villagegreenchurch
- SUBSCRIBE. We want you to stay up to date and not miss a critical memo. You can subscribe to our website blogs, newsletters, and MailChimp in order to get the latest on what is happening. Simply go to our website, submit your email, and relax, knowing we will deliver all the good news you need for the days ahead. Check it out at https://villagegreenchurch.com/follow-us/.
As I close, I thought it would be appropriate to conclude with a prayer. Since today is St. Patrick’s Day, I wanted to pass on his prayer, a timely reminder in the times we are experiencing.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
Afar and a near,
Alone or in a multitude.
Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.
Blessings,
Jon Korkidakis
Lead Pastor, Village Green Community Church.
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