I Want to Go to Church!

One of the things I have learned during these days of isolation and sheltering at home is this: the quarantine life is not for me! God did not create us to be alone. He made us to be social people. And we do best when we are able to be with and or around others.

There are so many things I have missed during this unique time in history. I’ve missed going out to eat in a nice restaurant. I miss the crowds at a major sporting event. I miss getting into the car and traveling to the beach or wherever we might choose to go. I miss the days when we weren’t told to wear a mask in public and to social distance from others at least six feet!

As a man, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’ve missed strolling through the mall. I didn’t say I missed shopping. I said I missed strolling through the mall.

I miss going to the gym every day for a good workout and seeing my friends there. I miss our family. I don’t remember the last time we were able to see them; I think Christmas perhaps.

I miss my barber. Like a lot of you I desperately need a haircut. So, Kathy and Deloris, schedule me an appointment as soon as the Governor says it’s okay for salons like Trendz to open up!

But of all the things I miss, I miss the family of God and gathering together each Sunday for worship and fellowship! When will we be able to return to church? When will we be able to open the doors of the church again? Like the music video I shared with you earlier by Cochran and Co., I just want to go to church.

King David of ancient Israel wrote in Psalm 122:1 (KJV), I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

What does the Bible have to say about God’s people gathering together at the house of God? Several Scripture passages came to mind as I thought about returning to church and the important place the church plays in our lives.

LUKE 4:16 (KJV) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

HEBREWS 10:25 (KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

And I love Paul’s passionate opening message to the Philippian Church in PHILIPPIANS 1:3-8, (NLT) 3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

In EPHESIANS 5:25, Paul also reminds us how Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Again, the Psalmist in the pages of the O.T., described so elegantly his longing to return to the days when he used to gather with God’s people.

PSALM 42:1–4 (NLT) 1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? 3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” 4 My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!

Many believe the historical context of Psalm 42 is during the Exile of Israel in Babylon. Far from his homeland and away from the House of God, the Temple in Jerusalem, the writer of this Psalm pours out his heart’s desire as he remembers the days when he once gathered with God’s people to worship God.

It strikes me how many of these Scriptures about the church or God’s people were written by people who were also experiencing their own kind of quarantine lifestyle.

· Moses and the children of Israel had a 40-year isolation in the desert wilderness before coming to the Promised Land.

· The Psalmist, as I shared often wrote during times of exile in a faraway land.

· David often wrote while secluded for his own safety in a desert cave.

· The first disciples hid behind closed and locked doors for fear of the Jews following Jesus’ crucifixion.

· Even Jesus felt abandoned by God while He hung on the cross as He cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”

· Paul wrote many of his Epistles like Philippians and Ephesians while imprisoned in Rome.

· Finally, John the Beloved Apostle wrote the final Book of the N.T., the Revelation of Jesus Christ while imprisoned on a little Island in the Aegean Sea called Patmos.

So while our current isolation and quarantine may be historical for modern day Christians, it is not necessarily new to Believers throughout history.

But the question for us is still, “When can we go back to church?”

Like many of you I have been watching and listening closely to the news conferences both from the President and our Governor here in South Carolina. Many of you may not know that on Tuesday, this week, or April 28th, Governor McMaster met with leadership of the SC Baptist State Convention. In that live streaming meeting Governor McMaster suggested Mother’s Day as a possible start back gathering date. I have confirmed this with our own Director of Missions of the Florence Baptist Association, Chris Smith.

That is the word I have been waiting to hear! Earlier this week I had a conference call with our Deacons in which we discussed a Twelve Step Strategy whereby we can open the doors of our church at Northgate on Mother’s Day Sunday, May 10, 2020.

Out Twelve Step Strategy to Return to Church or Open the Church again will take into account numerous precautions and changes we will need to implement. We cannot expect to be able to open the church up and return to the way it used to be. We must still keep the safety and health of our members in mind as we return to church. Here are the steps we will take as we begin to open the church again.

1) Only Sunday morning worship at 10:30 a.m., no Sunday School until social distancing guidelines are lessened or removed.

2) We will still practice social distancing while at church. Families who live together may sit together but everyone else will be asked to sit at least six feet apart from others.

3) As a church, we will practice good hygiene and sanitation before all services. We will sanitize frequently touched surfaces, such as doors, door handles, bathroom sinks and other fixtures.

4) We will place hand sanitizing stations throughout the church. Masks may be worn if you so choose.

5) Offering plates will not be passed. Offerings will be received as people leave services.

6) Doors will be left open to avoid being touched frequently.

7) No Welcome and Greeting time.

8) No choir or choir rehearsals.

9) No children’s church.

10) If you are sick or running a temperature, please stay home.

11) Be patient and kind. There will be those who forget and/or do not take the same level of caution as others.

12) We will continue uploading our services on Facebook Live for those who choose not to return to church right away or for those who cannot attend.

We are open for other suggestions or ideas:

Closing Prayer

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