The day we have been waiting for has come – the day of the vaccine! It’s just that – as with most anything in life – the announcement and the reality are somewhat mutually exclusive. Yes, there is a vaccine; no, it is not as widely available as many had hoped. So what do we do? We wait, and we pray. We continue practicing hand washing, social distancing, mask wearing, quarantining, contact tracing; all with the belief that we are doing all we know to do. And, we pray for governmental and healthcare leadership, that they may discern how to best implement this new reality.

I also want to share with you some other good news: I am glad to be able to communicate with you that – taking into account this new reality we are learning to navigate – St. Andrew’s was able to report a rise in attendance in 2020! This comes despite major changes, learning new technologies, uncertainties in closing-opening-closing, and unimaginable losses. In light of all that, what do we do?

We wait, and we pray. We continue communicating through our Prayer Chain; continue Tuesday Check-ins (2nd and 4th Tuesday at 7 pm); continue moving cameras and mics around trying to find the best fit; continue gathering in homes to watch services on Facebook or YouTube; and – most of all – we continue to pray.

Pray for members of our Administrative Council – pray that they may discern what our new reality needs to look like; how this new reality can be a part of changing lives; and how to communicate a new reality in ways that make sense. Why? Because we do not want our announcements and our reality to be different.

We worship and serve the God who brings order from uncertainty, and who empowers people to live into a new reality. I can assure you, there will still be days when we feel caught between two worlds – virtual and in-person – that seem mutually exclusive. The thing is, all are a part of God’s kingdom work; and as a part of Kingdom activity, doors leading to a new reality continue to open.

How we move through those doors may very well make all the difference in someone’s life. Are we up for it? I believe we are! Continue to pray that our next steps will be marked with the certainty that we have earnestly sought God’s leading.