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Waiting

3/27/2020

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We sit at home wondering, waiting ….
     When will this isolation end?
     When can we go out again?
     When will we be able to gather again?
And without answers, we sit … and wonder … and wait.
 
Yet what we are waiting for will never come. We want to go back to the way it was before: before the virus, before the isolation, before the fear. Before the waiting. But we can never go back. It will never be the same. It can’t be. Because time changes things. Time changes us. Time changes everything.
 
I remember the first time I went home for Christmas during my freshman year of college. I’d been away for six months, and I stepped into a world that was at the same time both familiar and strange. It was an almost eerie feeling that lingers strong in my memory all these decades later. The kids I knew who were still there—kids I’d played football and soccer with, had sung with in the school choir, had danced with and shared life with…they were the same, but different. Their lives had gone on. Without me. It was a shocking reality.
 
Other returns bring similar challenges: Soldiers return from war as different men and women than when they left. Missionaries return from their missions, whether two weeks or two years or two decades, and they have changed. Travelers return from their trips different. And while those who have gone are changed, they are not the only ones; those who remained are different, as well. More subtly, perhaps, but different nonetheless. Time and experiences transform us.
 
And so it will be when our present waiting ends: we will be changed. What that change will be, what it will look like, can be guessed, but not predicted. Some will emerge more confident, others more fearful. Some will be strengthened in their faith. Some will question more: faith, science, government, people….
 
Adding to the challenge of the isolation itself is that In these days of waiting, we’re not sure what we’re feeling. There’s a sadness, but we can’t explain it because there’s nothing to be sad about; anger, yet we’ve not been wronged. Or maybe that’s just it: there is something to be sad about; we have been wronged. A disease has been foisted upon us that we had nothing to do with, and it’s changing everything.
 
And in the change, there is a loss we feel. A very real, very legitimate loss. It's the loss of freedom in a free country. The loss of business just when things were starting to look good. The loss of relationships and connections and hugs we so desperately need. And loss brings grief and anger and change and discomfort and … and so much more. And all we can do, it seems, is sit. And wait. And wonder.
Or is there something more? Is there a different perspective? A different kind of waiting?
Waiting is uncomfortable, but it need not be stagnant. There is so much you want to do that it’s easy to focus on what you can’t do. But the Bible speaks of “redeeming the time,” “making the most of every opportunity” (see Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5)—and opportunity lies before you to do now what you don’t normally do. Maybe it’s the opportunity to build a new habit, to learn something new, to rekindle a relationship that’s faltered over the years.
 
Maybe this is an opportunity to rekindle a relationship with the God who has been waiting for you—waiting for you to seek him out, to fall in love with him again. Maybe it’s an opportunity to soak in his Word, whether that means reading large chunks at one time or sitting quietly with just a verse or two.
 
Maybe this is an opportunity to pray. Or learn to pray. To Pause in God's presence and enjoy his quiet company. To Rejoice in God's goodness, mercy, sovereignty, and love. To Ask for God's mercy, healing, forgiveness ... even for release from this exile! And finally, to Yield to what God has for us, the good plan

Perhaps never in our lifetimes have the circumstances of our own lives been so appropriate to the words of God to his people in exile:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Whatever else you do in this time of waiting, know that God is waiting, too. And he’s waiting for you. Will you meet him?
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The Church dispersed...

3/19/2020

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Dear Journey Church, 

The world is experiencing a crisis unprecedented in most of our lifetimes. The breadth and depth of the impacts are staggering, and we are still on the uphill side. This will continue to get worse before it gets better. Having said that, the reality we need to face is that the impacts of the coronavirus have been limited best in those areas that have taken aggressive measures: shutting down schools and businesses, limiting non-essential travel, and maximizing “social distance.” Where the response has been slow or lax, infections and even deaths have grown almost exponentially.  

At The Journey, we want to be cautious with our people and aggressive with our preparations and responses. The probability of the coronavirus making its way into Tuolumne County is high and more than half our congregation is in a high-risk category based on age alone; more may be at risk because of other health issues. Those not at high risk may be unknowing carriers who could pass on an infection to someone else.  
For these reasons, following recommendations from both health and government authorities, we have decided to cancel Sunday morning services for at least two weeks. (This also means that our 5th Sunday potluck on March 29 is canceled.) So what now? First, please avoid any activity that could put you at personal risk of contracting the disease.

CHURCH DISPERSED 
The early church was scattered because of the persecution against them in Jerusalem (Acts 8). What seemed a terrible tragedy—the persecution—led to the good news of Jesus being proclaimed, and to miracles and healings. The result? “Great joy”! Today, the Christian church is seeing another dispersion of sorts: out from our comfortable Sunday morning routines, we are being scattered back to our homes and neighborhoods. The question is, will we ride this out as just another inconvenience, like the winter’s planned power outages? Or will we, with the power of God through prayer, proclaim the good news of hope and healing in Jesus’ name to a community that is fearful and panicking? I believe we have an incredible opportunity before us. But what will that look like?  
GROWING: UP—IN—OUT 
Over the past two years I’ve talked about growing as disciples (followers) of Jesus in three ways: UP (growing in our relationship with God), IN (growing in love for and relationship with our fellow believers), and OUT (growing in love for and service to those who are not yet believers). During this time of dispersion, we need to continue to grow in all three areas. Here are some ways that can happen: ​

UP 
  • On Sunday mornings at 10:30, I will broadcast some kind of teaching through Facebook Live. (This may or may not include our worship team.) 
  • Anyone can access our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TheJourneyChurchSonora. 
  • We will work to make notes available at the same time, if not in advance. 
  • Audio recordings of the messages will be available through our website at www.welcometothejourney.org/sermons.  
IN 
  • We will be forming Connection Groups of 5-7 households in order to ensure that every person who is a part of The Journey Church is connected and cared for, mostly by phone.
  • One person or couple will be the group coordinator, responsible for making sure that everyone in the group is contacted at least weekly. If you’re interested in serving in this way, please let us know. The primary qualification: you enjoy talking on the phone!
  • While the minimum desire for these groups is to stay in contact, ideally they will begin to share in meeting each others’ needs (Acts 4:34), growing and learning together (Acts 2:42), and even getting together (Acts 2:46) as appropriate. 
OUT 
  • It may be tempting to hunker down and take care of ourselves, whether that means just our families or our church friends. But there are still needs in our community, and we need to be intentional about meeting those needs we can. Look for ways to serve others.
  • Jamestown Family Resource Center will continue to need the peanut butter, canned meats, and mayonnaise you have been so faithful in supplying. Please continue to do that by bringing those items to the church Tuesday through Thursday between 9 and 4.
  • Take a walk and talk to any neighbors you see outside. Strike up a conversation in the grocery store. (Maintaining appropriate social distance!)
  • Offer to shop for a friend or neighbor who can’t or shouldn’t go out.
  • If you think of other ideas, share them with those in your Connection Group and with the church, to see how we might be able to meet those needs. 
Please remember that in spite of being a church dispersed, business as usual still needs to happen. Bills still need to be paid. If you are accustomed to giving only when the basket is passed, I want to ask you to make a change. Here are some ways you can do that: 
  • Set up recurring payments through your bank. You can do this on a schedule of your choosing, whether weekly, twice a month, or monthly. 
  • Mail your offering checks to the church. We can provide you with preaddressed envelopes...and stamps if needed! 
Let all who take refuge in you be glad;
Let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
That those who love your name may rejoice in you.
(Psalm 5:11)

In these times of uncertainty, we can cower in fear or we can take refuge in our strong and sovereign God. Let’s choose refuge. Seek God in his Word and through prayer, and proclaim his Name everywhere you go.

I love being your pastor and am excited about how God will work in and through The Journey Church in these uncertain times.
Pastor Randy
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Do Not Be Anxious

3/13/2020

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    Dear Journey Church,

    The news is filled with headlines related to the coronavirus, or Covid-19. From cruise ships to school closures, from travel bans to the stock market, every news tidbit seems related to what the World Health Organization has now declared as a pandemic—itself a fear-inducing term.

    Indeed, between valid information, partial information, and complete  misinformation, a near-global panic seems to be upon us. What are we as followers of Christ—and as a local church—to do?

​   First, we face reality. Recently, two cases of Covid-19 were found in Calaveras County, one of which led to the closing for this week of Copperopolis Elementary School. The most current information we have is that there are as yet no reported cases in Tuolumne County. 

   Second, we take appropriate action. That begins with hand-washing and other hygiene practices—tips you have undoubtedly heard from countless sources. Monitor your own health, and don’t take unnecessary risks. Those of you who are more susceptible to illness, consult your doctor and follow their counsel. 

   Third, we do not give in to fear. Fear is one of Satan’s best tools to try separating us from each other and from God. But we know that  nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39). 

   Finally, we stay informed and adjust as needed. This is a changing situation. What is best today may not be best for tomorrow. 

   So what does this mean for The Journey? As of now, our plan is to continue with all scheduled activities and services. However, out of an abundance of caution, we will not be providing refreshments on Sunday; please feel free to bring your own coffee, tea, water, etc. 

   Although we normally encourage everyone to sit next to someone you don’t know, for the time being we are going to ask you to spread out—add extra space between yourself and those not in your own family. We have room to do that, and will add seating in the back to provide even more elbow room! In addition, please limit physical contact: instead of a handshake or fist bump, use a wave (or a military salute?!); keep away from hugs, and absolutely no holy kisses! 

   Finally, we will not pass offering baskets on Sundays, but instead will provide a receptacle in the lobby for offering and Connection Cards.

   While we will plan to gather as normal, we also recognize that some of you may choose not to join those gatherings. If that’s your choice, please let us know. And please join us through Facebook, where we live stream services every week. (Even if you don’t have a Facebook account, you should be able to watch, as our account is public.) 

   Appropriately, part of our text for this weekend is, “do not be anxious about tomorrow.” While there are legitimate concerns, we need not fear. If anything changes before Sunday, we’ll let you know.

   Yours for peace, hope, and grace,

   Pastor Randy
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This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1st John 4:10 NIV