LET’S TRY THAT AGAIN

Starting Sunday, September 6, we are going to start again with the “in-person” worship gatherings. Remember, you never stopped worshiping. The only question is Who or what were you worshipping. We only stopped “in-person” worship gatherings because several of our leaders had Covid-19, we had two deaths related to Covid 19 and the number of cases in SC were spiking at that point. I am so thankful for our staff that could arrange for our messages to be recorded and available. Bless all of our Connection Group leaders who continually taught the Word of God on Zoom and found creative ways to reach out to and pray for their members. Well done good and faithful servants.

So, we are going to try it again. This time we are inside for both services, one at 9:00 and one at 11:00. We would absolutely have the 9:00 service outside if we were not in the middle of hurricane season. The set up and take down of the tent, chairs, stage and equipment can be a challenge without the threat of a tropical storm or hurricane. Maybe we will go outside in October?

One of the most controversial parts of this pandemic has been mask or no mask. The emotions range from a mild “It does not matter to me” to bullying and shaming if you even consider not wearing a mask. It will not get any easier at JIBC. We encourage everyone to wear a mask as you come to worship and enter the buildings and to wear a mask when the service is over and you exit the building. At this time, you are encouraged to wear your mask the entire time with our blessing. Restaurants require masks while entering, going to your table and while exiting. You are of course, allowed to take off your mask while you eat. At this time, our principle is similar. You may want or need to take off your mask once you are seated, at your table, so to speak. Of course you may leave your mask on and you may choose to sit around family and others that you know prefer to keep their mask on. We will, by the way, continue to provide on line worship for those who cannot attend or choose not to attend. We bless your choice to be safe.

Until then, we ask that you stop by one of the Health Screening Stations for a quick temp check and to answer a few basic questions. If you are not feeling well, consider staying at home. Do let us know so we can keep you in our prayers.

“It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times…but these are the only times we have”. Let’s make the most of them for the glory of God. Hope to see you soon.

Pastor Tom

PRESS ON, DON’T JUST HOLD ON

We just finished with our weekly staff meeting. One of the comments I left them with was the following: PRESS ON, DON’T JUST HOLD ON. It is tempting to just hold on, whatever that means to you, during this Covid-19 Pandemic. Just hold on and eventually things will get back to normal. I am not sure many people believe we will get back to normal or that we even want to get back to normal. But simply holding on is not really an option for followers of Christ. 

During the last seven months, we have committed ourselves to pressing on when it comes to church mission and ministry. When we were not able to have in-person gatherings, we adapted and had online messages and worship. When Connection Groups could not meet together in-person, they began to Zoom! We have heard from several Connection Groups that in some ways they are more active and together than before the pandemic affected in-person gathering. My wife, Janie, loves watching her group share back and forth about mission and ministry. Gotta love that!

When we could not have Wednesday night dinners, God blessed us with a strategy to bless others. So we delivered to homebound, shut-ins, fire stations, EMT, first responders, medical clinics, etc. The pandemic did not stop ministry and mission it just made it different. The JIBC family has given more food to James Island Outreach since the first of the year than any two years put together…and the year is not over yet. Because of your generosity, we have been able to continue our support of International, National, State and Charleston Baptist Missions. I have heard the most wonderful stories of Connection Groups doing community outreach events. One group helped host a Neighborhood Movie night and collected 230 pounds of food for James Island Outreach. That 230 pounds will be matched by JIBC totaling 460 pounds of food. We have hosted meals for grieving families in our community that are not a part of JIBC sharing the love of Christ in difficult times. 

Our goal has never been to just hold on till this crisis passed. Our goal, as always, is to look where God is working and join Him. Press on, don’t just hold on. Sunday, September 6, we begin to press on with our in-person worship gatherings. We understand not everyone is ready, willing or able to come back. So we press on with technology and will provide recordings and live streaming so you can keep connected at home. On Sunday, September 13 we will have the Lord’s Supper and celebrate baptism. Press on don’t just hold on. Press on in your Bible Study and prayers; press on in staying connected with your church family and friends. Press on in your generous giving to help others. Press on whether it is movie night under the oaks, the marriage enrichment event, or family night at the beach…press on, don’t just hold on.

This pandemic does not build character it reveals the character that you have. Press on!

Pastor Tom

It’s About Time!

Usually that is said with a bit of emotion and even a little anxiety. You know, it is about time that someone did something about that problem. In our case, I am referring to Pastor Scott’s teaching series on time. It is about time…how we invest it and how we make priorities that impact our time. If you did not hear him Sunday, I hope you will go back and listen. His illustration was on target and so easy to remember and relate to. It’s about time. I want to thank Scott for being willing to teach a couple of weeks for us. I knew it would be good and super relevant.

We are prepping to launch 

If all goes according to plans, we plan to re-launch “in-person worship” on Sunday, September 6 at 9:00 and 11:00. Both services will be inside. We will encourage the same protocol that we used in the past. We ask everyone to wear mask while arriving and going to your seats, stop by the screening tents/area for a temperature check and the prescreen questions. We will only have preschool and childcare services at the 11:00 service and not the 9:00 service. Of course, your little ones are welcome at the 9:00. But we will not be able to staff both services at this time. Hopefully we will be able to offer that service at a later date. The balcony will be reserved for the Media Production Team and their families only. We still encourage all the guidelines you experience in so many places: mask, social distancing, wash your hands frequently, don’t touch your face and protect the vulnerable. This is all so foreign to everyone. Let us thank you ahead of time for your patience, good will and cooperation. We certainly bless those who are not yet ready to join us for in person worship or gatherings. We encourage those who are at risk or vulnerable to practice caution. We are hoping to enjoy fellowship with you for the long run not just for the immediate time.

A JIBC Devotional in the making 

We have asked 40 or our leaders to write a devotional that will be put together as a 40 Day Devotional. It will feature a brief introduction as to who they are, one of their favorite Bible verses, and a favorite song and a devotional thought that might encourage us during this crazy time. I really believe you will enjoy it so much the challenge will be to not read it all at one sitting! LOL. I am enjoying reading them as they come in. Just a reminder…if you have been asked to write one and have not turned it in yet please do so ASAP!

Blessings of peace and comfort to you all,

Pastor Tom

FOUR MINISTRY PROJECTS I AM WORKING TOWARD

In no particular order, here are four ministry projects I am working towards. All four are connected and all four help us carry out our mission to make disciples who make disciples that change our community and world.

First, I am looking for volunteers to help shop for groceries for the under-served in our community. You may have read in last week’s messenger that James Island Outreach has had a surge of families requesting help. The JIO Ministry is in need of groceries and funds. We can help with both. Of course, you can do this on your own. We did have a good time when we made it a group mission. Anyone can join us in our shopping spree. I would love to have some folks who have never seen James Island Outreach go with us. The Executive Director is so gracious to give us personal tours and to explain how the ministry works. Days and hours are pretty flexible. This could be a great mission for a Connection Group, a family, an Awana group, Students, Joy Club, etc. With a little creative thinking someone could even find a way to make it an outreach event involving those we have yet to reach for Christ. Interested? Call the church office and leave your info. I will call back with the details.

Second, our staff is working toward re-opening in person worship on Sunday, September 6. The plans, at this time, are to only have two worship services. One will be at 9 and the other at 11. All the protocols we used will be in place with a few more! Remember that we stopped ingathering worship when basically all of our worship leaders and team had Covid-19 or were in isolation because of it. This happened at the time when South Carolina cases were spiking. Seem like an appropriate and necessary step to take. Now we are working on returning. Details will come as soon as we have them to share.

Third, we have asked 40 or so of our leaders to join me in writing a 40 Day Devotional. If all goes according to plans, this should be available at the first of September. The plans are for our Connection Groups to serve as our delivery system. I am looking forward to hearing what our Father has been saying to this group.

Fourth, I am looking for volunteers to help me put together a Day of Prayer. It is good and appropriate that we would have a church wide prayer effort at such a time as this. We have had several members to contract this corona virus. They have been young adults, median age and senior adults. We have had some hospitalized; several at home with severe symptoms; some with mild symptoms; and two members that died due to Covid-19. To make a dreadful disease worse, somehow Covid-19 and even the medicine to treat it have become political. I truly believe we are already praying. I want to invite you to join together in a focused prayer effort. I am working on a plan to have us sign up for some period of time. You could come to the church or pray wherever you are. We know that all things are possible for God. Let’s go before Him…together. More to come.

Blessings to you all,

Pastor Tom