"...it is a pleasure and a privilege to spend time together in person."
If there is one lesson I learned over the course of the pandemic, it’s this: it is a pleasure and a privilege to spend time together in person. As much as I appreciate the online videos, Zoom calls, and Google Meets, none of them compare to the honor of experiencing an event, or even just meeting up in person.
This was made terrifically clear during the Three Days services at Gloria Day. On Maundy Thursday, we all sat around beautifully set tables piled high with bread, juice and wine. Surrounding the tables were strangers and friends, come together to share the last supper of our Lord. How amazing it was to see each other's faces watching in awe as one by one people came to the center to have their feet washed. That’s something that can’t be done online - having a brave, compassionate soul pour warm water on your feet and remind you of how much you are loved and cared for by our God.
On Good Friday, we sat around the room in a large circle. As we listened together to the story of Christ’s death, we also saw one another sitting across the way, enraptured by the sacrifices Jesus made for the love of us. We wondered together how people could be so cruel, and, yet, came together to the realization that we, too, might have crucified Christ that day long ago. We discovered we are as much a part of the story as those who were there. But, nevertheless, Jesus died for the love of us.
And then, on Saturday night, we sat vigil together and took in the story of creation… the story of how sin entered the world and destroyed the goodness that God made for us. We saw as the lights went from dark to light, as the story of God’s love was revealed through the death and resurrection of Christ. None of us will soon forget, either, the baptism of Stefan and Delany Pease, who experienced together what it means to be loved by God, washed clean, and quenched with the living water. Then, no online platform could possibly compare to the feast we had that night. There was fruit and meatballs and crackers with cheese. There were cakes, and cupcakes and jello for miles. And there were smiling faces all around the room.
As thankful as I am for online worship, Zoom, and Google Meet, I am extremely grateful that the pandemic is fading away and we have the opportunity to experience together again the community of Christ. I hope, if you haven’t come back in person, you will soon. There’s nothing else like it.