For 22 1/2 years, I had the privilege of serving with David B. Young at Trinity Baptist Church, Lakewood WA. Naturally, we shared many stories and one that David shared ended up becoming both an ongoing joke and one of those markers that subtly helps to keep ministry on course. The story boiled down to a person who, when addressing the "cup half empty, cup half full" scenario, said, "Don't say the cup is half empty. Say it's full!" That is optimism with blinders on.
We need to acknowledge when the cup is half empty, half full. We also need to be aware of whether it is draining, filling, or stagnant. Each calls for a different response. However, eleven months ago, we were confronted what seemed to be a shattered cup as the pandemic put an end to the comfort of routine. The cup did not appear half empty, half full, or stagnant. The cup seemed to be gone. We were left without a familiar context in which to perform.
"Necessity is the mother of invention." In the new reality of guidelines, social distancing, self-quarantine, masks, and contradictory evidence/opinions/science, we found new (to us) ways to accomplish those things that we deemed necessary.
Our congregation had never put anything online. We did not have the experience, the equipment, or the know how. Even so, we did not miss a single week. One Sunday we were meeting in person and the next, our congregation was viewing their worship service on YouTube. Yes, it was pretty basic. A member in the Navy brought his camera over to our house while we were on vacation and video taped our son, Aaron, "preaching" a sermon while sitting on our couch. The camera battery ran out of power and a cell phone was employed to finish the job. The two recordings were spliced together and uploaded to the newly created YouTube channel for Kitsap Lake Baptist Church. That was it—no titles, no sermon notes, no music, no lighting, no explanation.
It turns out, the cup was there after all. We were still the ekklesia—the congregation/assembly, the bride of Christ, the family of God—and Jesus was still the groom and the head of the body. Our focus needed adjusting in order to recognize it. We were and still are flawed to the core, but a half empty cup has air to breathe and room to grow and, by the grace and leadership of God, we have grown. Sure, we have increased some of our technological ability—a tripod, a USB camera, a USB microphone, better lighting—but we have become more aware of who we are and what is important. Comfort, familiarity, and tradition have taken a back seat to striving to live as Jesus did—glorifying the Father, ministering to the needs of others, cherishing the fellowship, and opening our eyes to His mandate to seek what is right and just for all people.
We have a long way to go—a very long way—but we are working to stay on course and to see the cup filled. Our online services can vary, depending on circumstances, but they remain another tool to be His light in the world. Today, it is snow, not a pandemic, that is keeping us from meeting together. But, because of COVID-19, we do not have to call off worship as we provide an online opportunity for families and individuals to gather for praise and hearing from God's word. The recording was "put together" quickly, with just one person on camera, and it lacks the benefit of multiple people being involved, but it is certainly better than cancelling everything.
By the way, here is the link for February 14, 2021—Valentines Day and our first online Snow Day: https://youtu.be/mUPQTwrnVIk
