THE PAUSE: Full-stop or Re-start? It is Our Choice.

In this pause there may be a lot of new challenges but as Lay Servants we can continue to serve:

1) PRAY. For health of those around us, for our leaders, for those being challenged by difficult circumstances and those anxious and fearful that find God's direction and peace.

2) CALL or EMAIL.  Keep in touch even while "social distancing" as is being requested. Give a word of cheer, of comfort, or laughter so help alleviate loneliness, anxiety, and stress in this time. Connections allow people to realize they are not in the situation all alone - even if it may feel that way. If your church offers an online service, be sure and share that information with them.

3) PLAN. After the virus, after this pause, what does God want us to do? How can we better serve our communities and each other? How can we better communicate the Gospel? This pause can also allow us to consider what the church may need us to do. Sometimes when teachers go back to school in the fall they have to trade rooms because another class may need their space due to size or other concerns. Do you have a class that is lost in too big a space and another class cramped into too small a space? Use the pause to plan to revamp and start over in a new space with new vision! Maybe the pastor and others have wanted to change some process or pattern previously set in stone; with the pause, prayerfully join with others to see what God would love to see happen. The list could go on and on...

4) GROW.  Use the pause to set aside that time for prayer, that time to study the Bible in greater depth, to visit with family, to learn a new skill or try something different that helps to illustrate that change - even a pause like the time we are in - can give way to the positive growth needed for great things to begin in our lives and our churches.

5) HELP. Even with social distancing, voluntary isolation, there are many ways to continue to help others.  People (wearing masks and gloves ) are helping in 'drive-through' sack lunch distribution to people and seniors;
they are helping clean up trash along roadways (often working as couples), they are planting gardens for the use of the community in coming weeks, they are _____________ (fill in the possibilities).