Henry Knapp
It has been almost a year! Almost a year since COVID-19 cancelled the Christian’s most joyous opportunity to worship together—Easter Sunday. Last year, COVID hit just days before Holy Week, and, along with so many other parts of our society, Hebron Church was closed for in-person worship. A year later, we have adjusted how we worship together. But as Easter approaches this year, we have an opportunity to celebrate together the resurrection of our Lord. And this is a terrific time to join us! If you have wondered when you would come back to corporate worship we invite you to make April 4th, Easter Sunday, that time.
I do not believe it would be hard to convince you that our highest calling as Christians is to worship the Lord our God. Worship is not simply part of the Christian life, it is the lifeblood of all we are and do. Worship flows forth from our creation (all humanity in Romans 1), it is the natural response to our redemption (think Peter in Luke 5 or Thomas in John 20), and it is our sanctification (Paul in Colossians 3). To be a human being is to be a worshipping being. To be a Christ-follower is to be a Christ-worshipper.
One of the greatest fears I have had during this pandemic is that we would slowly absorb the lie that weekly worship is just a small part of our lives, that corporate worship is nice when we can do it, but not absolutely necessary. What, after all, does God truly want from us? Well, let’s think about that. What does God truly want from us? Certainly, God desires us to live good, moral lives. Of course, God calls us to serve Him, to serve others, to show them God’s love. But, is any of that more important than worship? Can worshipping our Savior really take second place to anything? God is pleased with being present with His people, meeting them in praise and thanksgiving. Worship is when we ascribe worth to the most worthy of all beings, the Lord Himself—and He delights in it.
Over the past year, we have had to find many unfamiliar ways to fulfill that glorious calling to worship. We have worshipped online. We have spread out throughout our buildings, in masks, without a lot of personal contact. Throughout the course of the pandemic, many have exercised different options at different times based on the risk level. As Easter rolls around this year, we want you to grab every opportunity to satisfy that primary calling we have to worship our Risen Lord together.
During Holy Week, we will continue to offer our Livestream worship services, while our in-person services will be masked and as socially distanced as we can. On Maundy Thursday we will offer two services, both at 7:00pm, one in the sanctuary and one in the Barclay Building (which will be livestreamed). For our in-person worshippers, we will also be serving communion together in celebration of the Last Supper. On Easter Sunday, we will host three in-person services—in the Barclay at 8:15am, again at 9:30am (which will be livestreamed), and 11:00am in the sanctuary. Again, we will ask all worshippers to be masked and try to remain at least six feet apart during the worship services.
God embodies our worship. He desires our worship. He enjoys our worship. Come! Let us worship and adore Him!
To the Praise of His Glory, Henry
