LBC Is Open For Ministry

Beloved,

I’m sure you’ve heard by now that the Montgomery County Judge has ordered everyone to stay at their place of residence except for essential activities through April 12 and the President has extended the federal guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic until April 30.

Thankfully, we live in a country and a county that views the ministry of churches as essential and have allowed us to continue to provide worship services via livestream and individual counseling as long as social distancing protocols are followed.

So as we all settle in to the new normal, we want you to know that our church office will remain open for ministry during the following hours:

     Monday (Closed)
     Tuesday (9:00am-5:00pm)
     Wednesday (9:00am-5:00pm)
     Thursday (9:00am-5:00pm)
     Friday (9:00am-12:00pm)

As most of you know, last week our beloved Executive Assistant, Marilyn Judd, retired after seven faithful years of service at LBC. She will be tremendously missed but we are excited for what God has in store for this next chapter in her life and in the life of our church.

Since most of our church activities have been suspended until further notice, our two other Administrative Assistants, Michelle Taylor (Student Ministry) and Gwen Elliott (Children’s Ministry), have graciously agreed to temporarily share Marilyn’s duties to get us through this significant transition in our administrative staff which is being overshadowed by the global health crisis.

For the time being, they will be working remotely from home and answering all calls and receiving all emails to the church. Our pastors will be taking turns being at the church during the above office hours to be available for those of you who want to drop off your offering and for anyone in our church or community who may desire some personal counsel. 

Our heart to continue to faithfully minister to you during the coronavirus outbreak is best summed up by Martin Luther in a letter he wrote to a fellow pastor who had asked Luther whether it was proper for Christians, and particularly ministers, to flee the dangers of a deadly plague that hit Europe hard in the early 1500’s. He said:

“I will pray to God that He may be gracious and preserve us. Then I will fumigate to purify the air, give and take medicine, and avoid places and persons where I am not needed in order that I may not abuse myself and that through me others may not be infected and inflamed with the result that I become the cause of their death through my negligence. If God wishes to take me, He will be able to find me. At least I have done what He gave me to do and am responsible neither for my own death nor for the death of others. But if my neighbor needs me, I shall avoid neither person nor place but feel free to visit and help him….Behold, this is a true and God-fearing faith which is neither foolhardy nor rash and does not tempt God.”

This is a great reminder to all of us that “No temptation/trial has overtaken us but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow us to be tempted/tried beyond what we are able, but with the temptation/trial will provide the way of escape also, that we may be able to endure it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

May God continue to grant us grace to endure this strange season of “lockdown limbo” where we can’t be physically connected the way God wired humans to be, and more importantly, the way He designed Christ’s Church to be.

Sheltering In Christ,
 
Ken Ramey
Pastor - Teacher

Originally released: March 31, 2020