Born For Such A Time
Perhaps You Were Born For Such A Time As This (January 2022 Update)
Dear Friends,
It is time for our January 2022 update! It seems we find ourselves in the midst of yet another spike in Covid-19 cases. The new Omicron variant is so contagious. On New Year’s Day, South Carolina officially surpassed the one million mark for total COVID-19 cases. On Tuesday, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reported a total of 50,653 cases for the previous week – the highest weekly total of the entire pandemic. As many of you know, despite all our precautions, the Belman family was among those who tested positive this week. While we have missed being present with you, we are grateful for the faithful care we have received from our doctors, along with your abundant prayers.
At Bethel, we are working to identify the best way to move forward in ministry until the tide turns. Nevertheless, our mission remains the same and there is much work to be done!
Much Work To Be Done
It is incumbent upon us to continue following Jesus by loving God and loving our neighbors. For now, all our ministries will continue as planned. While gatherings such as Worship, Sunday School and Bible Study will remain mask optional, I encourage you to consider wearing a face mask at all times while indoors. I also encourage you to be vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19 if it is medically safe for you to do so. Most importantly, please follow the advice of your healthcare provider regarding which precautions to take.
While the news may seem discouraging, let us remember God has placed us in this place at this time. Our job as individual Christians and as a church is to faithfully follow Jesus in here and now. In thinking about this idea, I am reminded of something I heard a World War II veteran say. Toward the end of his life, I was blessed to sit with this man as he reflected on some of his experiences as a pilot in the Pacific. I thanked him for his service and for sharing his stories with me. He responded by saying, “I didn’t do anything a million other men wouldn’t have done.” When I encouraged him not to downplay his service, he said, “I was the one who was there when something needed doing, so I did it.”
That idea has stuck with me. My friends, God has made us God’s church during a worldwide pandemic. We are the ones who are here, and the mission remains. Let us continue to faithfully follow Jesus by knowing, loving, serving…. so the world will know Christ!
Faithfully,
Rev. Julie Belman