Going to Church (and not from our living room sofa)

 

Yesterday we drove to Church of The Savior, formerly known as the South Bend Christian Reformed Church, put on our masks, and found socially distanced seats in the sanctuary.  As we greeted a few people outside, a young man came up on his skateboard and wondered if it was safe to leave it outside.  I was hesitant but went into my church lady mode and asked him if he was a visitor.  He was--his second time at church--and an exchange student from the Netherlands.  I was not sorry I asked and later gave him our phone numbers.  

Worshipping and singing with a mask on was uncomfortable.  But it was good to worship with others and to hear the familiar voice of Chris Mihut leading the liturgy and John Haas preaching and to hear the amazing David Banga on the piano enlivening the hymns.  We look forward to hearing Pastor Chris Rea preach next week. Our first Sunday back at "our church" was the church picnic so we had lots of opportunity to visit at the tables under the shade trees and to enjoy burgers and a variety of potluck salads and desserts.  

The babies are now all two years old.  A few more mothers are visibly pregnant again.  We missed three dear friends who passed away in the last two years.  We missed several others who may have been on vacation or just unwilling to be in large groups of people.  We'll look for them next week when a special back to school blessing service will be held outside.  

It was good to worship in community again especially a community in which we knew almost everyone.  It was good to see and meet a few newcomers as well--in a church which has always been a transitional place for the academic community here in South Bend.  May God bless the Church of the Savior, small but mighty!