In December I wrote you about “maintaining the unity” as we were facing new regulations due to the Omicron variant of the Corona Virus.  Here’s how I ended that “note”:

So, please pray for me, pray for your leadership team as we navigate these issues. And can I invite us all to be looking to     sacrifice, to serve and to bless.  I think at the end of the day, this will make us even stronger and closer to one another and closer to Jesus.

Thank you for your prayers and thank you for your hard work at maintaining unity in our community.

In the past month I’ve had several conversations and received several messages about our second service.  Those who are happy with the second service have voiced their opinions more with their attendance than their pen.  I’ve heard mostly from those who are not sure it is a wise decision.  With every one of those who think the second service is unwise I have not detected a spirit of dis-unity at all.  In fact, their thoughts and opinions were surrounded with a tone of unity.  A sense of ownership.  A sense of: “We are in this together…even if we aren’t sure about this latest plan!”

I’ve been in full-time ministry a long time, and I’ve never been around a collective group of people who were able to speak truthfully, yet lovingly like you have.  Honest in your disagreement, but steadfast in your commitment to unity.  And to you I say: "Thank you" and to God I say: “Wow!”

The vision of ECC is about people connecting with God and each other.  It’s about creating an environment for growth.  It’s about serving and blessing not only each other but those outside of our community as well.  And this vision hasn’t changed. Our plans and decisions about how to move forward with this vision does change.  Our environment (pandemic, government regulations, health, demographics, etc.) demands it.  I want to be clear about this: Our plans are not the vision.  Plans can change regularly.  The vision doesn’t.  No plans should be seen as sacred.  And neither the leadership team nor I see the second service plan as sacred.  It’s just a plan for now.  It may become more than a plan, or it may become a plan we decide to cease.

It’s still uncertain.  Much of what is next for us is quite uncertain.  We all have heard rumors of about the next announcement from Dr. Bonnie Henry, but that is uncertain as well.

But what is clear, what is not uncertain, is that God is trustworthy and is in control.  And so, we put our trust in God, not in our plans.  Our vision is certain and that is not going to change.

Can I encourage you to keep putting your trust in God?  Stay with the vision.  And to bear with the plans.  Most of all, can I ask you to keep praying for me and the leadership team as we lead during times of uncertainty.