“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40)

“Let all things be done decently and in order”

1 Corinthians 14:40

God is a God of order and peace.

Therefore, it’s reasonable to expect that He expects decency and order

when the church comes together for worship or for any other purpose.

How do we maintain decency and order when, because of the Covid-19 safety measures, we have to learn to do routine things by new ways within a compressed timeframe? The church was in uncharted waters, so to speak.

While we are rightly concerned with ministering pastoral care and edification to our members, we have to carefully balance this with the equally pressing concern for their health and safety. The uncertainty is compounded by the lack of understanding of how the virus is actually spreaded. Level-headed regulatory and health authorities issued advisories at a fast pace -all designed to help protect us and the nation.

In this unprecedented environment we moved to carry out our Sunday worship services online, and conduct meetings, fellowship activities, bible studies, etc., via digital means. New (particularly digital) skillsets were required to carry these out successfully. People and tech skills were promptly co-opted into service.

We have, in this regard, plenty to thank God for because He does provide! Members - especially those with digital media skills - stepped up to help in the work of video and audio recording and editing work. Virtual decency and some measure of order was achieved.

Another obligatory event that needed to be carried out virtually this year is the Annual Congregation Meeting. It is inordinately delayed because of the need to comply with the isolating and social distancing measures. However, we are now permitted to conduct the meeting virtually; carry out the voting by proxy, and “file our returns” before the end of September. We were, so to speak, in the deep end of the pool and had to learn to swim or sink.

We learned to swim! Amidst many other pressing issues, and after weeks of work, we thank God that the jigsaw pieces are falling in place and we are on track to hold what I pray will be a successful ACM.

Only by the grace of God can we conduct our matters of business decently and in order.

Pastor Robert Chew