Valentine's Day is this Sunday. Normally we make a big to-do of the day but with the pandemic still raging we are limiting it to some candy for each person present. The last Sunday of January we had to cancel services. If you remember, we meet outside on the church grounds early Sunday morning. Rarely does it rain but that Sunday it did...all night and into the morning. We are fortunate. We have had to cancel services only three times since the first Sunday of June, twice for inclement weather and once for a COVID-19 scare...which turned out to be nothing.
Attendance is frequently in the mid-fifties about 60% of our regular 75-95 attendance. I am told that is much better than many churches with a 35% attendance. Some churches in PR have not met since the pandemic began to affect the island in March. I wonder if those churches will be able to start again when things settle down. We are at the point of beginning youth classes during the preaching time. Since the summer they have been meeting each week via ZOOM. That is the case as well for the ladies group.
It is hard to do ministry at a time such as this. So many, particularly the older ones, are wary of inviting people into their homes. So, when I do go by I usually stay at the gate to put everyone at ease.
Mary and I were offered the COVID-19 vaccine a couple of weeks ago. We had the second injection Wednesday. No major reactions other than a low grade fever and low energy levels; all expected reactions.
Looking back over 2020, my first reaction is negative. Attendance went down to 50-60%. Visitors were few and far between. Offerings dropped...but did better than I had expected. Many of the events on the calendar we had to cancel. Some of the ministries we had to curtail because of the spacing restrictions. There were few conversions because we couldn't visit people in their homes. Early curfew hours complicated matters as well.
Nevertheless, there are many reasons to be thankful. Many churches felt compelled to close their doors. We didn't and won't. The core members have been quite faithful in all ways. Both women and youth have adjusted to weekly ZOOM meetings. The church had multiple opportunities to bless many people on MANY occasions throughout the year with food and personal items. In addition, the church helped people with cash gifts to help defray electricity and water bills, funeral expenses, heath care costs, building materials for January's earthquake victims, earthquake relief monies for supplies such as lanterns and bedding. Our congregation provided money to buy paint and pay salaries of two men who painted the church building. I did a "guesstimate" and concluded that some months the church gave 30% above and beyond its monthly commitments. Santos Torres, John Gidley or I traveled weekly to the city of Ponce (southside of the island) to come along side of Sammy Muñoz, to start a church, a plant sponsored by Grand Strand Christian Church, Myrtle Beach, SC. We are hoping that soon, permits to build a building will be forthcoming. So I can say, "We are blessed!" Yes we are! We hope you too can see blessings in spite of this pandemic.
To close I have added couple of photos of the beaches around our town this time of year. Enjoy!
Johnathan and Mary Reece
Golondrinas Beach Isabela, PR near Aguadilla |
Crashboat Beach, Aguadilla Photographer unknown |
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