Touching Base About Trinity Reopening
Posted Friday, May 8th, 2020
Trinity Family,
As a leadership team of Elders, Trustees, and Staff, we have sought to prayerfully and wisely navigate a challenging, changing, and constraining season of life and ministry. We all desire to gather together again. To do so, we want to use all available information to make informed, wise, and safe decisions for the sake of our church family, as well as our broader Nashua community. With respect to the available information from state and health agencies, we are currently in a holding pattern. I want to share how we will use this information to make decisions for Trinity.
What are the Guidelines for Reopening
Recently, Gov. Sununu extended the Stay-At-Home order from May 4 to May 31, while also launching the first of several phases of reopening New Hampshire (view details). Gov. Sununu has repeatedly tempered expectations to the speed of which this reopening will occur and so we are expecting this holding pattern to continue for some time.
This week, I listened in on the Governor's Economic Reopening Task Force meeting on Wednesday, May 6th. The original, published agenda included ‘Religious Organizations’ but that item was pushed to a future date. What I did learn from this meeting was the following process for how these potential guidelines for religious organizations will reach announcement:
My hunch is that these guidelines will be prepared for the next phase of re-opening in NH and become available sometime in June. We will hopefully learn the parameters of these guidelines next week and can use them as tentative guides for our preparation.
Additionally, we are also awaiting on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Interim Guidance for Communities of Faith (read a preview of the guidelines). These guidelines, while not legally binding, will be carefully considered and administered for our context. We want to provide a safe place with wise practices for our congregation and community.
This week, I listened in on the Governor's Economic Reopening Task Force meeting on Wednesday, May 6th. The original, published agenda included ‘Religious Organizations’ but that item was pushed to a future date. What I did learn from this meeting was the following process for how these potential guidelines for religious organizations will reach announcement:
- The sub-group within the Task Force that is assigned to ‘Religious Organizations’ is to have their work prepared for Monday, May 11.
- The Task Force will discuss and vote on all sub-groups guidelines on Tuesday, May 12.
- If the guidelines pass vote on May 12, they are then sent to NH Public Health for approval.
- With NH Public Health approval, those guidelines go to Gov. Sununu, who then determines when to announce and enact.
My hunch is that these guidelines will be prepared for the next phase of re-opening in NH and become available sometime in June. We will hopefully learn the parameters of these guidelines next week and can use them as tentative guides for our preparation.
Additionally, we are also awaiting on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Interim Guidance for Communities of Faith (read a preview of the guidelines). These guidelines, while not legally binding, will be carefully considered and administered for our context. We want to provide a safe place with wise practices for our congregation and community.
What This Means for Trinity
The re-opening of Trinity will be slow and sacrificial and follow a series of phases similar to what we are seeing in our communities broadly. It would be premature to lay out what this will look like since we do not have all the needed information from our state, but I can say we are planning for gathering together in safe numbers with multiple Sunday Services and continued use of live streaming. Other aspects of ministry on Sunday mornings will be added in later phases. One of the challenges to this next season is that it will be some time before we feel like we are all back together again. For some, this will be disappointing; for others, it will be understandable, which is why we need to pray.
What to Pray
This is certainly an unprecedented time for our nation, our state, and our church family. The decisions being made in all three of those contexts are challenging and complicated. We need to be diligent in prayer and I would ask you to commit to these three requests:
Pray for Wisdom
The need for wisdom in such challenging times is readily apparent! There are two passages in James that are instructive and helpful, especially right now:
I feel confident enough to speak for all of us in saying we lack the needed wisdom to handle this pandemic and recovery. It is beyond us. But, God does not lack wisdom and it is not beyond him. And, he gives wisdom generously. Please pray that we all would have wisdom for our day, but pray as ones who believe God and trust him and know that he will give it.
What will that wisdom look like, sound like, feel like? James 3 gives us that picture:
As we seek to lead Trinity through such an odd and unsettling season, let us do so pleading for the sort of wisdom that shows up full of mercy and good fruits and peace. Note well the character of wisdom given by God. Note well the good that this wisdom is toward others. Note well the culture that is fostered where God-given wisdom is abundant. Let us pray for such fruit!
Pray for Unity
I have become increasingly concerned by the growing division within the evangelical sphere in our country. Political perspectives, personal opinions, and proclivities to believe unsubstantiated theories have distracted our trust in God, eclipsed our call to care for one another, and obscured our witness to unbelievers around us. This division cannot take root in Trinity.
As I thought about this, I wrote down the following question: How will the principles behind the following passages shape our manner of “reopening” when that time comes?
Each passage has a specific, immediate context and application that I am not intending to undercut. However, I think each passage is also conveying a general sense of the sort of consideration we are to have for each other. Principally, these verses show a consideration for others that divests self-interest, personal preference, and politics.
The coming weeks and months are going to be challenging; more so than the last two. Some of our church family will feel very comfortable meeting together and some of our church family will not share that comfort. And we won’t all be together for a while. These are the ingredients that can create a divide or, better yet, they can foster intentional prayer and care for one another.
Let us choose to pray for a unity that shows genuine, selfless, and considerate care for one another as we navigate challenging circumstances.
Pray for Gospel Growth
While we have been providentially hindered from gathering for corporate worship and other various works of ministry together, we are not hindered from growing “in the grace and knowledge of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Please pray for hearts that are eager to know, trust, and grow in Christ.
Let me encourage you with these possible steps for prayerful growth:
This season doesn’t have to be filled with distractions, fear, or inactivity. We can grow in Christ. Pray for such growth.
Pray for Wisdom
The need for wisdom in such challenging times is readily apparent! There are two passages in James that are instructive and helpful, especially right now:
- If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. - James 1:5-6
I feel confident enough to speak for all of us in saying we lack the needed wisdom to handle this pandemic and recovery. It is beyond us. But, God does not lack wisdom and it is not beyond him. And, he gives wisdom generously. Please pray that we all would have wisdom for our day, but pray as ones who believe God and trust him and know that he will give it.
What will that wisdom look like, sound like, feel like? James 3 gives us that picture:
- But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. - James 3:17-18
As we seek to lead Trinity through such an odd and unsettling season, let us do so pleading for the sort of wisdom that shows up full of mercy and good fruits and peace. Note well the character of wisdom given by God. Note well the good that this wisdom is toward others. Note well the culture that is fostered where God-given wisdom is abundant. Let us pray for such fruit!
Pray for Unity
I have become increasingly concerned by the growing division within the evangelical sphere in our country. Political perspectives, personal opinions, and proclivities to believe unsubstantiated theories have distracted our trust in God, eclipsed our call to care for one another, and obscured our witness to unbelievers around us. This division cannot take root in Trinity.
As I thought about this, I wrote down the following question: How will the principles behind the following passages shape our manner of “reopening” when that time comes?
- Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2
- We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. - Romans 15:1-2
- “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. - 1 Corinthians 10:23
- Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. - Romans 12:10
- Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. - Colossians 3:12
Each passage has a specific, immediate context and application that I am not intending to undercut. However, I think each passage is also conveying a general sense of the sort of consideration we are to have for each other. Principally, these verses show a consideration for others that divests self-interest, personal preference, and politics.
The coming weeks and months are going to be challenging; more so than the last two. Some of our church family will feel very comfortable meeting together and some of our church family will not share that comfort. And we won’t all be together for a while. These are the ingredients that can create a divide or, better yet, they can foster intentional prayer and care for one another.
Let us choose to pray for a unity that shows genuine, selfless, and considerate care for one another as we navigate challenging circumstances.
Pray for Gospel Growth
While we have been providentially hindered from gathering for corporate worship and other various works of ministry together, we are not hindered from growing “in the grace and knowledge of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Please pray for hearts that are eager to know, trust, and grow in Christ.
Let me encourage you with these possible steps for prayerful growth:
- For every look you make to social media or whatever news outlet or whatever random theory, take ten looks to Christ in his Word. Seriously. Please.
- Dig deep in God’s Word; pray up your heart to see Christ there; share with others what God is pressing on your heart from his Word. Consider picking up "Journeys With Jesus" by Dennis Johnson or "Jesus On Every Page" by David Murray as helpful guides.
- Read and pray through Romans 8 once a week. And, if you are on Facebook, head over to Trinity’s Facebook page and catch the Facebook Live Monday Morning devotional I am doing through Romans 8 (then take ten more looks to Christ after being on social media 🙂).
- Commit to connect (Zoom, text, call, or socially-distant visit outside) with three other people each week for prayer and Bible reading. Perhaps, you can read selected Psalms together and then spend some time praying through them (see a great guide for praying the Psalms together).
This season doesn’t have to be filled with distractions, fear, or inactivity. We can grow in Christ. Pray for such growth.
We hope that you and your family are well. We want to help in whatever ways we can, so please reach out if you have any needs, concerns, questions or just want to reach out! Know that we are praying for you and are eager to see how God will use this season to strengthen Trinity and work through Trinity into the lives of others within our community.
Again, as we gain more information from our state and health agencies, we will be able to better chart our course for re-opening. Until then, please pray!
For Christ and His Glory,
Pastor Shawn Carpenter
Again, as we gain more information from our state and health agencies, we will be able to better chart our course for re-opening. Until then, please pray!
For Christ and His Glory,
Pastor Shawn Carpenter
