I recall as a young ‘tween in VBS making a banner with a crude sketch of a church on burlap with this accompanying Bible verse underneath: I was glad when they said to me “Let us go to the house of the Lord” (Psalm 122:1).
Growing up in a rural Lutheran congregation and community, I was glad to “go to the house of the Lord.” That is what you did. That is where you joined up with your friends. That is where you had youth group. That is where, after evening Lenten services, you went to the local ice rink to watch hockey with your friends.
The House of the Lord was the hub of activity. The pandemic changed the hub of activity in every aspect of our lives, especially activity in our place of worship. Even though restrictions are slowly being lifted, are we glad when they say, “Let us go to the house of the Lord”? Or is fear holding us back? Is the sin of slothfulness keeping you in pj’s, watching streamed worship services along with a hot beverage?
It will be difficult transitioning back to a changed normalcy. As followers of Christ, we should be glad when called to “go to the house of the Lord.” In the house of Lord, we are fed and nourished by the Word of God, we are strengthened in our faith, sins forgiven in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. By these means, we are encouraged but also by Christian fellowship. That is where joy abounds as we see friends smile not hidden by masks. That is where we gather to plan and execute the Lord’s mission work. That is where after Divine Service we may gather at a coffee shop to chat about life’s joys and trials.
You and I can be proclaimers to others: “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Be loving encouragers as we return to in-person worship. Our mission field may be our own congregations. Welcome others back with little gifts such as Christian bookmarks or individual packaged cookies or gum.
The gift tags come in a sheet of several for printing and trimming to size. Order your gift tag page from LWMLC’s Download on Demand (DOD) at dod@lutheranwomen.ca.
Check out the bookmarks at https://lutheranwomen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Bookmark-final-theme-2021-full-page.pdf if you want to download and print. Or order from the LWMLC Resource Centre at resourcecentre@lutheranwomen.ca.
And Lord, may we be glad when they say, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Amen.