We Can Worship!
In March of 2020, when the pandemic measures were first instituted, our church could not gather. As the restrictions loosened, we were able to gather with limitations. And now, for the time being at least, we can gather without them. We can worship, in-person, together.
This habit of weekly worship is an essential part of our faith. So much so that the writer of Hebrews cautions his readers against forsaking it. Hebrews 10:24-25 says And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Heb 10:24-25)
The habit of weekly worship is important because it is a key to our personal and corporate growth.
Unfortunately, coming to worship while the coronavirus remains a plausible threat to health is not a good option for some, especially the immunocompromised.
For that reason, and anticipating that some in our fellowship may, for a variety of reasons, make the choice to avoid in-person gatherings into the fall and winter months, we have begun streaming our worship services live again, at both 8:30 and 11:00. You can access the stream via YouTube, search for United Baptist Church Ellsworth Maine and click the live video icon. The stream will be available 10 minutes prior to each service but is not available once the service starts—so please get to worship early!
We are in the process of adding technology to make the quality of the stream as good as we can make it. We are also looking at ways for on-line attenders to “log in”, so you can acknowledge your presence with us on-line.
Of course, the digital worship option falls short of the in-person experience and we hope everyone who is able to meet in-person will do so.
At the same time, we want to encourage those who should not meet in person—members with underlying health conditions, compromised immune systems, close contacts with people who have COVID, people who are not feeling well for whatever reason– to stay home and worship with us on-line!
For those times when it is not possible for you to worship in-person or via the stream, we encourage you to sign up for the UBC podcast via our website https://ubcellsworth.org/
And in addition to the podcast, we will continue to post sermons on the website and on Facebook early in the week in which the sermon is delivered.
Brothers and sisters, we believe strongly in the importance of worship and are making every effort to keep our body together in it, whether in-person, on-line or through posted messages.
This pandemic has made it so we can’t do a lot of things we’d like to. But despite the pandemic, we can worship!
Hope you’re having a blessed day!
Pastor Scott