Get Educated: Join the Conversation on Racial Injustice
In a time when images of racial injustice are opening more eyes to the magnitude of the problem, we know it can leave many evaluating (maybe for the first time) what their role can or should be in moving toward change. Fortunately, we also find ourselves in a time when reputable resources are more accessible than ever as well.
Love is What is Required of Us
This week, let's make sure to love. That is our requirement. To be certain, the kind of love Jesus modeled is rarely the easy kind of love. Right now, there are all kinds of social/political toxicity in our world. Loving with a sacrificial, action-oriented love may not be easy, but it is the only right decision.
Go Ahead and Write Your Letter
I don’t know about you, but the word “distance” has become a regular part of my vocabulary. I have no idea how often I used the word back in January, but I can assure you that my daily use of the word has at least doubled, if not tripled, throughout the spring. And while not only is the use of the word but also the actual practice of the concept of “distance” in my daily life pretty different now, there is one marked area of my life where it’s not such a new practice.
Risk Comfort
If you are anything like me, the sheer size of the problem can be paralyzing. I do not pretend to have all the answers, but here is a place to start. Start by talking about it with your family. Talk to your kids, in an age-appropriate manner. Kids of every color need to know that this matters. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Use your voice to talk about it at church, in your Connect group, with your friends. I’m asking my kids how they are going to use their voices. Boldly speak up and stand up when you see prejudice, hate, or injustice. Risk comfort and reach out to those who look different than you.
COVID-19 Update: What Phase One of Reopening Means for Summit
As Florida enters phase one of reopening, I want to give you a quick update as this pertains to our thoughts and plans moving forward. Our posture throughout this season has been to follow our local leaders, act wisely, lead by example, and do our very best to fully engage in living out Summit’s vision in whatever environment we find ourselves in. We will continue to forge ahead with these as our priorities.
God Uses All of It
In the past month, though, a global pandemic has changed the way we do church, which begs the question, “If part of being the Church means serving those around us, how do we do that when we’ve been asked to stay home? How can we be the hands and feet of Jesus to others when we’re supposed to stay six feet away from them?” Many of our regular routines and activities have been suspended during this season, but a foster family can’t press pause on caring for the kids in their home. In fact, as kids are home full-time from school and other activities, foster kids need the love and support of adults in their lives more than ever. No one knows that better than foster moms like Jackie and Shannon.
The Secret to Contentment
If our feelings of being “over it” drive our actions, then our actions will battle or deny the reality that “it” is not over. It is better for our actions to remain anchored in reality and that we learn how to train our feelings accordingly.
A New Way to Worship
There is so much bad news being circulated in this season, but this—that church can still happen—is really, really great news. There are still opportunities to fight to hope. There has always been, and will always be, good news circulating in every season.
A New Way to Worship
There is so much bad news being circulated in this season, but this—that church can still happen—is really, really great news. There are still opportunities to fight to hope. There has always been, and will always be, good news circulating in every season.
Hospitality at Home
The version of hospitality that I’ve grown comfortable with may not be an option right now, and I am looking forward to the day when hugs in the Lobby are permissible again, but hospitality is just as prevalent today as it was a few weeks ago. It simply looks different.
Twenty-One Days of Prayer and Scripture
In this time that is so different than we may want, or certainly different than we expected, let’s connect with God through prayer and Scripture. My invitation and challenge for us all is to commit to read Scripture and pray daily for the next 21 days.
Communion at Home
Now that we find ourselves in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic and are practicing social distancing, it begs the question—what do we do now? Can we still participate in communion even though we are not gathering together in person for worship? The answer is a resounding yes!
Creative and Constant
God is creative and constant in his pursuit of us—not just the universal us, but each and every one of us as individuals. God meets us right where we are. Where we are physically—our space and place—where we are mentally, where we are emotionally, and where we are spiritually. And as any or all of those aspects of “where we are” change, so does the way God pursues us. He is never shocked or surprised or stumped.
Let's Pray
Although we aren’t meeting together right now as a church and you won’t find the prayer team waiting expectantly for your arrival at the end of a service, the team is more dedicated than ever to praying for you. Every request that is submitted to the church online or via social media is funneled to the prayer team and now, more than ever, our commitment to stand with you in prayer is unwavering.
Let Me Hold These Promises
I stress. I worry. I live in the hypothetical of “what if” or “if only.” But I was recently reminded that while God may not give us grace for the hypothetical, he abundantly gives us grace for the here and now—our present circumstances.
Not for Ourselves
When people are in need, the back of my car usually fills up. It has been filled to the brim with things that people need—people who matter, who are loved by Jesus, and who should be loved by the people that follow him. When people are in need, the back of my car fills up thanks to so many in this church family coming together to step up and help out. And it is a privilege to see it.
Let Us Be Bacon
The Church, in its truest form, is carried in the people who bear the name of Christ. If this week church for me looks like worship with my wife and kids, I welcome the opportunity. If for you, it looks like connecting with your people digitally and together engaging in the service online, then make the most of it. Doing so is not a lesser version of church—it is what the Church does in these exact circumstances.
COVID-19 Update: On-Site Meeting Guidelines
Following the most recent update on the community impact of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, we are honoring the recommendations of our community leaders and doing our part to prevent the possibility of community spread. As per the guidelines of the local emergency declaration for Orange County by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demmings, we are practicing good citizenship and suspending services until otherwise notified. We will continue to make sermon audio and video available online.
What Do We Do With Our Fear?
The question we should be asking is not “Should we be feeling fear?” but rather “What do we do with our fear?” We all face fear, so what do we do with our fear? Fear is like a car—it moves us. It takes us somewhere. If our level of fear is mostly fueled by uncertainty, then where this fear moves us is toward what is certain.
Information Regarding COVID-19
Many of you are following updates on the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. We are also paying attention to how this may affect Florida. If you are wondering how the current situation will affect Summit, we want to make you aware of our current plans based on the available information.