The past few months have brought a sudden burst of new technology into my little world.  I thought I was fairly up to date with  email and texting, but I hadn’t seen anything yet!  Our family still gathers together, but now it’s via the marvel of  Zoom.   Just when I was becoming accustomed to Zoom,  I was introduced to the wonders of sharing via FlipGrid.  And all in a couple months!

Even gathering for worship was a new experience with opportunities on Facebook and YouTube.  Worship could be shared our with my home congregation, and also with churches from years past.   Different styles of worship were refreshing and inspirational.  It wasn’t a matter of which was “better,” it was simply a chance to hear the message of God presented by old friends and in different ways.

God’s leads his people in wonderful ways.  Think of the Israelites.  He led them through the wilderness with a miraculous pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. His wonders showed His limitless care for his people.

We are the people of God walking through this moment of history and our God is leading us.  Yes, we have no pillar of fire or cloud to guide us but perhaps we can see the marvels of technology as God’s gift to us in this time.   The following quote from Pope John Paul II in 2005 struck me as particularly relevant.  “Don’t be afraid of technology! (It) ranks among the marvelous things which God has placed at our disposal to discover.”

The church is far more than a building.  Our worship isn’t limited by four walls. We’ve discovered that through technology  the  message of our worship can reach out to a  wider audience.   Please understand, I’m not putting down the traditional worship we have come to know and love.  But through our circumstances we’ve been introduced to new ways of connecting.  Is the Almighty God opening our eyes to new ways of spreading His Gospel?

There’s a whole new exciting world out there.  I’m glad this 79 year old grandmother is having the chance to taste the wonder of it all.

Judy