BROADCASTS.com

\u201cAgain, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.\u201d (Matthew 18:19-20)

The worship page on our church's website has, since the beginning of the lock down way back in March, begun with these words:

Welcome to Worship not at but as Immanuel CRC! We gather in homes across the area under Jesus\u2019 promise that: \u201cwhere two or three gather in my name, there am I with them\u201d (Matthew 18:20). Whether worshiping alone today or gathered with others, as you join the prayers, songs, and scripture of this service, you join in worship together, in faith, with a whole church family.

This promise of Jesus is a very special one indeed, especially for times like these when we worship in the wilderness, separated from the rest of our community by time and space. I mean that quite literally: we worship at different times and different spaces now than we did when we all came together at a single time and at a single place in the church building.

So, the promise that Jesus is with us anyway, even in small groups, even when separated by time and space from one another is pretty radical. It's pretty comforting and empowering, too.

Of course, Jesus' words were already pretty radical back in His day. The Jewish faith of that time required ten adult males in order for the practice of corporate worship to take place. If you didn't have ten men together, you could not have corporate worship.

So, Jesus not only drops the qualification of gender, but He also radically lowers the qualification of quantity. "

Jesus raises up the place of the small prayer group, conferring great power and privilege upon them. They don't only have access to the throne, but the king comes to them\u2014so the time and place don't really matter\u2014the king meets you whenever and wherever you are. And, this small prayer group is not only heard by the King, but when they agree in what they ask, the King moves in action on their request.

As we are separated from the large corporate gatherings of worship in our central building, we have been given an opportunity to discover anew the power and privilege promised by Jesus to the small prayer group. It is the promise of His presence, of His reception of our prayers, worship, and devotion. It is the promise of His action in our lives and in the life of the world. In short: it's the promise that where two or three gather\u2014they are still His church. The corporate body in worship, discipleship, and mission.

So, as restrictions are eased in our Province and City around group gatherings, it's an excellent time to start gathering together for worship with two or three, or maybe even up to ten others, if you can do so within the health guidelines, and if you're comfortable with it. You can gather in a back yard, run a power cord out and set up your computer or TV so all can see and participate, sing and pray together. Or maybe you can think of other creative ways.

You could gather with some or all of your Faith Family, with some of your relatives, with some of your neighbors, or with some of your friends.

And, it's an especially good time to do it, because this Sunday, we'll be celebrating the Lord's Supper together. So, if you gather in a group, invite everyone to bring their own bread and juice with them so that you can participate in the community of communion together in a tangible way.

"Where two or three gather in my name, says Jesus, there am I with them."

If you'd like more information on our Council's approved plan for a spectrum of worship options that includes the options of Single Homes and individuals, but also of Networks of small gatherings, head to our church's website and click the Scattered <=> Gathered icon.

\xa0