Reflections from Rev - Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Dear Ebenezer Family:
Grace and Peace to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This spiritual greeting, comes from the pen of the Apostle Paul, who wrote over one half of the New Testament. Among the many Epistles he wrote, there is a group known as the Pastoral Epistles. These Epistles of Letters, as they are referred to today, were written to persons and groups, to provide instruction, encouragement and assurance, in times of challenge and difficulty.
In this age of technology, I am therefore writing you, a Pastoral Email. In this era of COVID-19, when Social Distancing, has become the norm, I want to be absolutely sure that we maintain our Spiritual Connection. We MUST! maintain our connectivity and the various platforms of social media, assist us in that endeavor. But, it does not take the place of that personal visible interaction, that warm handshake, that loving embrace, that engaging smile and that eye to eye contact. However, in this new normal of the coronavarius, we seek to adjust.
It has been an absolute joy and delight, staying in touch with some of our members via those BTC landline phones. Hearing the voices of our beloved brothers and sisters in faith, lifts my spirit and brings rays of sunshine to my day. May I, at this point, thank all those persons from our Fellowship, who have been staying in touch with one another. You calls, voice notes, texts, emails and posts, have become streams in the desert. Though, we may at times feel like "the Church Scattered," we are finding new ways to remain, "the Church Connected."
I ask your continued prayerful support, for families that have lost loved ones in recent days. The Douglas Carey and the Hubert Pinder Families, as they grieve the loss of their precious loved ones. Remember also, Mr. Herbert Knowles, who had another serious stroke and is in Doctors Hospital and all other persons, whose names are listed in our bulletins. Mr. Frank Williams and Mr. Mike Johnson, have been released from hospital and are recovering nicely.
Our plan is, to return to our regular services of worship on April 12, Easter Sunday, of course that is subject to the directives from the Government. As that time gets closer, we'll keep you informed. Oh! how I miss being together in worship, with our Ebenezer Family. The Conference and the Churches of the Nassau Region, have been providing services of worship on radio and via Facebook, as a means of outreach, I do hope, you have been able to avail yourselves of those blessings.
Please do remember, those persons whose employment and livelihoods, have been impacted by COVID-19. No doubt, these are anxious and challenging times for them. Let us exercise an awareness of and a sensitivity to the situations, in which they find themselves, as we seek to be channels of blessings.
I encourage you also to remember that the obligations of the Church continue, which means that our gifts and offerings, will be greatly needed so that Ebenezer, will return to her vital service to God and the community. Thank you, for your continued support of Ebenezer and may I assure you, that I have been putting aside, that portion of God's blessing that belongs to Him.
And so, my brothers and sisters, we continue to journey together in faith, as we face this new normal in our lives. We are assured that, God still has the whole world in His Great Big Hands and "our God is still in control, though pressures burden the soul. He allows both major and minor in His perfect harmony." It may seem like it's Good Friday, but remember Easter is coming. "Be of good courage, for He shall strengthen thine heart, wait I say on the Lord."
Receive this Benediction.
May God Almighty, Be above you to watch over you, Below you to support you; Before you to guide you; Behind you to protect you; Beside you to comfort you and Within you, to give you His Strength, Grace, Blessing, Peace, Hope and Joy. And the beloved people of God say, Amen! Amen! Amen!
With love, appreciation and gratitude,
Milton and Linda Lightbourne
Grace and Peace to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This spiritual greeting, comes from the pen of the Apostle Paul, who wrote over one half of the New Testament. Among the many Epistles he wrote, there is a group known as the Pastoral Epistles. These Epistles of Letters, as they are referred to today, were written to persons and groups, to provide instruction, encouragement and assurance, in times of challenge and difficulty.
In this age of technology, I am therefore writing you, a Pastoral Email. In this era of COVID-19, when Social Distancing, has become the norm, I want to be absolutely sure that we maintain our Spiritual Connection. We MUST! maintain our connectivity and the various platforms of social media, assist us in that endeavor. But, it does not take the place of that personal visible interaction, that warm handshake, that loving embrace, that engaging smile and that eye to eye contact. However, in this new normal of the coronavarius, we seek to adjust.
It has been an absolute joy and delight, staying in touch with some of our members via those BTC landline phones. Hearing the voices of our beloved brothers and sisters in faith, lifts my spirit and brings rays of sunshine to my day. May I, at this point, thank all those persons from our Fellowship, who have been staying in touch with one another. You calls, voice notes, texts, emails and posts, have become streams in the desert. Though, we may at times feel like "the Church Scattered," we are finding new ways to remain, "the Church Connected."
I ask your continued prayerful support, for families that have lost loved ones in recent days. The Douglas Carey and the Hubert Pinder Families, as they grieve the loss of their precious loved ones. Remember also, Mr. Herbert Knowles, who had another serious stroke and is in Doctors Hospital and all other persons, whose names are listed in our bulletins. Mr. Frank Williams and Mr. Mike Johnson, have been released from hospital and are recovering nicely.
Our plan is, to return to our regular services of worship on April 12, Easter Sunday, of course that is subject to the directives from the Government. As that time gets closer, we'll keep you informed. Oh! how I miss being together in worship, with our Ebenezer Family. The Conference and the Churches of the Nassau Region, have been providing services of worship on radio and via Facebook, as a means of outreach, I do hope, you have been able to avail yourselves of those blessings.
Please do remember, those persons whose employment and livelihoods, have been impacted by COVID-19. No doubt, these are anxious and challenging times for them. Let us exercise an awareness of and a sensitivity to the situations, in which they find themselves, as we seek to be channels of blessings.
I encourage you also to remember that the obligations of the Church continue, which means that our gifts and offerings, will be greatly needed so that Ebenezer, will return to her vital service to God and the community. Thank you, for your continued support of Ebenezer and may I assure you, that I have been putting aside, that portion of God's blessing that belongs to Him.
And so, my brothers and sisters, we continue to journey together in faith, as we face this new normal in our lives. We are assured that, God still has the whole world in His Great Big Hands and "our God is still in control, though pressures burden the soul. He allows both major and minor in His perfect harmony." It may seem like it's Good Friday, but remember Easter is coming. "Be of good courage, for He shall strengthen thine heart, wait I say on the Lord."
Receive this Benediction.
May God Almighty, Be above you to watch over you, Below you to support you; Before you to guide you; Behind you to protect you; Beside you to comfort you and Within you, to give you His Strength, Grace, Blessing, Peace, Hope and Joy. And the beloved people of God say, Amen! Amen! Amen!
With love, appreciation and gratitude,
Milton and Linda Lightbourne
Reflections from Rev - Saturday, March 21, 2020
Dear Ebenezer Family:
Christian greetings!
I trust that your week has gone well, in spite of the new challenges, brought on by COVID-19 and our ever changing circumstances.
Just wanted to update you on what we are seeking to do, to continue our ministry to the Ebenezer Church Family, during this time, when we are no longer meeting, as the Gathered Church.
I have been working with the ladies, in the office to get the most recent information, especially, cell phone numbers and email addresses, of persons in our congregation, so that we can begin to utilize these platforms, to reach out and stay connected to our people.
Unfortunately, that information has been very slow in coming, no fault of their own. I spoke with them on Friday, and they were supposed to have provided the info by email, however, I did not receive it. Therefore I am sending this email, to persons whose addresses I currently have.
As soon as I have the list of email addresses for the wider congregation, I shall be sending out a Pastoral Letter, to as many persons from the congregation as possible.
In the meantime, I am and will be working with my wife, Gia and others, so that we can use portions of previous services, which will be uploaded to the Ebenezer website and other social media platforms, thus enabling the ministry of Ebenezer to continue. From time to time, I will be posting prayers and meditations on WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook, so that persons utilizing these media platforms, can access them.
I assure you all, of my continued prayers for and ministry to the Ebenezer Family, during this time of uncertainty. I also encourage each of you, to continue to pray for, support, encourage and reach out to one another, so that together, we shall come through this experience more united, empowered and connected. May God continue to bless us, our families near and far, His Church and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Please feel free to forward this email, to others from our Fellowship. Thank you kindly!
"Be of good courage, for the best of all is, God is with us."
With love, thoughts and prayers,
Milton and Linda Lightbourne
Christian greetings!
I trust that your week has gone well, in spite of the new challenges, brought on by COVID-19 and our ever changing circumstances.
Just wanted to update you on what we are seeking to do, to continue our ministry to the Ebenezer Church Family, during this time, when we are no longer meeting, as the Gathered Church.
I have been working with the ladies, in the office to get the most recent information, especially, cell phone numbers and email addresses, of persons in our congregation, so that we can begin to utilize these platforms, to reach out and stay connected to our people.
Unfortunately, that information has been very slow in coming, no fault of their own. I spoke with them on Friday, and they were supposed to have provided the info by email, however, I did not receive it. Therefore I am sending this email, to persons whose addresses I currently have.
As soon as I have the list of email addresses for the wider congregation, I shall be sending out a Pastoral Letter, to as many persons from the congregation as possible.
In the meantime, I am and will be working with my wife, Gia and others, so that we can use portions of previous services, which will be uploaded to the Ebenezer website and other social media platforms, thus enabling the ministry of Ebenezer to continue. From time to time, I will be posting prayers and meditations on WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook, so that persons utilizing these media platforms, can access them.
I assure you all, of my continued prayers for and ministry to the Ebenezer Family, during this time of uncertainty. I also encourage each of you, to continue to pray for, support, encourage and reach out to one another, so that together, we shall come through this experience more united, empowered and connected. May God continue to bless us, our families near and far, His Church and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. Please feel free to forward this email, to others from our Fellowship. Thank you kindly!
"Be of good courage, for the best of all is, God is with us."
With love, thoughts and prayers,
Milton and Linda Lightbourne