| A Midweek MessageFebruary 3, 2021 Hello Members of St. Paul,I hope all of you are enjoying the snowy weather! Today the sun is shinning and the snow brings an extra brightness to the earth. Starting next week and for the entire season of Lent we will have some new voices bringing you midweek messages! Stay tuned and blessings to all of you. In the peace of the Risen Christ, Rev. Aaron Baughman (interim pastor) At-Home Communion for Everyone Would you like to participate in communion from home? St. Paul is now offering at home communion to everyone who is worshiping from home. Simply send an email to Jeanine at jeanine_secretary@sbcglobal.net or call her at 614-563-3230 to sign up communion kits will be blessed by Rev. Aaron before distribution. Be sure to note how many people are in your family. If you are interested in helping with distribution please let us know!“Food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. “– Excerpt from 1 Corinthians 8 |
 This passage is actually from one of our texts from last week. As I read over them this past Sunday, I found God speaking to me in regards to communion. During the pandemic, I have found many friends, colleagues, and church members mention how much they miss the act of having communion together. Being one of the most holy things that we do as a church I can understand why people have been missing this sacrament, but I am reminded that food will not bring us close to God. Early on in the pandemic, the pastor who baptised me, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, urged churches not to partake in Communion outside of the traditional way that is experienced on a Sunday Morning. She suggested that we take this time as a fast as we reflect upon the meaning of communion and I fully agree with her. That being said I have provided at-home communion to both the congregation here, and to my previous parish in Washington. That is because I believe it has more to do with the action of us offering a way to comfort others in a time that has been anything but normal. I also agree with what Paul is saying here that we are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. The promises and covenant that Christ has made with us was formed in our baptism and there is nothing more that we need to do for these gifts to hold true. So know that as much as I am certain you might long to be back in person and be able to partake in communion with your church family, Christ still holds us together through the waters of our baptism. Blessings Rev. Aaron Baugman  This Sunday will be livestream ONLYInstructions to watch Live StreamYou don’t have to watch it live. You can watch it anytime during or after the service.You can go to youtube.com and search: “St. Paul Lutheran Church New Rome, OH” You can subscribe and get an email when we are live. It is also posted on our website and Facebook page.Facebook-www.facebook.com/stpaullutherancolumbusohiochurch website: http://stpaulnewrome.com |