The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect every aspect of church and society. In mid-March, Northside Church suspended all gatherings and shifted to online worship only. Easter marked the fifth Sunday without public worship.

I keep waiting for the “new normal” everyone talks about, but it hasn’t arrived yet. Each week presents new challenges and opportunities.

Working in a COVID-19 world feels like assembling an IKEA project while wearing heavy gloves. Completing the project might be possible, but it requires an inordinate amount of time, energy, effort, and patience.

However, the church is learning new ways to do old and new things. Also, we are discovering that some of the old things weren’t worth doing at all. How will the present crisis inform future ministry?

In Isaiah 43:19, God proclaimed, “Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

Challenge and opportunity arrive together. Normal won’t be back. God, allow your church to be open to the new things you are birthing.