疫情有如照妖鏡 The Pandemic Revealed Our True Self

疫情有如照妖鏡(何尚允法政牧師)

世紀疫情突然來襲,各人措手不及。然而,當2020年3月政府宣佈封城,我還是要感謝神,因祂早已預備了熟悉電腦和影音操作的弟兄,製作網上崇拜。因教會長者較多,要他們轉用手機電腦上網聚會,實在談何容易!有賴不少兄姊和教牧同工的協助,各人亦陸續熟悉新常態。後來發現仍有未能在家上網的教友,在限聚令放寬後,我們就邀請他們於週六崇拜錄影時段,返回教會敬拜;其他行動不便的,就把每主日講道的講章派發給他們,確保各人每週仍能得到屬靈餵養。

回想疫情3年,有如一面照妖鏡:有信徒更加珍惜教會的肢體生活,也有信徒失卻熱心,隨流失去。有人堅持每天讀經禱告,與主關係甜如蜜;但亦有人只會埋怨別人,看不見疏遠的種子,其實早已萌生。不知聖靈透過這段日子,讓你有何體會?

The Pandemic Revealed Our True Self (Rev. Canon Edmund Ho)

When the pandemic suddenly struck, everyone was caught off guard. Nonetheless, when the lockdown was announced in March 2020, I still had to thank God, for He had already prepared brothers who were familiar with computers and AV operations so that we could worship online. Helping our large number of elderly members switch to using mobile phones and computers for online meetings was no easy task! With the help of many brothers and sisters, as well as pastors, everyone gradually became familiar with this “new normal”. For those who were not able to attend online services, we invited them to come back to church during the Saturday recording sessions once the restrictions were eased. For those with mobility issues, we distributed the weekly sermon to them, ensuring they could still receive spiritual nourishment each week.

Looking back at the three years of the pandemic, it was like a mirror that revealed the true self in many of us: some believers grew to cherish the body life of the church more, while others lost their enthusiasm and drifted away. Some insisted on reading the Bible and praying every day, enjoying their intimate relationship with the Lord; but there were also those who chose to complain, unable to see that the seeds of estrangement had already begun to sprout long before. What experiences has the Holy Spirit led you to during this period?