In Ephesians 4:16, Paul emphasizes that every part of the body has a function to perform. When all of the parts are working in accordance, the body grows in love. Likewise, the Church is formed by the union of its members under Christ who is the head, and just as the human body grows until it arrives at maturity by every part performing its proper function, so does the Church grow by the proper exercise of the spiritual gifts in service to one another. Every member must be a contributing member of the body with responsibilities and roles toward the growth of the whole.
The Church is the people of God, not a brick and mortal edifice. It is the Body of Christ joined and held together as each part does its work. In Greek, “church” literally means “called out.” The Church is a community of believers called out of the world, “joined and held together by every supporting ligament, growing and building itself up in love, as each member does its work.”
APC now ministers through drive-in worship in the church’s back parking lot in addition to its on-line worship service. To make this happen, we took to heart Ephesians 4:16, forming a union under Christ: the property committee built an outdoor pulpit; the worship committee designed a parking plan, coordinating ushers/greeters; the music team nourishes our soul with beautiful music; the audio sound team sets up equipment, positioning speakers and setting up microphones with healthy input signals, and the members and the ministers work together in support. The outdoor drive-in worship was made possible because of our commitment to work together. Just as the human body is a collection of many different parts and organs, each with a unique function and purpose, so does each of us, with our different gifts and abilities, function in unity for a common purpose.
Many thanks to committees, members, and volunteers. It is a blessing to see people face to face, masks on and socially distanced, worshipping together in the same space. As COVID-19 continues to spread, APC continues to minister. As we gather outside for worship, we physically and spiritually connect while maintaining a safe distance. In a time of uncertainty, our drive-in worship is fostering a community of shared responsibilities and commitment, and APC is growing and maturing, properly exercising gifts and graces of individuals for the benefit of the whole.
