By Beth Fulmer – Messiah, Mauldin
This year’s Synod Assembly theme, “As We Boldly Go to Proclaim,” is certainly appropriate, considering the past year, as we experienced the Covid pandemic. We all grieve what we lost; however, the pandemic taught us creative and bold ways to spread God’s Word. God did not intend for us to stay within the confines of a church; He said to “go out and spread the word,” and that is what so many South Carolina churches did. “People, be not afraid to walk in victory.” Covid did not stop us from serving, sharing, and proclaiming our love of Jesus Christ.
The pandemic pushed us to “be brave,” knowing that the Lord, our God is with us. During our opening worship, The Rev. Jason Lee (St. Philip, Myrtle Beach) focused on the sacrament of Baptism, asking us to give thanks for all of the holy water, including oceans, lakes and streams. We give thanks for all sources of the Living Water.
Whether we were standing on the church steps, receiving the sacrament of communion from our car, or singing the praises of Baptism on the lawn of the church, we boldly proclaimed our love of Jesus Christ, refusing to let Covid slow us down.