Since the launch of Resonance Church with our first public service on Easter Sunday 2007, we've seen how the Lord has provided, guided and blessed our church. After an unexpected 18-month pause of in-person worship services, due to the global pandemic, we are now preparing for in-person gatherings again. Not only are we working on ensuring that government health guidelines are followed for the safety of the Resonance community, but we are also using a new facility for Sunday Worship.
Over the years, we've been a mobile church running our Sunday worship services at elementary schools for over 13 years. As the attendance grew at Resonance, there was a need for more space, especially for ResKids classes. In 2019 as we were seeking the Lord to find a new facility, an opportunity came up at Lansdowne Mall. The central location and larger space was appealing. We were excited to finalize our lease in March 2020 and start preparations to have our first service on Easter Sunday. However, within a few days of signing our contract, the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions put a stop to our plans and ever since, we have been doing Sunday worship services online.
The restrictions from the pandemic have changed our world in many ways, including how we’ve been running our church. By primarily going online for our Sunday services, as well as our LifeGroup and fellowship meetings, we've learned and adapted to be more of a digital church out of necessity.
Even though vaccines and easing of restrictions are allowing us to meet in person while we are still in the fourth wave of COVID-19, you might be asking: why should we get together, especially if it’s more convenient to stay home and “watch church” over a bowl of cereal or in your living room?
First of all, we come together (when it’s safe and legal to do so) because we are commanded to do so by our Lord. It’s something He wants us to do. “Do not neglect in meeting together,” the Bible says in Hebrews 10:25, and in 1 Timothy 4:13, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.”
Secondly, it’s more engaging to worship together as a group. For example, you can listen to music by yourself, but there’s a special energy and connection when you go to a concert and listen to music live with other fans. As “fans” of Jesus, we get to build upon the energy of others as we sing, pray, and worship together. “When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up,” according to 1 Corinthians 14:26. We are sharing joy and it is magnified when we do it together.
Finally, we come together because we need to see that we are not alone. Having the reassurance of the body of Christ surrounding us, encouraging us, and praying for us is what we all need when we struggle and stumble in our faith journey. This helps us grow as Christians, since we aren’t meant to be isolated in our lives with Christ.
I’d like to encourage you to engage and participate in the Res Community as we bring back in-person gatherings again. Here are some ways you can do this:
- Join in-person Sunday Worship services, starting on October 3rd at our new location at Lansdowne Mall in Richmond (see directions and map on our website).
- Get active in serving and allow the Lord to use you in one of our ministries. There are opportunities to serve in various areas such as Sunday Worship set-up, Hosting, Tech (audio/video), ResKids, and Care Ministry.
- Join a LifeGroup to connect and journey with others regularly in a small group setting. Please email lgministry@resonancechurch.org to sign up or ask questions about LifeGroups.
May God bless you with your involvement in building up His Kingdom!