Dear FPC Family and Friends,
The Corona Virus (Covid 19) has us all living in extraordinary times. We, your pastors, want you to know that you are far from alone. To combat the virus, assist our front line health care workers, and as part of loving our neighbor, we’re all observing conditions encouraging us to separate; yet, in Christ, we remain very much together. As the old hymn says,
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
That tie is in Him.
Given closings, social distancing, and various levels of quarantine, we might question Romans 8:31-39 as it tells us nothing can separate us. But, with God, we may add “Corona Virus” to the list of things which cannot stop God’s love, and understand that
Nothing can TRULY separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Right now, the medical community is telling us that isolation is our best friend against physical infection. But we know that God made us for connection with Him and each other. Therefore, it is a time to be intentional and creative, with God’s help: to keep self-care, care for one another, and our connections to God a vital part of each day.
You have let us know how much you appreciate our “staying alive” and continuing to function as a Church, which we are! We are still up and running. The Church is still alive, we have not shut down. We are preparing a weekly worship service online (
watch the service here
) so we can connect in that way each week. Our weekly Wednesday devotional continues to come out, plus our weekly Friday newsletter,
Connector
, plus other communications we think can be useful. Your pastors are here for you: praying daily, looking for opportunities to be of service and do what we can in different ways to help keep the congregation vital, and to provide pastoral care – even if that care might come more frequently by phone for now. The entire staff team has been pitching in to shift the work and ministry of FPC from real world to virtual world--not just worship but children’s, youth, family, and music ministries—so people can connect from home. The Session continues to meet virtually. Our Deacons and Stephen Ministers are still reaching out, respecting social distancing. Using “tele-care.” As we continue to figure out how we can be here for you, we have been overjoyed to see so many instances of so many of you being there for one another.
Christ is at work through FPC, still!
Holding onto our faith, let us all remember, therefore, that God is still God; in place on the heavenly throne; present in our tribulations, inviting us to calm our fears, staying before, behind, and beside us; at work with saving power within us. With Jesus as our savior, we remain together/apart a people of enduring hope.
Let’s keep being the Church!
Yours in continued service to Him,
Pastor Kirk and Pastor Ben
