Dear Old Donation family, 
 
With the rapid spread of the coronavirus, we are attempting to respond as well as possible. Our first priority is to be faithful to Christ and God’s mission. Despite the health crisis, we will provide means to maintain your spiritual life and connection to God.
 
But for the immediate period, we are taking radical steps to minimize the spread. Read below and you will see our Bishop has called for all activities to be suspended for the next two weeks.

The following is a list of cancellations at Old Donation:

***The Funeral for Gene Allender is postponed until further notice***

  • Lenten Retreat (March 14)
  • All Sunday worship (March 15 & 22)
  • Office Angels (every week day, effective March 13)
  • Counters (March 16 & 23)
  • Bowling (March 16 & 23)
  • Stephen Ministers (March 23)
  • EfM (March 17 & 24)
  • Men's Breakfast (March 18 & 25)
  • Wednesday night supper and studies (March 18 & 25)
  • CREW (March 19 & 26)
  • Thursday worship and Bible study ( March 19 & 26)
  • Daughters of the King (March 22)
  • Audit Meeting (March 24)
  • Gathering Band Practice (March 17 & 24)
  • Choir Practice (March 19 & 26)
  • MOHS (March 22)
 
More will be known as we go through these two weeks, so look for more communication from us. I expect to have Sunday’s worship available on YouTube this Sunday afternoon for you.

Just to be clear: No Church meetings, worship, or social meetings until March 29. However, both Ashley and I will be available for pastoral needs, hospital visits, or other. Please continue to call or email us as you need, or if you have questions. We are always on this journey together. Please pray for healing for the world and for us: wisdom, ingenuity, safety, and faithfulness.

  ~Bob+
A message from Bishop Haynes - 
i mmediate suspension of all church activity
 
"Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    do not be alarmed, for I am your God.
I give you strength, truly I help you,
    truly I hold you firm with my saving right hand." 
(Isaiah 41:10, NJB)
 
Much has unfolded since I wrote to you less than 48 hours ago. Just yesterday, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic. Major universities, including many in our own Diocese, have closed their classrooms. Employers large and small, some in our own Diocese, are directing employees to stay home and telework. Numerous dioceses, including the Dioceses of Virginia and Washington, D.C., have suspended or sharply curtailed church activity.
 
To safeguard our people and those in our communities and to mitigate the rapid, uncontrolled spread of the coronavirus, all church activity including worship is suspended immediately for a period of two weeks in the Diocese of Southern Virginia.
 
During this suspension, we will monitor forthcoming guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and healthcare professionals in our own communities and assess new developments and the precautions they require. Further guidance will be issued by March 26.
 
As Presiding Bishop Michael Curry wrote in a statement released today: "The next 30-60 days at the least are simply going to be unlike anything we have experienced in recent history...The dilemma of what we know and what we don't know will continue to complicate our decision making and our lives."
 
Holding one another and all affected by this pandemic in our prayers, let us remain steadfast and faithful, trusting that the One who promises to "hold you firm with my saving right hand" is abidingly faithful.
 
Let us encourage one another by being purposeful in finding ways to remain connected with one another electronically or by phone, so that together we sustain our spiritual health and as one body and respond in ways that safeguard our physical health and that of others.