Updated COVID Communication
With concerns about COVID on the rise we thought it would be a good idea to update everyone about what we're thinking and whether or not you should expect any changes on Sunday morning.
First of all: We take our guidance first and foremost from God's Word. This means we take the command of the Lord to gather for worship in person very seriously (Hebrews 10:24-25). The regular assembly of God's people (in fact the word church basically means "assembled ones") is the major way God intends for his people to be "stirred up to love and good deeds." Beyond this command, God's Word also contains wisdom for how to treat illness in a community of faith. Leviticus 13 is, of course, not about COVID. But it is about a dangerous and highly contagious disease and how to handle outbreaks. The principle is this: treat the sick as if they are sick and treat the healthy as if they are healthy. To state it another way: do not treat the sick as if they are healthy and do not treat the healthy as if they are sick. We think this is a wise and simple principle to follow. We believe that to cancel services all-together would be to treat the healthy as if they are sick and to disregard the Lord's command to gather. More than ever we need to be with each other for worship and edification. It's not easier to be faithful to the Lord in isolation. It's harder. Much harder.
Second: We view the church and the worship service as voluntary - not compulsory. In other words, if a brother or sister is concerned about their health then they will not be coerced or pressured to attend services. We understand this is a unique season and don't wish to trouble a believer's conscience over whether or not they should attend if they worry about health risks.
Third: We trust our church family to make wise decisions about their own personal health. We expect that if you are sick you will do everything in your power to protect others from infection and exercise good judgment.
Fourth: Be encouraged! God has chosen us for this time and this time for us. He is sovereign and He does no wrong. I like the way the old hymn says it:
1. Whate’'er my God ordains is right,
Holy His will abideth.
I will be still whate’'er He does,
And follow where He guideth.
He is my God,
Though dark my road.
He holds me that I shall not fall
Wherefore to Him I leave it all
2. Whate’'er my God ordains is right,
He never will deceive me
He leads me by the proper path,
I know He will not leave me
I take, content,
What He hath sent
His hand can turn my griefs away
And patiently I wait His day
3. Whate’'er my God ordains is right,
Though now this cup in drinking
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it all unshrinking
My God is true,
Each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart
And pain and sorrow shall depart
4. Whate’'er my God ordains is right,
Here shall my stand be taken
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken
My Father’s care
Is round me there
He holds me that I shall not fall
And so to Him I leave it all
We must not wish God had written a "different scene" for us. This is it! And he calls us to face whatever time we're in with faith and confidence in Him. Again, "Though sorrow, need, or death be mine, yet I am not forsaken."
Here are some practical things you can do when illness disrupts our church schedule and worship experience:
1. Pray. Pray for the elders/pastors. Pray for the many volunteers. Pray they are able to be healthy and fulfill their roles. Pray that they are kept from discouragement. Pray that they see regular fruit from their efforts.
2. If church activities (e.g., Discovery Zone or weekly Bible studies) are canceled due to illness among the leaders, and if you're healthy, consider hosting another family or two in your home for fellowship over a meal. Ask how you can be praying for them. Tell them what you've been learning from the word lately. Pray beforehand and ask the Lord to make your conversation really encouraging to them.
3. Send a note, make a call, or send a text to anyone you know that is sick OR unable to attend regularly because of health risks. Just knowing that someone is thinking about you and praying for you can be a huge comfort.
4. Pray for the community. Pray for health care workers, teachers, and civil servants. Pray that the community would see our faith and that our church would grow because of the way we face illness with total confidence in God and conformity to His Word.
