COVID-19 has emerged in Virginia, schools and business are closing, and sports events are being cancelled. How should we respond as Christians and as citizens?
The Apostle Paul wrote about his own life threatening circumstances in 2 Corinthians 1:9“…this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
At a time when people find their security thrown up in the air, we are not immune from anxieties. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:6,
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I do not think this means Christians are never anxious, but that when we are anxious, we should not feel we have no place to turn. In prayer we turn to God! Trust in Him, not in earthly things. “…Bid our anxious fears subside.”
The prevailing wisdom is that the virus is fairly mild for those under 50 and that the serious risk is primarily for those with underlying medical issues and that it increases with age.
Plans for this weekend:
We are going ahead with our parenting conference with Ted Tripp beginning tonight – Friday night through Saturday morning. Ted Tripp, our speaker is already on his way, and those who are younger and healthier can benefit greatly with lower risk. This will be our last children’s event until further notice. We will thoroughly clean the building afterwards before Sunday morning.
We are cancelling the 8:30 AM service and Sunday School this Sunday and will only have the 11:00 AM Worship Service. We do livestream the service for all who cannot come. WE STRONGLY ADVISE THOSE WHO ARE 70 AND OLDER OR WHO HAVE UNDERLYING MEDICAL ISSUES TO REMAIN AT HOME AND JOIN US VIA LIVESTREAM.
We estimate our attendance at the 11:00 service should be below the limit of 250 that the authorities ask us to honor. For those who do come, please observe the following precautions:
1. “A smile and a wave is the way to behave!”
No shaking hands or hugs.
2. Hand soap, hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes are already placed in bathrooms and all over the building. Use them generously.
3. If you have close, regular contact with someone in a high risk group, please consider staying home yourself. The consequence of your becoming sick on the one at higher risk would be significant.
If you can come, please sit as families leaving seats between you and others as appropriate. We will not pass offering plates, but rather have ushers hold plates in the back after the service. (We remind you that our fiscal year ends March 31, so this month is very important for year-end giving and as we budget for next year.)
Plans for the coming week:
We are cancelling all church group events for the coming week, unless otherwise notified.
FINALLY, IF YOU ARE AT HIGHER RISK AND ARE SELF ISOLATING AT HOME AND FIND YOURSELF IN NEED OF SUPPORT, PLEASE REACH OUT TO THE CHURCH OFFICE (804-794-0238) OR THE DEACONS.
Resources from the CDC: