Dear church family,
I am sure your inboxes have been filling up with news about the coronavirus and all that it entails. What a strange experience that is painful and frightening for so many, yet what a gift it is to know that God is with us even now.
If you haven’t been tracking the spread of the virus on the news, I encourage you to do so — not to stir up fear and anxiety, but simply to be informed. There are several good, trustworthy sources for information that I recommend you visit, such as the CDC and WHO (linked below).
In addition, if you haven’t been following the recommended safety precautions, please do so. I know it’s obvious, but wash your hands regularly. Refrain from coughing or sneezing openly or into your hands. Don’t go into big crowds if you don’t have to and certainly stay home if you are sick. Use common sense to keep contact to a minimum. And let’s switch over to the fist- and elbow-bump method of passing the peace for the foreseeable future.
Finally, if you haven’t been praying and immersing yourself in Scripture, then do so. Put this whole ordeal in its proper place by centering yourself in the One who holds the oceans in his hands, who’s numbered every grain of sand, and who alone knows the outcome of this pandemic. Jesus, after all, was no stranger to sickness. Lepers, the blind, the lame, the bleeding, the dead — he saw them all and offered healing to many. He said, “Do not worry.” He said, “Trust in me.” He says the same to us today. As the writer Marilynne Robinson once said, “Fear is not a Christian habit of mind.” Be reminded of that gospel news and be at peace.
As of now, Sunday worship will continue on a weekly basis. Should that change, we will let you know ASAP. Should you wish to stay home for whatever reason, you can always listen to the sermon from the Sunday before by visiting our church website (www.sylvapres.org/sermons). Should you be sick and in need of church support, please call the church office. And should you have additional concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
Yours in Christ,
Blake
CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
WHO website: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses