Per our previous church statement, regarding the Coronavirus/COVID-19, as a church we will continue to evaluate and reassess our procedures and schedule as new information becomes available. It is important that people faith continue to be rational, balanced, consistent, and faithful during this season – God is in complete control.
This morning our eldership met at 9:30 a.m. During this meeting, we made several decisions regarding our upcoming schedule and activities. Regarding these decisions, let me say the following:
- Every decision we make is born out of our desire to shepherd the flock of God well. It is our desire to make our decisions solely on what is best for you, as the people entrusted to us by God. Watching over you is a great blessing and responsibility. Therefore, all decisions are made with your best in mind.
- We want to stress that we do not believe that any government official, agency, legislation, or organization has the ability to close a church. This is not a conviction born of stubbornness – it is born of religious conviction. Simply put, Christianity is founded on the principle of individual responsibility. We do not believe that the government has the right to interfere in any way with our expression of faith. This conviction was codified in the United States Constitution, as a part of the First Amendment. If you allow a government to tell you when and where you can meet, you must then also ask their permission to lift such bans. History has already taught us this lesson with the outbreak of the Spanish Flu, at the turn of the 20th century. Therefore, we will make decisions based on the health and well-being of the people we serve and for no other reason.
With all of that said, given the information that is pouring in, we believe it is appropriate to take the following actions:
- Following
the CDC recommendations, all weekly activities scheduled for March 16-28 have
been canceled. This would include – Celebrate Recovery, Awana’s, Bunco, etc. We took this step for the following
reasons:
- The even involved the production of food.
- The gathering was larger than 50.
- The gathering put children at higher risk.
- This directive gives our cleaning staff ample opportunity to sterilize every portion of the building thoroughly on a weekly basis.
- All 9:00 a.m. Sunday Bible Studies are canceled for March 22.
- Our
corporate worship service scheduled for March 22, 10:00 a.m., will proceed as scheduled at this time,
with a few changes.
- Again, we will reevaluate daily and if it becomes necessary to close, we will do so.
- However, we will make a couple of changes. There will not be children’s church offered for children Kindergarten thru Fifth grade.
- We will provide a nursery for children 5 and younger, as we believe it is safest to keep the youngest children in the most sterilized portion of the building, absent from the large population. – We will follow normal protocol: if a child is symptomatic for any illness, we will ask the parent not to drop their child off.
- Arrangements for Sunday, March 29th, will be announced on March 25th.
- If
you are sick, elderly, or at high risk – please
stay at home. We love you very much!! But we want you healthy and, therefore,
ask you to take care of yourself.
- For your convenience, we will be livestreaming our services on Facebook Live. All you will need to do is go to the church’s facebook page at 10:00 a.m. and tune in.
- We also understand that some may choose not to come – We love you as well!!! We believe everyone is responsible for their own choices, especially healthcare. We would love for you to tune into our services at 10:00 a.m. as well!
- If you appreciate the value of community worship, but are concerned about large gatherings, may I suggest you find two or three families you could invite to your home (well under 50) and tune in together to our simulcast!
- I cannot stress enough – WE ARE IN THIS TOGETHER! TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER! Please take the time to reach out to one another, especially the elderly, widows, and children among us. Make a phone call and just talk, check-in, and love on one another during this season.
Like you, I’m anxious for this season to be over! Join me in praying for our nation, those infected, our leaders, and for warmer weather. Be faithful during this season, trust the Lord, and we will get through it together.
Held by Grace, PC