March 17, 2020

Beloved,

I am not sure any of us have experienced anything like the virus that is active now, and let us hope we never have to experience anything like it again in the future.  None of us has been trained in any of this, and few of us have health training to even understand most of what is said.  However, what we are understanding clearly is social distancing is an important step we can all take to reduce the risks of this virus.  We also understand this virus is dangerous to us older folks, especially any of us with underlying conditions.  With those understandings we have to make choices, especially about social distancing.

What will social isolation mean to us?  It means, with a heavy heart, we are cancelling worship for Sunday, March 22, 2020 and Sunday, March 29, 2020.  It means that Wednesday night activities will be cancelled March 18 and March 25, 2020.  On or about March 25th, we will review the CDC and NIH recommendations, have the necessary internal conversations, to be able to communicate how we will proceed after March 29th.

While we are apart physically, please use email and regular mail and phones to stay in touch.  Let people, and God, know you are thinking of them and that you care for them.  This could be the time to extend your prayer times or start another Bible reading program.  Go for a walk and enjoy God’s world in the early spring.  It could be a time to do something for someone else.  If we can, think of this as an opportunity to do things for ourselves we would never take time to do.  I have a closet that I know is way past due for a cleaning.

Remember, we are not stopping because we are fearful of anything, for our God keeps telling us, “do not be afraid.”  We are stopping for a while to help keep everyone - church and family and community -  as healthy as possible.

Please remember everyone in your prayers during this turbulent time.  These decisions do not come easily, nor should they.

 Love,

Tom