Dear Grace Baptist
With the President declaring a national state of emergency and after many hours of discussions with other churches and church leadership organizations, and in an effort to participate in our whole society’s efforts to slow the spreading of the COVID 19 outbreak as quickly as possible, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our services this coming Sunday (March 15th), as well as all of our midweek programs and services (AWANA, prayer meeting and youth group) through Saturday, March 21st. We will evaluate late next week whether or not we will meet next Sunday based upon any and all new information that comes available during the week.
According to government officials and other church organizations, there could be more and extended cancellations in the upcoming weeks.
This was a difficult decision because we know that no online platform could ever be a substitute for us being together as the church. We are called to gather, and in an age of digital-only relationships, in-person interactions are all the more vital. But this is (hopefully) a once-in-a-century crisis, and I assure you that these measures are temporary. We will do everything we can to promote fellowship and learning until we can meet together again and worship the God who will surely bring us through even this tough time.
There will be sermons and sermonettes posted on our Facebook page on Sunday mornings for you to listen to and read as your family worships together at home. We will be posting articles, past sermons and other devotional materials on our Facebook page as often as possible this week to help you stay focused on the sovereignty and love of our Great God. If there is an extended time of church cancellations I will be preaching messages live via Facebook Live and also recording them to be posted on our website and podcast app. Please check your email and the church Facebook page often for any updates we may have for you in the coming days.
Our Elders and I will spend time this week reaching out to all our members for prayer requests and see if you and your family have any specific needs we can meet.
We are encouraging our Grace Life Groups to stay in contact over this time period and if they see fit to maybe even organize some small meetings to encourage and pray for each other. Currently, our county is asking us to keep all gatherings to under 50 people and so GLG leaders can set any get-together times at their discretion. We also encourage you to meet with and spend time with your close Christian friends and participate in small gathering hospitality with your brothers and sisters in Christ and your neighbors at this time. Of course, we urge you to be careful but don’t completely isolate yourself from fellowship. We still need each other. Ironmen and Titus 2 small groups will still meet at regularly scheduled times at the discretion of the leaders of each group.
We have several people in our church who have compromised immune systems due to sickness and diseases and so we urge those who are at risk to stay home and ride this out with minimal exposure to people who may be carrying the virus.
We also know that not all churches have made the same decision we have. It was certainly a difficult judgment call in unprecedented circumstances. As a unified elder board, and with counsel from other Christian leaders, we have decided to err on the side of love for our neighbors and to not be prideful about the unknown extent of the risk that led us to this conclusion. We believe that the county’s recommendation to commit to gatherings of less than 50 people is reasonable, and heeding their caution is a good way to love those who are most vulnerable to this disease in our church and in our community.
Additionally, our church is attended by several medical professionals (doctors and nurses.) Putting them at unnecessary risk could do damage to our community’s efforts to provide care for those who are ailing. We may regret this decision as being too cautious, but it is better than regretting a decision that could cause real harm to the community.
During this time, let’s avoid the trap of excessive prideful inward focus and/or fear. Use every digital tool you have to connect and stay close to as many people as possible (use smoke screens if possible :))Look out for the elderly and for those with respiratory conditions. Share with those around you and avoid the temptation to hoard supplies - love your neighbors and share your goods and the gospel!
Let’s remember the promises of God during this tough and hopefully short season of concern. Psalm 50:14-15 says “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” God is kind and caring, completely sovereign and in control of everything we see happening around us at this time. He loves to hear our prayers. The church has always shined during the darkest times and not even the coronavirus can defeat the church of Christ. Let’s use this time to let our light shine before people so they can see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
We will stay in touch and keep you posted about any needs in our church and/or the broader community that you can help meet during this time.
With Love
Pastor Matt and the Elders
PS. Please feel free to reach out to myself or any of the elders with any questions, concerns or needs.
With the President declaring a national state of emergency and after many hours of discussions with other churches and church leadership organizations, and in an effort to participate in our whole society’s efforts to slow the spreading of the COVID 19 outbreak as quickly as possible, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our services this coming Sunday (March 15th), as well as all of our midweek programs and services (AWANA, prayer meeting and youth group) through Saturday, March 21st. We will evaluate late next week whether or not we will meet next Sunday based upon any and all new information that comes available during the week.
According to government officials and other church organizations, there could be more and extended cancellations in the upcoming weeks.
This was a difficult decision because we know that no online platform could ever be a substitute for us being together as the church. We are called to gather, and in an age of digital-only relationships, in-person interactions are all the more vital. But this is (hopefully) a once-in-a-century crisis, and I assure you that these measures are temporary. We will do everything we can to promote fellowship and learning until we can meet together again and worship the God who will surely bring us through even this tough time.
There will be sermons and sermonettes posted on our Facebook page on Sunday mornings for you to listen to and read as your family worships together at home. We will be posting articles, past sermons and other devotional materials on our Facebook page as often as possible this week to help you stay focused on the sovereignty and love of our Great God. If there is an extended time of church cancellations I will be preaching messages live via Facebook Live and also recording them to be posted on our website and podcast app. Please check your email and the church Facebook page often for any updates we may have for you in the coming days.
Our Elders and I will spend time this week reaching out to all our members for prayer requests and see if you and your family have any specific needs we can meet.
We are encouraging our Grace Life Groups to stay in contact over this time period and if they see fit to maybe even organize some small meetings to encourage and pray for each other. Currently, our county is asking us to keep all gatherings to under 50 people and so GLG leaders can set any get-together times at their discretion. We also encourage you to meet with and spend time with your close Christian friends and participate in small gathering hospitality with your brothers and sisters in Christ and your neighbors at this time. Of course, we urge you to be careful but don’t completely isolate yourself from fellowship. We still need each other. Ironmen and Titus 2 small groups will still meet at regularly scheduled times at the discretion of the leaders of each group.
We have several people in our church who have compromised immune systems due to sickness and diseases and so we urge those who are at risk to stay home and ride this out with minimal exposure to people who may be carrying the virus.
We also know that not all churches have made the same decision we have. It was certainly a difficult judgment call in unprecedented circumstances. As a unified elder board, and with counsel from other Christian leaders, we have decided to err on the side of love for our neighbors and to not be prideful about the unknown extent of the risk that led us to this conclusion. We believe that the county’s recommendation to commit to gatherings of less than 50 people is reasonable, and heeding their caution is a good way to love those who are most vulnerable to this disease in our church and in our community.
Additionally, our church is attended by several medical professionals (doctors and nurses.) Putting them at unnecessary risk could do damage to our community’s efforts to provide care for those who are ailing. We may regret this decision as being too cautious, but it is better than regretting a decision that could cause real harm to the community.
During this time, let’s avoid the trap of excessive prideful inward focus and/or fear. Use every digital tool you have to connect and stay close to as many people as possible (use smoke screens if possible :))Look out for the elderly and for those with respiratory conditions. Share with those around you and avoid the temptation to hoard supplies - love your neighbors and share your goods and the gospel!
Let’s remember the promises of God during this tough and hopefully short season of concern. Psalm 50:14-15 says “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” God is kind and caring, completely sovereign and in control of everything we see happening around us at this time. He loves to hear our prayers. The church has always shined during the darkest times and not even the coronavirus can defeat the church of Christ. Let’s use this time to let our light shine before people so they can see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
We will stay in touch and keep you posted about any needs in our church and/or the broader community that you can help meet during this time.
With Love
Pastor Matt and the Elders
PS. Please feel free to reach out to myself or any of the elders with any questions, concerns or needs.
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