Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
In talking with fellow clergy, there has been discussion of how to address
corporate worship. The situation is unfolding, and there are things we know and
things we have yet to learn. A few things seem pretty clear.
-Covid-19 is transferred primarily by respiration. That means all the
hand sanitizer in the world will not stop someone from contracting the virus.
We will still reduce physical touch in an abundance of caution. Please avoid
contact during the Peace. Communion will continued to be offered, but my
current plan is that I will be washing my hands during the Peace and dipping the
communion host into the wine and handing it to the communicant. If you feel
uncomfortable about taking communion, simply cross your arms over your chest and
receive a verbal blessing. I will not be shaking hands after service.
-Right now, our area is not being hit very hard. But that can be expected
to change. This virus is a highly communicable virus. On the positive side,
over 80% who contract the virus will suffer zero to mild symptoms. Ultimately we will all likely be
exposed to the COVID-19 over the next 3-6 months. For those who do contract
the virus, they will be communicable but they may have no idea. This is not
unusual. The common cold viruses (rhino viruses) are the same way—You may not
think you have had a cold this past winter, but you likely did contract it, may
have been communicable, but never really exhibited symptoms. If you have a
compromised system from age or health. It is your personal decision to come to
church. Sermons will be available online.
-The main reason so many events are being closed is so that the life cycle
of the virus may play out over time. The healthcare system would be
overwhelmed. This is what has happened in Italy over the past few weeks.
SO WHAT TO DO?
Follow SCDHEC & CDC websites for accurate information. This is
Lexington Medical Center’s sources of information and should be yours too. I
feel you can almost be guaranteed that sources that sound like they are creating
panic or completely downplaying the issue are doing exactly that. Above all,
do not share questionable information via social media.
Particularly when the situation seems more critical in our area, that may
be a good time not to come to church. That said, you may miss worship 4 weeks
in a row, but remember your giving. We can do a few weeks with low attendance,
but we still have light bills to pay, etc.
Reach out to our homebound by notes and phone calls. Many facilities are
already restricting visitation, so take the time to let these folks know they
are not forgotten.
Particularly when the situation seems more critical in our area, reach out
to your neighbors working in the health fields. Take them a meal. Offer to
watch their children. Pray for them.
By the time of the next
Grapevine, this letter may be absolutely obsolete, prescient or woefully
lacking. So it’s a good time to remember our Lord’s words from the Sermon on
the Mount.
Matthew 6:25-34 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't there
more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 26 Look at the birds
in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Aren't you more valuable than they are? 27 And which of you
by worrying can add even one hour to his life? 28 Why do you worry about
clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or
spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like
one of these! 30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here
today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won't he clothe you
even more, you people of little faith? 31 So then, don't worry saying, 'What
will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' 32 For the
unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need
them. 33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these
things will be given to you as well. 34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Lance
