Dear Emmanuel Family,

The events of this past week have delivered us to a place of deepening concern over the spread of the novel Corona virus, COVID-19. Many congregations in our area are choosing not to meet for worship tomorrow. However, as I have been in discussion with our Session over the last three days, the discernment of the majority of the Elders is that we should offer a public worship service on Sunday March 8th at our normal time of 10am. So as of this writing (at 8:00am on Saturday, March 7th), I can tell you our doors will be open for worship.

As we gather it is important to restate a few things. People need to exercise their own judgement about whether or not they think being in worship is a good idea for them. If you have a health condition that makes you more susceptible to contracting this virus you are advised to stay at home. If you are showing any symptoms of cold or flu please stay away from public spaces where you could inadvertently share your illness with others. Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face. And if you are out in public it is best to keep a safe distance from others and not shake hands or hug.

Here are a few things to be aware of in the coming weeks. As this public health concern continues to unfold we at Emmanuel will be doing the following things:

While we are holding worship this Sunday, March 8th, we may be asked to refrain from holding public gatherings or find it necessary in coming weeks to stop offering public worship. So until the crisis is abated, the Session and I will be in communication each week to determine whether or not worship will happen.
We will offer neither beverages nor food after the service. We will not pass offering plates or attendance pads. And we will ask folks to offer peace and greeting to one another by some means other than the physical contact of handshakes and hugs. Greeting one another with the “holy kiss” described in the Bible is probably not a good idea.
I have given the staff the option of not being present on Sundays if they choose. Volunteers in children’s ministry have the same option. This may mean we are singing a'capella during worship or that we have no children's programming during the morning worship hour or that we have no sound and recording support for worship.

The bottom line as we engage all of this is that before, during and after this crisis there is a constant that brings us confidence, Jesus is Lord. Nothing we do or don’t do will shake this rock solid foundation. So let’s rest in this certainty and allow God’s peace to displace the anxieties that this virus might cause.

God’s Grace and Peace to You,

Dave