Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic
/MCC’s Logistical Response to Coronavirus
As you may have noticed, in the past few days the response to the COVID-19 strain of Coronavirus has escalated considerably. Many social gatherings are being shut down in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus and allow medical facilities more time to deal with those who are most vulnerable.
After consulting with physicians in our congregation as well as considering the other information available to us, Leadership Team has concluded that the most responsible thing to do is to encourage people to stay home and watch our livestream this Sunday.
We will have a simplified service, run by a skeleton crew, with no AdventureLand, youth programming, or coffee service. Jeremy and Peter will continue with their plans to offer a podcast-style talk on the history of the Brethren Church (our larger denominational family) and what makes us unique.
If you are an adult in good health, have had no exposure, and have no other health conditions, we invite you to join us to be part of a small “studio audience” this Sunday at 10:30 (particularly if you are unable to watch the service online). Please RSVP to Jeremy if you plan to attend.
Note that we are not “cancelling” our service, but simply moving it online. Please still plan to join us during the livestream, as a way of preserving some normalcy and (as we talked about a couple of weeks ago) honoring God by gathering together. Access our livestream Sunday at 10:30 on our Facebook page or Youtube channel.
With regard to future weeks and other events, we will play that by ear as we get more information. There is a good chance we will do the same thing for the next couple of weeks, but since the situation changes so quickly we will finalize that decision as we go. For now, we plan on allowing small groups to decide for themselves whether or not to meet, but that may change as well.
A Christian Response to Coronavirus
As followers of Jesus, how should our response to this pandemic be different than the world around us?
First of all, we are called to act in love. Taking prudent precautions, even to the point of changing our service to an online format, is something we do primarily out of concern for those who are most vulnerable, and a sense of responsibility to the larger society. Early Christians responded to pandemics in their day by risking their own lives to nurture and care for others. Even when others fled areas where outbreaks were taking place, Christians intentionally stayed to demonstrate the love of Christ. Dionysius, a church leader in the 3rd century, writes:
Most of our brother-Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of the danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbours and cheerfully accepting their pains.
At this point we are taking a different approach, but we are motivated by the same love for others and concern for the seriousness of the situation. That said, we do not have to get sucked into the fear and hysteria that seems to go along with this. We have an assurance that no matter what happens, we are God’s dearly loved children, and we are safe in his hands. Whether in life or death, we trust Jesus. Nothing can separate us from our Father’s love. So, we do what is wise and prudent, and then we settle into the peace that comes from faith.
In some ways this seems like the lead-up to a big winter storm or hurricane landfall. Everyone is on the edge of their seats, tension is in the air, and many are gripped with fear and “what-ifs.” But we follow the One who calmed storms, healed the sick, and even brought the dead back to life. What do we have to fear?
I think the Apostle Paul put it best in Romans 8:31-39. If you’re struggling with worry and anxiety over this, take some time to quietly meditate on this passage and let it speak to you at a soul level:
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Pray that this becomes an opportunity for this incredible, unstoppable love of Jesus to shine through us. Hope to see you (or at least have you see me!) Sunday,
Jeremy
