Dear Family --
As you probably know, we’ve had a steady trickle of folks in our fellowship diagnosed with Covid-19 over the past month.. Some have had no symptoms, some have had mild symptoms, a few have had significant issues, and one is currently hospitalized (but doing fine).
Through it all, you’re probably wondering about the best way for you and your family to fellowship with us. I actually hope that you’re not only wondering, but praying about that! Because it’s a perfectly reasonable question, and one that I would encourage all of us to be in prayer about week over week.
I am not personally aware of any cases where Covid-19 has been transmitted at a church service here at Calvary. It’s certainly possible, but the cases I’m aware of all seem like people picked up the virus at work or at home.
Which isn’t really the point. The fiendish thing about Covid-19 is that people are contagious up to two days BEFORE they are symptomatic — if they become symptomatic at all.
That’s a big reason why there really is a lot to pray about!
Right now we’re prayerfully continuing to open the church for in-person worship. I know many of you really value in-person service, and we’re committed both to doing it whenever possible AND to doing as safely as possible: masks, social distancing, cleaning, etc.
At the same time, “as safely as possible” means exactly that. It doesn’t come with any guarantee. On any given Sunday I could be standing in the pulpit with Covid and without a mask. The same is true for the worship team. And I know some of you are gonna hug who you’re going to hug no matter what anyone says.
So what am I saying?
I’m saying please be wise and be prayerful, because I can’t promise you won’t get Covid-19 from someone at church. And yes I do know that even if you did, chances are it wouldn’t be a big deal. For most people it’s not. But I’m gonna be honest — I’ve had several friends die from this nastiness. So I’m not going to criticize anyone who feels led to worship and fellowship from home right now. I hope you won't either.
What I would ask is two things:
(1) Please worship and fellowship as you are led. PRAY about this! On the one hand, we’re not given a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). On the other hand, the one who is wise is cautious; the fool is reckless and careless (Proverbs 14:16). What would the Lord have for you and your family during this season? ASK HIM! And wait on Him for an answer (Isaiah 40:31).
(2) Please worship and fellowship as you are led. Don’t let the convenience of an online church service lull you into a false sense of complacency. Attending a service online is simple, but maintaining fellowship with the body is harder. PLEASE be prayerfully intentional about staying plugged in with people every week! Or better still every day! Don’t let church online take you offline from the body!
We love you all! This is just (like I need to tell you) a DIFFERENT kind of year. So we need to do different kind of things.
Please reach out if you have questions or concerns! And please stay in touch with each other, even if everything is okay!
We need each other (1 Corinthians 12:12–27).
Grace & peace,
Patrick
As you probably know, we’ve had a steady trickle of folks in our fellowship diagnosed with Covid-19 over the past month.. Some have had no symptoms, some have had mild symptoms, a few have had significant issues, and one is currently hospitalized (but doing fine).
Through it all, you’re probably wondering about the best way for you and your family to fellowship with us. I actually hope that you’re not only wondering, but praying about that! Because it’s a perfectly reasonable question, and one that I would encourage all of us to be in prayer about week over week.
I am not personally aware of any cases where Covid-19 has been transmitted at a church service here at Calvary. It’s certainly possible, but the cases I’m aware of all seem like people picked up the virus at work or at home.
Which isn’t really the point. The fiendish thing about Covid-19 is that people are contagious up to two days BEFORE they are symptomatic — if they become symptomatic at all.
That’s a big reason why there really is a lot to pray about!
Right now we’re prayerfully continuing to open the church for in-person worship. I know many of you really value in-person service, and we’re committed both to doing it whenever possible AND to doing as safely as possible: masks, social distancing, cleaning, etc.
At the same time, “as safely as possible” means exactly that. It doesn’t come with any guarantee. On any given Sunday I could be standing in the pulpit with Covid and without a mask. The same is true for the worship team. And I know some of you are gonna hug who you’re going to hug no matter what anyone says.
So what am I saying?
I’m saying please be wise and be prayerful, because I can’t promise you won’t get Covid-19 from someone at church. And yes I do know that even if you did, chances are it wouldn’t be a big deal. For most people it’s not. But I’m gonna be honest — I’ve had several friends die from this nastiness. So I’m not going to criticize anyone who feels led to worship and fellowship from home right now. I hope you won't either.
What I would ask is two things:
(1) Please worship and fellowship as you are led. PRAY about this! On the one hand, we’re not given a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). On the other hand, the one who is wise is cautious; the fool is reckless and careless (Proverbs 14:16). What would the Lord have for you and your family during this season? ASK HIM! And wait on Him for an answer (Isaiah 40:31).
(2) Please worship and fellowship as you are led. Don’t let the convenience of an online church service lull you into a false sense of complacency. Attending a service online is simple, but maintaining fellowship with the body is harder. PLEASE be prayerfully intentional about staying plugged in with people every week! Or better still every day! Don’t let church online take you offline from the body!
We love you all! This is just (like I need to tell you) a DIFFERENT kind of year. So we need to do different kind of things.
Please reach out if you have questions or concerns! And please stay in touch with each other, even if everything is okay!
We need each other (1 Corinthians 12:12–27).
Grace & peace,
Patrick