Dear Redeemer Family,
As concerns Dear regarding the coronavirus have escalated around the world and in our own country, I have spent much time over the past two weeks talking with our Bishop, other Rectors in our Diocese, many other lead pastors of Richmond churches, as well as our church Wardens and staff about how we as a church can respond wisely and courageously. While we do not yet have a comprehensive strategic plan for the coming weeks and months, here is the temporary plan for the next week.
THE GRAVITY OF SARS-CoV-2 & COVID-19
We continue to monitor closely the CDC and VA Department of Health recommendations regarding SARS-CoV-2 (the virus) COVID-19 (the disease caused by the virus). Governor Ralph Northam has declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Richmond recommends postponement or cancellation of all large events.
Now, I know that, within our congregation, we are all over the map regarding how serious we feel the situation is. Some of us feel that public officials have been too slow to take action. Others feel that the threat is overblown and that everyone else is overreacting. Still others have not been paying much attention to this and will be surprised to learn that University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond City, Henrico Co., and Chesterfield Co. Public School, and many other schools and institutions are temporarily shutting down.
No matter how we may feel personally, let’s remember that our top priority as a church family is not preserving our way of life and ministry, but rather love for God and neighbor.
OUR MOTIVATION
Which brings me to my second point - and let me be clear on this one: Our motivation in taking significant action in response to the pandemic is love, not fear.
Fear seeks to protect the self at all costs; love seeks the protection of others at cost to the self.
As the author of 1 John writes, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” Therefore, in the coming days, the most important question we can ask ourselves as a church family is, “How can we protect our neighbors and our city in these troubled times?” Answering this question will no doubt require much sacrifice on our part. It will cost us something. But dear friends - this is the way of Jesus in the face of threat. And, surprisingly, this is also the path of joy.
IMMEDIATE CHANGES
So, motivated by love and desire to protect our neighbors and city, here are the immediate changes we are implementing.
Our March 15 Sunday morning worship service is canceled. Yes, this breaks my heart. I’m one of those, “we-always-do-church-no-matter-what-kind-of-guys” - but if we are to slow the spread of the virus and avoid overwhelming our city’s health care system, we must do everything we can to slow the transmission from person to person. We cannot stop it (that is outside of our control), but we can do things to slow it down.
We will send out prayer liturgies, songs, and a recorded message for you to use to worship the Lord and pray in your home.
Small Group gatherings and all other ministry programs for the Week of March 15-21 are also canceled. I do think there are wise and cautionary ways that some people can gather (and I will send out some guidelines for how we can do small gatherings), but our current format for Small Group gatherings and other ministries are not conducive for this. So, until we are able to establish best practices for small gatherings, we are temporarily suspending all ministry programs.
Note: Though our Small Groups are not able to gather together, that does not mean that we are unable to pray for, communicate with, and care for one another.
THE WEEKS AHEAD
At this stage, so much is changing so quickly that I do not think we can accurately predict what we will need to do weeks and months in advance.So, at this stage, here’s what I can tell you:
Your Vestry and Staff are praying for you and working to create a strategic plan to help our church navigate the difficult days that lie ahead.
You can expect that things will, most likely, not return to “normal” for a little while. Let’s all commit to suspending our expectations and allowing a mental and emotional shift to take place within us. Our world is fraught with anxiety. Our neighbors are fearful. This not a time for us to wish that life were easier. Rather - this is a time for us to find our deep security and hope in Christ and to be a stable, courageous, compassionate, non-anxious presence to our families, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Remember the words of our Lord, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” I love the old King James translation of this verse. Instead of “take heart” it reads, “be of good cheer.” Though we face many challenges ahead, we need not face them with gloom and doom, but rather with good cheer because our hope is in Jesus.
WAYS TO CARE
Friends, the church has a long and robust history of caring for others during times of sickness. Now what shape might that take for us?
Praying on our knees for each Other & for Neighbors: What if, as anxiety in our city heightens, we spend more time on our knees praying (not for our own protection) but for the health of others?
Food & Sustenance for Each Other & Neighbors: What if, when some of us are quarantined at home, we drop off food, hydration, and basic over-the-counter medicines for each other?
Writing Real Letters: What if, when some of us are separated from one another, we take up that old practice of putting pen to paper and writing real letters to one another?
Make Real Phone Calls: Texting is easy, phone calls take more effort. What if, when we are apart from one another, we do that old-fashioned thing where we pick up the phone and call for no other purpose than just to talk?
Additionally, our friends at ForRichmond.org have sent out a list of helpful steps in loving our neighbors:
Make a list of your neighbors – the neighbors on your block and the folks in your broader network. Take 5 minutes to think about who might need your help right now.
Do you have a 65+ neighbor? Call, text, or knock and keep a safe distance and ask if they need anything – groceries, a prescription refilled, a good book to read to pass the day.
Do you have a nurse, doctor, EMT or a first responder in your life?Mow their lawn while they’re at work. It one less thing for them to think about and a simple way to show you care.
Do you have working parents with school-aged children who need childcare support now that schools are closed? Offer to watch their kids for a day. Ask other neighbors if they would be willing to help too.
Do you have a sick neighbor that is quarantining him or herself? Call or text to find out what they might need and leave it on their doorstep so they can access it without exposing you to sickness.
Do you know someone in a nursing home or hospital who no longer is allowed to have visitors? Give them a call and let them know they’re not alone.
Do you have neighbors or friends who struggle with anxiety? Check in on them and encourage them to embrace self-care strategies like limiting social media and news consumption. If they are open to prayer, pray with them.
Do you know a family that struggles with food insecurity? Share some of the groceries you picked up for own family.
Do you have Asian-American neighbors? Many are experiencing a lot of ignorant comments and racism right now. Talk to your kids about why that’s wrong and if you hear others saying racist things, gently but firmly confront it.
Are you a block captain or an admin on a neighborhood message board? Use your existing network to reach out and see if there are neighbors in need.
These are just a few, simple starters. No doubt you will think of many more creative ways we can care for one another and for our neighbors outside our church family.
Dear ones - we do not yet know what kind of storm we are headed into as a city and as a church family. But we do know that our Lord is with us, and therefore we have nothing to fear.
May the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.
In the Father’s love,
Dan
*POST-SCRIPT | PERSONAL PRECAUTIONS
To keep germs from spreading, the Virginia Department of Health recommends you do the following:
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Stay home when you are sick.
Avoid contact with sick people.
Avoid non-essential travel.
