Demonstrate Your Faith

I think it is important for you to know how we have made the decision to cancel services for the next couple of weeks.  You need to know that this was not a quick decision.  Nor was it one made in a vacuum.  We have worked hard to gather the best possible information, relying on several sources.  We have considered the desires and wishes of those in our church family.  And we have made the commitment that we would be good citizens and follow any directives from government agencies or officials regarding crowds and meetings.

We have been gathering information, seeking the latest announcements and directives, and meeting together as a staff for the past couple of weeks.  Initially, it was thought that this would be a mild thing, with not a lot of consequence.  However, there were daily updates alluding to the eventual reality that this was going to be much bigger than anyone thought.  We all were made rather breathless, so to speak, by the swiftness of the shut down of the normal way of life for many of us.

Doing the best we could in our information-gathering, and meeting pretty much daily with staff and keeping the Elders apprised of our discussions, we mutually came to the decision to basically shut down the building to all events except for those grief and support groups that felt they needed to continue to meet for the health and well-being of their participants.  The shut down will not at this time affect office hours; however, should the authorities recommend such, we will also close the office.  We will let you know should that happen.

This is a new normal for us.  We cannot visit at the hospitals or nursing homes.  We are reluctant to visit anyone at their home.  We are careful about who we let into the building during office hours.  We have essentially scrapped sermon series and Bible classes for the indeterminate future.  Our observance of Communion as a body has been suspended.  We no longer can gather to sing, pray, or listen to the Word of God.

And that’s OK, for a while.  We need to obey the governing authorities and demonstrate our faith in tangible ways that don’t put others in jeopardy.

For those of you who are members of RiverWalk, I ask you to continue your contributions to the church, as our expenses go on even though services do not.  You can mail them in, use some form of direct payment arrangement with your bank, bring them by should the office be open to accept them, or any other means you may have available to you.  We understand if you have been temporarily laid off or your source of income has been reduced due to the virus.  But if you can, please remember the Church in your financial plans during this time.

Check on your neighbors.  Don’t hoard supplies.  Wash your hands often.  Give to others as they have need.  And remember that the God of the universe loves you.