Coronavirus Update (March 16, 2020)
Thank you all so much for joining us yesterday for Worship at Home. Although we are not currently gathering publicly, we praise God for social media that allows us to gather digitally. We hope that the materials provided helped you and your family to worship Jesus together in your homes.
As you know, the details surrounding the Coronavirus change by the day, even by the hour. As of Saturday, the governor's request to suspend all events with 100+ people became a mandate. Governor Cooper also issued an executive order that all K-12 public schools will be closing Monday, March 16th for at least two weeks. In addition to that, last night, the CDC amended its recommendation regarding gatherings. They are suggesting that for the next 8 weeks, "organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States." (Keep in mind that this is still only a recommendation that we are considering.)
At this time, our desire is to help to maintain the spread of this virus and to ensure the safety of our church family and community.
To that end, our pastors and church leaders want to inform you of these scheduling updates:
As you know, the details surrounding the Coronavirus change by the day, even by the hour. As of Saturday, the governor's request to suspend all events with 100+ people became a mandate. Governor Cooper also issued an executive order that all K-12 public schools will be closing Monday, March 16th for at least two weeks. In addition to that, last night, the CDC amended its recommendation regarding gatherings. They are suggesting that for the next 8 weeks, "organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States." (Keep in mind that this is still only a recommendation that we are considering.)
At this time, our desire is to help to maintain the spread of this virus and to ensure the safety of our church family and community.
To that end, our pastors and church leaders want to inform you of these scheduling updates:
NO Sunday Gatherings This Sunday
This Sunday (3/22/20), we will NOT meet for Core Classes (9:30am) or gathered worship (10:30am). Instead, we will continue to provide at-home worship materials online for you and your family. We encourage you to worship together in your homes with your family, friends, and neighbors. This is a wonderful opportunity for our church to be the church outside of the church campus.
NO Other Gatherings
Until further notice, we will not host any smaller group events on our church campus. This includes Awana and Student Groups. Our policy for Family ministry is to follow the school system and to cancel when they cancel. This decision is in keeping with that policy. There will also be no Seniors in Fellowship Together (SIFT), Tuesday Bible study, or other small group bible studies at this time
Spring Events Cancellations
Disciple Now Weekend
Hickory Grove Baptist Church, the host church, has also canceled all services and activities until at least March 22.
Special Olympics
Special Olympics of NC made the decision to cancel this year's games.
Community Springfest
In light of recommendations from the CDC and our church's healthcare professionals, we have been advised to make the difficult decision to cancel this yearly event.
Please keep in mind that we are taking everything week to week. We commit to keeping you updated with the most recent scheduling updates. We also commit to making decisions that are both faithful to Christ and wise for our neighbors.
Hickory Grove Baptist Church, the host church, has also canceled all services and activities until at least March 22.
Special Olympics
Special Olympics of NC made the decision to cancel this year's games.
Community Springfest
In light of recommendations from the CDC and our church's healthcare professionals, we have been advised to make the difficult decision to cancel this yearly event.
Please keep in mind that we are taking everything week to week. We commit to keeping you updated with the most recent scheduling updates. We also commit to making decisions that are both faithful to Christ and wise for our neighbors.
Coronavirus Update (March 12, 2020)
By now, you are aware of the growing concern over the presence of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in North Carolina. As of today, there have been confirmed cases in Mecklenburg County and one presumptive confirmed case in Cabarrus County.
Earlier today, Governor Roy Cooper held a press conference in which he gave this guidance: Starting Friday, the state is asking that all events with more than 100 people be canceled or postponed. This is a statewide request that includes church services.
In times like this, we must seek to make decisions that are both faithful to Christ and wise for our neighbors. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of sound judgment. God is still sovereign and we are still called to be faithful. In fact, we see these recent events as not a challenge to our faith, but an opportunity to be faithful, perhaps in ways that we never have before.
In light of these recommendations, our church leaders have made the following decision:
Earlier today, Governor Roy Cooper held a press conference in which he gave this guidance: Starting Friday, the state is asking that all events with more than 100 people be canceled or postponed. This is a statewide request that includes church services.
In times like this, we must seek to make decisions that are both faithful to Christ and wise for our neighbors. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of sound judgment. God is still sovereign and we are still called to be faithful. In fact, we see these recent events as not a challenge to our faith, but an opportunity to be faithful, perhaps in ways that we never have before.
In light of these recommendations, our church leaders have made the following decision:
NO Sunday Gatherings This Week
This Sunday (3/15/20), we will NOT meet for Core Classes (9:30am) or gathered worship (10:30am). Instead, we will record a message and provide at-home worship materials for you and your family. We encourage you to worship together in your homes with your family, friends, and neighbors. This is a wonderful opportunity for our church to be the church outside of the church campus.
In situations like this one, we are committed to two guiding principles:
1) We are called to love our neighbors. (Mark 12:31)
Jesus calls us as his followers to love God and love neighbor. We must be committed to doing whatever we can to ensure the safety of all of our church members and guests, especially our elderly neighbors who are particularly vulnerable to this virus.
2) We are called to honor our governing officials. (Romans 13:1-5)
God's word teaches us that the authorities that exist have been established by God. We see this situation as an opportunity to practice faithful obedience to Christ as we comply with and support safety measures called for by city or state governing officials.
We will continue to monitor the situation throughout this week and next week and will communicate a decision regarding our March 22 worship service by Thursday, March 19.
In situations like this one, we are committed to two guiding principles:
1) We are called to love our neighbors. (Mark 12:31)
Jesus calls us as his followers to love God and love neighbor. We must be committed to doing whatever we can to ensure the safety of all of our church members and guests, especially our elderly neighbors who are particularly vulnerable to this virus.
2) We are called to honor our governing officials. (Romans 13:1-5)
God's word teaches us that the authorities that exist have been established by God. We see this situation as an opportunity to practice faithful obedience to Christ as we comply with and support safety measures called for by city or state governing officials.
We will continue to monitor the situation throughout this week and next week and will communicate a decision regarding our March 22 worship service by Thursday, March 19.
Other events, Awana, small group Bible studies
The government's guidance does not extend to smaller group meetings, so as of right now, these groups will continue to operate on a normal schedule. We will continue to monitor the situation and give updates as necessary.
Further Communication
We understand that this is an uncommon and volatile situation, changing by the hour. We will continue to provide updates through social media, email, and our church website.
Prayer
We ask that you join us in prayer in these ways:
Pray for medical professionals who are on the front lines of accessing and treating this virus.
Pray for those who have been infected or affected by the virus.
Pray for wisdom for our pastors and leaders as they continue to make decisions.
Pray for our local churches to rest in the sovereignty of God and the goodness of the gospel.
Pray for medical professionals who are on the front lines of accessing and treating this virus.
Pray for those who have been infected or affected by the virus.
Pray for wisdom for our pastors and leaders as they continue to make decisions.
Pray for our local churches to rest in the sovereignty of God and the goodness of the gospel.
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