Re: COVID-19 Response
From: Your Shepherds and Leadership Team
Milton Family,
Over the past 24 hours, including an emergency meeting last night, we have been discussing our response to the COVID-19 virus and the CDC and local recommendations for gatherings and social distancing. While we understand there are varying degrees of concern with regards to the global COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, Our thoughts centered around these two general principles:
- First, several of our members are in the higher risk categories including factors such as over 60 years of age, have compromised immune systems including chronic heart and lung issues, as well as recent cancer treatments, etc. We also understand that all members, regardless of their risk factors, desire to participate in assemblies and may feel guilty about missing services. Out of love and concern for all members, we don’t want to force individuals to choose between their health and attending the assemblies.
- Second, our government agencies including the Centers for Disease Control, the White House, and Local and State Health Departments have requested refraining from all assemblies greater than 10 people. As Paul writes in Romans 13:1 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Our response to this health event is not just about protecting our members but also participating in the community response to slow down the spread and reduce the burden on the healthcare system including hospital resources and medical supplies. Infectious disease experts refer to this strategy as “flattening the infection curve” so that the number of serious illnesses doesn’t exceed our healthcare capacity.
As a result we have decided to cancel all assemblies / services for the remainder of March. This includes the Wednesday service tomorrow evening (March 18th), Sunday March 22nd, Wednesday March 25th, and Sunday March 29th.
Understanding our need to worship and a desire to continue to hear a message from God’s Word, we will be producing and posting a sermon message from Teb to be published on Sunday mornings which can be watched or downloaded from our website at: http://miltoncoc.org/multimedia-category/sermons/ In addition we intend to post the video messages via Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/miltonchurchofchrist/ and perhaps other streaming services as we evaluate options. Please use this opportunity to worship with your family at home. Feel free to purchase your own communion supplies. More information and instructions will be provided as we more thoroughly study our options and best practices.
Given the fluid nature of the COVID-19 situation, reassessments will continue to be made on an hourly/daily basis. If anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any one of us and we encourage everyone to stay connected and to help communicate prayer requests and needs.
As Teb mentioned on Sunday morning, our faith and hope is not based on the promise of a life without sickness or physical issues but rather on the promise of eternal life and forgiveness of sins. Although we have full confidence that the Lord can provide health and safety we also understand that, when confronted by Satan with a test of God’s protection, Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ (Luke 4:12)
Sincerely,
Stan, Jerry, and Rob
Joshua 1:9 “… be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”