Sunday Worship Services - Corona Virus Update
Dear Church Family,
Yesterday, President Trump announced a list of guidelines that he and the White House’s coronavirus task force hope will slow the spread of the pandemic within 15 days. One of those guidelines is that gatherings now be limited to no more than 10 persons. Because we are called to honor the government (Romans 13:1-4), and because we recognize that God calls us to love our neighbors enough to protect them from the spread of infectious disease, the Consistory has determined that a change to our previously announced policy concerning Sunday worship services will need to be made.
For the next two Sundays (March 22 and March 29), public worship services, morning and evening, are cancelled. Live streaming, however, will continue as before. There will be present in the sanctuary no more than 10 people to include Pastor Kevin, Glenn De Jong, a sound person and a video operator, along with two elders and their wives.
As before, the live stream links are:
(Zion’s website)
https://www.facebook.com/zionunitedreformedchurch/ (Zion’s Facebook page)
https://www.youtube.com/user/zionurc (Zion’s YouTube page)
Of course, this is not ideal. In our lifetimes this is an unprecedented and strange time. But God is sovereign over all this and is certainly working it out for our good and His glory. I encourage you then, on these Sundays that we can’t be physically together, to make them a very special family time. Plan ahead to join the live-stream. Teach your children through your words and example that worship and the Lord’s Day are still important. They will remember these strange times.
Also, even though we can’t come together, we should be intentional about being the church. Remember one another and reach out by phone, text, or email. Pray for the elderly and those who are at higher risk. Remember that we’re a family.
I want to encourage you not to fear or be anxious. This past Sunday morning, we sang Psalm 46 and I preached on Psalm 91. I would encourage you to meditate on those passages. Also rest in these words from Philippians 4:4-7: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
If you have any needs (groceries or prescriptions to be picked up), please let me know. Several members of our congregation have already offered their services in these areas, and we want to help anyone in our congregation who has a need. And if you just want someone to talk to or pray with, you can reach me any time at 360-306-1244.
As you may know, our congregation gives faithfully and sacrificially every Sunday, which blesses all the ministries of the church. Although we will miss worshiping together for the next two Sundays, we encourage all members to bear in mind that the ministries at Zion and the missionaries and causes we support will continue to need our financial contribution. Offering checks may be mailed to the church office (1220 Canal Blvd. Ripon, CA 95366). In addition, the Deacons are working on a procedure for online giving. When this is ready, we will announce it immediately, along with a reminder of the offering schedule for each Sunday. If you do mail a check in, please write on the memo line where the funds are to be designated.
On March 30 the Consistory will review recommendations from the government and re-evaluate how we will move forward from there. We understand that we may need to suspend gatherings beyond that point, but also recognize that this is a very fluid situation and changing every day so we believe this is a prudent way to proceed.
Again, thanks to everyone for your cooperation, understanding, and consideration as we work through this situation. And as we rest in God’s sovereign rule over all things, let us also pray that our God would stop the spread of this virus and thwart the efforts of Satan to hinder the spread of the Gospel and the work of the Church.
Warmly, in Christ, for the Consistory,
Pastor Kevin
Rev. Kevin Efflandt
Pastor of Preaching & Teaching
Zion United Reformed Church
Ripon, California