Dear Church family and friends,
Most of you will know by now that Berea College has made the decision to conclude all classes and dismiss the school for the remainder of the semester, effective Friday, March 13. Graduation and summer travel for students must regrettably be canceled or postponed. In addition, this morning Gov. Beshear issued direction that nursing homes should be closed to all visitation except for family near to death.
These preventative measures are prudent and proven means to slow the transmission of disease: Covid-19 and the much more deadly regular influenza. They are designed to protect those most vulnerable to Covid-19, namely those who are already ill or immunocompromised, and those in congregant living where disease can spread fast.
As neighbors and friends and as people of God, Union Church members are committed to being agents of help and health.
If you are a person who is susceptible to respiratory problems, or if your immune system is not strong, it’s a very good idea to avoid large crowds. But if you don’t fall into those categories, the chances of infection are low, and the chances of dangerous consequences even lower. Proper hygiene (wash your hands frequently!), and calling your doctor and staying home if you feel sick with a fever, are sufficient precautions for most people.
Union Church Will Remain Open and Continue to Hold Services
At this time there is no recommendation that houses of worship should cease services. Human community, contact, and spiritual renewal are even more necessary in times of stress and uncertainty. Union Church will continue regular worship services and meetings to offer these gifts to one another for the foreseeable future. To do so we are taking many precautions to make sure the church can operate on a normal schedule and in safe ways for everyone.
Here are a few of the steps we are taking:
- We have ample supplies of hand sanitizer and soap in the building, at entrances and in restrooms. New signage will soon remind everyone to WASH YOUR HANDS. EVERY TIME.
- Suggestions for passing the peace with a “namaste” or crossed arms gesture, an elbow touch, or just a simple bow were shared last week and will continue.
- Gloves for all food related activities are provided and all food surfaces are being cleaned with disinfectant regularly.
- We already have an employee sick leave policy and we will be extending that to whatever extent needed to ensure our hard-working staff members have support if they become ill.
- Worship Board will be discussing appropriate changes to worship practices like communion, offering, etc, to help keep people safe and healthy.
- We already have the ability to webcast our services electronically for those who choose or need to stay away from crowds.
- We are in constant touch with local officials and the CDC. We have members who work in the Health Department and in several regional hospital settings. We are staying informed.
Member Grace McKenzie has also shared this document from Seattle-based congregations that has very helpful information and suggestions. The worship board will be reviewing this document carefully tomorrow at their meeting to take additional measures. Click this link to read more: http://hackingchristianity.net/2020/03/i-pastor-a-church-near-a-covid-19-outbreak-this-is-what-churches-can-do.html
What Is Needed and What Can We Do to Help?
You can help those who are anxious by remaining cautious but calm. There is much anxiety right now among our student members (especially), and you may be experiencing some anxiety yourself. Bear in mind that these measures are working IN ADVANCE of any known infection in Madison County. They are preventative, and not an indication that there is any more danger. Indeed, they are intended to be just the opposite: positive steps to keep people healthy. The disease will spread, of course, but our actions are absolutely helping limit the danger. Don’t give in to panicky FaceBook posts, and don’t repeat or amplify gossip. Quell rumors and offer encouragement!
For Berea College students there may be a number of students for whom going home on such short notice is not a viable option. Foreign students will be accommodated at the college, but there are non-foreign students who may not be able to afford travel home on short notice, or for whom home is not safe or welcoming. If you have a room, a basement apartment, etc, and are willing to consider taking in a displaced student, please email or call me. We’ll need to know for how long you are able to provide space (one week, one month, the whole summer, etc) and if to do so you would need financial support. I will work with student resources and our mission board to see what we can do.
Isolation is a critical problem already, so we all need to work harder to keep everyone feeling connected: Call, write letters, send cards to our nursing home friends, our home-bound neighbors, etc. Reach out yourself in your own needs via video chat, phone calls, emails, etc. We need to extend our christian love in as many ways as possible and not just to those in the church. To help you in this endeavor, members of the church with “technology tutelage” skills are organizing classes for anyone who wants to learn how to use video chat and other means to stay connected. As soon as we have a time and date, we will let everyone know.
“You who live in the Shelter of the Most High…”
I hope you will take some encouragement and some comfort from scripture. This passage from Psalm 91 reminds us of God’s care and watchful love over each and every one of us. As we care for our neighbors and friends in the midst of these concerns, I know that we are more than capable of being ambassadors of Christ’s healing hope. Union Church members have always responded to others in a crisis and we will do no less now. With proactive care for others and for our community, we will continue to be salt and light for all in need.
Should you have any concerns, ideas, questions, or any indication of illness, please don’t hesitate to call me or any other member of the church staff. We will work together to be a helping agents of grace for all in need.
With God’s care,
Psalm 91:1-6
1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.’
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence;
4 he will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
or the arrow that flies by day,
6 or the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
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