COVID-19 Updates
Dear Midway Family,
I am writing tonight with a further update on our session’s and pastoral actions to respond to the rapid changes that are taking place across the country regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Above all, we wish to be faithful to our Lord’s callings and to continue to provide the blessings of worship and ministry for you and your families. In addition, we also seek to balance that by our biblical desire to love our neighbors and to protect the most vulnerable in our church and community. A significant part of our congregation is over the age of 60, and some others may be at higher risk of getting sick due to compromised immune systems. Furthermore, small children may also not be as cautious to avoid spreading germs as adults may be. In that light, the Session has made the following short-term scheduling decisions and has appointed a Session Commission to make other scheduling announcements for the next 30 days:
1. We WILL maintain a commitment to worship, with our 11:00 a.m. service in the sanctuary, with some minor alterations for a few weeks (no choir, offering at the back, and no distribution of bulletins)2. There will be NO Sunday school or nursery this Sunday morning and next.
3. There will be NO Sunday evening service this week and next.
4. Other activities at the church will be suspended until March 23 or further notice. This includes Wednesday night activities, all youth activities, Bible studies, small groups, and choir practice. Please watch the web LINK for any schedule changes.
5. Next week’s Missions Conference is already cancelled, but we hope to still have a missions emphasis in morning worship on March 22 if at all possible.
6. The Deacons and the rest of the leadership of Midway stand ready to assist our members if they have needs in this time of uncertainty. Please, if you have a need, contact your ruling elder, any pastor, or any of the deacons so we may assist. We are aware that some of our older members and others with health issues may not have immediate family in the area, but we as a church family are here and ready to assist as needed, please provide us the honor of fulfilling our duty if you have a need.
Please do not hesitate to contact your elder or any elder at any time if you have other questions about schedules. We encourage you to choose what is best for you and your family--to stay at home and worship there, or come to the church for the morning service. However, we again want to raise special concern for our older members and others at risk. We urge you to prayerfully consider your actions and how you may best participate in worship or ministry. Please do not look at being in attendance as the only acceptable way you may worship our Lord in these times. The Lord’s church’s doors will be open for those who wish to come here. Would you join me in praying for many visitors this week? There is true freedom and grace during this time for those who need to stay home. We are encouraging all to be prudent, careful, and wise about their decisions based on their health situation and conscience.
If you attend worship on Sunday, please be aware that coffee will not be available, and the offering plates will be at the back doors or in the Narthex to receive God’s tithes and your offerings. Deacons will not hand-distribute bulletins, since the directions for corporate worship may be clearly made from the pulpit. We advise you also to limit physical contact or physical greetings, until things return to normal.
If you worship at home, we will seek to post video of our full sanctuary service ONLINE as soon as possible, should you have technical difficulties. Meanwhile, do please access the variety of sermons or other posted materials from our website.
Even when we are anxious or challenged, recall that God occupies his throne and will never leave us nor forsake us. This, too, as with diseases in the past, falls under the caption of Romans 8:28 that God works together all things for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. And with the Psalmist, we may assuredly, trust in the Lord—our refuge—at all times (Ps. 62:8). And it is at times like these that our faith shines brightly, amidst fear, insecurity, and illness. And as I prayed with our Wednesday night bible study from Isaiah 40, God is over all nations and rulers; and he is divinely capable of humbling us and reminding us how dependent on him we truly are.
Elder Rodney Pritchett shared these words with some of us earlier this morning, and it certainly comes from a pastor wiser than me:
When Martin Luther was dealing with The Black Death plague, he wrote these wise words that can help inform the way we approach things happening in our world right now..."I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God." Luther's Works Volume 43 pg 132 the letter "Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague" written to Rev. Dr. John Hess
Please be in prayer for our church, our missions, and our compassionate outreach to our community. Our Father owns all of these. Maybe this is a perfect time to reach out to your neighbor with the gospel of Christ, our good and great Shepherd. Sunday’s sermon will be on that assurance of being held in his hand. May we hide in the shadow of his wings and may he protect each member of his dear flock. May he be glorified in every decision we make, in every proclamation we herald, and in every merciful deed we deliver.
Prayerfully,
David Hall
PS. Due to the time sensitivity of matters, this letter has borrowed portions from several other sister churches, who are thinking though things well. I am grateful for them.
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Sent: 8:50 PM March 13, 2020
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