Pastoral Letter in Response to COVID-19

Pastoral Letter in Response to COVID-19
March 14, 2020
Encouragement

Avatar for Jason Williams Pastor Jason

Beloved Church Family,

Christ reminds us that the greatest commandment is to love God and love neighbor. And so today we make decisions of love.

First, what you may be wondering about most immediately…

Due to the increasingly spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus and it’s impact on the people of our community and our healthcare systems, we will gather for worship this Sunday through phones, computers, and mobile devices. We will not meet in-person for worship in our sanctuary.

Church is not cancelled! Church is transforming for a time in order to be a positive force in our community to reduce the rapid spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus. This will help protect those who are most at-risk within our congregation, help mitigate the rapid spread of the virus in our local community, and therefore reduce the impact on our healthcare system. The best information we have shows that these measures can save lives!

Tomorrow, Sunday, March 15, you can join us for worship through one of the following ways:

  1. Phone: Call (563) 999-1222
  2. Mobile Device: Download “Free Conference Call” App from the AppStore & Use Meeting ID: hoodchurch
    Download for Android – Download for Apple
  3. Computer: Connect to the Internet and Visit – https://join.freeconferencecall.com/hoodchurch

Second, let’s consider the bigger picture…

This morning (Saturday), we all awoke to news that there is an positive COVID-19 Coronavirus diagnosis in Harnett. County. So, at noon today, available leaders from the Hood MCC Church Board met with Pastors Jason and Joanie on an Emergency Conference Call to discuss our love of God, our love of neighbor, and the latest information regarding Federal, State, County and City guidelines regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus. Together, we decided unanimously to Love both God and our neighbors by (1) helping to slow to spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus and (2) engaging in a time of prayer and community service. To support this decision, our church is taking the following actions:

  1. Worship for Sunday, March 15 will take place at 11:00 am via an Audio-Video Conference Call Gathering.
  2. All groups and activities that are scheduled to take place inside the Hood MCC building which include more than 6 persons should find alternative ways to gather that do not involve the in-person meetings within the church building effective Tuesday, March 17.
  3. The Church Board and Pastors will make decisions about future worship times and building use on a week to week basis in order to take advantage of the latest and most current information available.
  4. Pastors Joanie and Jason will host a Daily Prayer Gathering via Conference Call through which we will share joys and concerns, pray for one another and our community, offer encouragement, connect those in need to resources, and share the latest and best information regarding the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
  5. Create a Support System through which persons connected to our church family can share resources and needs.
  6. Encourage persons who are in a high-risk group (specifically those over 65 years of age, those who have a chronic respiratory condition, and those who have an autoimmune disease) to stay at home and allow persons within our church family who are under 50 years of age to assist with errands outside the home.
  7. Promote Online Giving to support the above actions and our ability to offer benevolence in our community.

During a time such as this, we can be the church in powerful ways! We are praying for God’s guidance and healing through the current COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. We believe that the seven actions above are part of God’s call and response back to us. So, let us together join hands with God by being the Body of Christ in a world afflicted by the current coronavirus pandemic. We shall love God! We shall love one another! We shall overcome!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastors Joanie and Jason