Coronavirus – Covid-19
Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Love your neighbour as you love yourself.”
In these exceptional times can I ask you to consider the application of this instruction from Jesus in the following ways
1. Pray first – “Love the Lord your God”
2. Do not put others at risk – “Love your neighbour”
3. Do not put yourself at risk – “Love yourself”
4. Pray again
The Guidelines concerning Coronavirus – Covid-19, call upon us to make drastic changes to our church life while we are in the throes of this global pandemic.
- All public worship is cancelled until further notice in all our churches.
- Our Church centres are now closed until further notice.
- All face to face meetings and all Church groups are cancelled until further notice.
- Funerals will have to be taken at the graveside or crematorium, with an intentionally very small number of people present, but may be followed by a public memorial service when the situation allows.
These are drastic and stringent sacrifices for us to make, but we make them out of love not out of fear. We make them out of love to protect the people among us who are most vulnerable to infection and to play our part in supporting the national efforts to counter the worst effects of this global pandemic.
But we also have to think and act positively as churches. Our congregations have to think about ‘gathering’ in a different way, about celebrating our faith and showing the love of God in different and creative ways.
We are suggesting that folk keep in touch by regular phone calls and or social media.
We are trying to keep our church website as up to date as possible. We have been adding new worship videos and links to online worship.
We are encouraging folk to make use of TV and Radio worship programs.
The present situation could go on for some time, but the Church of God has continued to serve people through epidemics, disasters and wars for centuries. Coronavirus will not prevent us from being the praying, caring Body of Christ. We just have to learn to do it differently for a while, and, as Jesus often told the disciples, not to be afraid.
I invite you to join me in Prayer
As we pray this prayer together, we are conscious of the anxieties caused by the spread of coronavirus and we pray for all those affected by this global pandemic:
For those who are ill and those who tend them.
For the families and friends of those who have died.
For those supporting more vulnerable people trying to make calm and wise decisions about how best to minimise risk.
For those facing a much looked forward to holiday or event being cancelled.
For those working to increase our understanding of the disease.
For all working in our health service.
For those organising responses, and giving information and advice.
May the voices of calm wisdom and good sense guide us despite our fears and keep us caring, compassionate and connected. So that through us God’s love and Care would shine out even brighter during this difficult time.
Amen
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever.
Amen
With Love and Prayers
Yours
Adrian Lough
Bankfoot Church Centre 