Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We have decided to cancel all activities at the church building for the next two weeks. This includes morning and evening worship services, Sunday school, Christianity Explored, and any other meetings at the church. Please use discretion for any meetings in other locations. We’ll keep you updated about when we will resume activities when we know more about the situation.

 This was not a decision we made lightly. As our confession states in WCF 21-6, public worship is “not carelessly or willfully to be neglected, or forsaken….” As the session discussed the COVID-19 situation, there were a few things that persuaded us to close our doors temporarily related to loving you well and loving our community well. You have a very high regard for the authority of your elders. That makes our jobs easier, but we are acutely aware of the responsibility we have to care for you well. We were concerned that even though we had encouraged you not to attend services if you are concerned for your health, some might still feel under obligation to attend any worship service that the session had called. Secondly, we want to love our community well. In the past two days, our state and community leaders have shut down schools and asked that other meetings be cancelled for the sake of the community. By forgoing meeting together, we reduce the possibility of spreading infection not only within our own community, but also to our neighbors.

 The paragraph in the confession that I quoted above has more to say about worship, however. I’ve copied it below.

 WCF 21-6. Neither prayer, nor any other part of religious worship, is now, under the Gospel, either tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed: but God is to be worshipped everywhere, in spirit and truth; as, in private families daily, and in secret, each one by himself; so, more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly or willfully to be neglected, or forsaken, when God, by His Word or providence, calls thereunto.

 Note that even though we won’t be meeting together in the church building for a short period of time, “God is to be worshipped everywhere, in spirit and truth; as, in private families daily, and in secret, each one by himself.” Pray, sing and read God’s word with your families and by yourself daily. On Sunday, when you’d normally be in church, we encourage you to spend extra time worshipping God at home. Private worship is not a substitute for public worship. God wants both and we look forward to the time when we can worship together again.

 Finally, we have made this decision because of love, not fear. We believe that God is sovereign over everything. I encourage you to meditate on Psalm 46 this week as you think about the COVID-19 situation. The Psalm says that God loves us so much and is so mighty that there would be no reason to fear even if the very earth gave way. Notice also that God is right here with us. Finally, in all the commotion of godless rebellion in this world, God will make it all stop and He will be worshipped among the nations!

 Psalm 46

¹ God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

³ though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.

⁵ God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

⁶ The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.

⁷ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

⁸ Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.

⁹ He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.

¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

¹¹ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

 Your brother in Christ,

John Erickson

For the Session