Providence Responds to COVID-19

As of March 13, 2020 • 1:00pm

I never imagined as a pastor that I would send a letter asking people NOT to come to church. But, I also didn’t imagine serving the church through this global health crisis. After much consideration, conversation, and prayer, the ministry staff and Ministry Coordination Council have made the difficult decision to suspend in-person gatherings, including worship, until further notice. 

The basis for this decision is prayer and data. A week and a half ago the US had only 100 confirmed cases for COVID-19. Today that number is 1700. We are at the beginning of an exponential growth curve of known cases. Add to this that there are likely many more undiagnosed cases in the community. Anything we can do to slow the spread of the virus will be beneficial to the congregation and the community as a whole. In seeking advice from Dr. Steve Carroll, he responded, “I am particularly concerned because a significant fraction of our congregation is in the demographic that’s at particular risk.”

We will have the opportunity to worship together "virtually" through Facebook Live beginning at our regular worship time of 10:30 Sunday mornings. Ministry staff will hold a modified service for the camera and hope you will tune in to the church’s Facebook page at 10:30 a.m.

While money should be the least of our concerns at this time, I remind you that our expenses will not stop while gatherings are suspended. So, I hope you will plan to keep giving generously to the church even during this time of “virtual” gatherings.

We share your disappointment and anxiety, and we hope you understand why this action seems warranted. Please remember to check on each other and stay in contact by telephone, computer, and other means. This is an opportunity for us to be creative and intentional in how we are community for each other until we are able to hug and shake hands safely, again. 
 

Prayerfully,
Dan Freemyer, Pastor
In coordination with the Providence Ministry Coordination Council and Staff