First Coronavirus Update

To all our congregants at Old First:

It’s Thursday, and we are responding to and planning for Coronavirus developments hourly. We are tracking official government advisements and checking in with other faith communities. Maureen and Abraham have stepped up cleaning and sanitizing even more than usual.

First, we want to affirm and support those of you who will be practicing social isolation by staying home and missing church activities. We will do our best to provide alternatives for you to stay in touch and to feed your souls as best we can. We hope to have more on this for you soon, including devotional materials.

Second, we do not know of any persons in our congregation with COVID-19. We do know a few members who have not felt well, and with caution and courage have isolated themselves. Other persons with church responsibilities have requested to practice social isolation as a matter of civic duty and preventative safety, and we honor and affirm that.

Therefore, and third, in consultation with our teachers, I have decided to suspend Sunday School for at least two weeks, March 15 & 22. We will keep you informed in terms of reopening or not.

Fourth, we are not suspending Sunday Worship. We are taking extraordinary measures for safety in such things as passing the peace, taking collection, and serving Holy Communion, which we will demonstrate every Sunday. Personal blessings will be given without contact. Coffee hour will have no food. We may have to make more changes this Sunday if new conditions warrant it. If we have to suspend worship in the future, we will be sure to let you know and keep providing devotional alternatives. Use our large sanctuary to your advantage and spread out your seating and give each other space!

Fifth, we are consulting with all of our tenants on their plans and expectations for openings and closings.

Sixth, we are beginning to ask what new ministries we are being called to in this crisis: food, relief, cash, or care for the isolated, in our congregation and beyond it. Please contact us if you need help. 

These measures are costly because they get at the heart of Christian faith and practice. Our Lord Jesus touched the sick and told us to drink his cup with him. Our core mission is to be open and fully welcoming and to meet each other in all our vulnerability. But we have to balance these deep gospel motivations with care for you as individuals and for public safety. From this Sunday’s epistle: “Meanwhile, we rejoice in our sufferings, for suffering produces endurance, and endurance character, and character hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.”  

For the Consistory and our Staff,

Pastor Meeter