Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Events surrounding the spread of coronavirus and society's efforts to mitigate it continue to move at astonishing speed. On Monday night, Messiah's Church Council decided to suspend all church activities as of this morning. This difficult decision was taken in the light of new recommendations on gathering sizes from the US Centers for Disease Control (50 for large group events) & The President's Coronavirus Guidelines for America (10 for social gatherings).
Here are the immediate results of this decision:
The Lenten worship services and supper scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 are cancelled.
All Bible studies, group musical practices, meals and other group activities are cancelled from now through Sunday, April 5.
All other public worship services through April 5 are cancelled. Audio recordings of the service for the day -- service music, hymns, responsive readings, the appointed Scriptures and a sermon -- will be posted on Messiah's website (as well as an order of service to follow as you listen) for these dates:
Sunday, March 22
Wednesday, March 25
Sunday, March 29
Wednesday, April 1
Sunday, April 5
The suspension of church activities will be reviewed at the next Board of Elders meeting, scheduled for Monday, March 30.
As you can imagine, this was not an outcome anyone serving on Church Council would have contemplated before the events of the past week; thorough discussion preceded the final decision. Suspending activities was proposed and ultimately approved as a prudent, loving way to deal with an extraordinary situation, enacted in the interest of our members and the community at large. But we also know that there is a broad range of opinion on the right course of action in this situation. We ask for your understanding, trust, patience and prayers as we continue to discern how to share the strength and comfort of God's Word and Sacraments with you and others in this uniquely challenging time. We also respectfully ask that, during this period, those of you who have pledged your support of Messiah's ongoing ministry continue to do so.
Pastor Blain, our office manager, and I remain on duty to serve you on our Savior's behalf; we are praying for you and your loved ones. Pastor Blain would be happy to come to your home and give you Christ's gifts of Word & Sacrament as you desire; please contact him directly (at 616-288-5594) or through the church office.
Finally, it's comforting to remember that God's people have been in this situation before. The Lord once sent a pestilence on Israel, but David, the Lord’s anointed, bore the guilt of sin and offered the sacrifice that “[stayed] the hand” of the Lord’s avenging angel (2 Samuel 24). So much more has Jesus Christ, our Savior, borne the wrath of God against our sin and offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice that spares us. “With his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). So we boldly beseech the Lord’s mercy upon us for Christ’s sake. “Death [reigns]” over all of Adam’s children in this world because of sin, yet “through our Lord Jesus Christ” comes the “gift of righteousness” that brings “eternal life” (Romans 5). May each of us implore God’s mercy in repentance and faith for the sake of Christ, whose hand alone can heal every disease (Luke 4), and in whom is salvation, life and resurrection from the dead.
O God, You desire not the death of sinners, but rather that we turn from our wickedness and live. Graciously behold Your people who plead to You and spare us. Withdraw the scourge of Your wrath and be moved in mercy to turn away this pestilence from us; for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Rick Krueger
Messiah Lutheran Church
