From Mark Pruitt
Friday, March 13, 2020
4:00 p.m.
Precautionary Measures
In response the dangers posed by the Coronavirus, here are changes we are making.
Worship
Worship Service on Saturday and Sunday will continue but only bread will be distributed during communion. You may remain in your pew of course. You may also cross your arms across your chest to receive a blessing and not receive the bread. The Peace will be exchanged in word only—with a smile, a wave, a gentle bow, if desired. Those who have any symptoms of cold or flu should stay home. Some communion services will be replaced with Morning or Evening Prayer. Also, please spread out in the pews as a precaution. We have the room.
Speaking of sacraments, Augustine said “Believe and you have eaten” by which he meant that we feed on God by faith. Prior to and distinct from receiving communion God feeds as we hear the good news proclaimed and see it symbolically in actions around the bread—it’s broken—and the wine—it’s poured out.
The Wednesday Evening Communion Service is suspended through the end of April.
The Community Meal
Meals-to-go is the plan. We will hand out boxed meals beginning this Wednesday, March 18 at the northwest end of the auditorium (under the basketball hoop) with the plan to do so through the end of April. We will provide our guests with information on the Community Meals going forward as we monitor the pandemic, and with reminders about best protective practices during the pandemic.
The Weekday Pre-School will close and follow the pattern of the Akron Public Schools.
Other Meetings
For now, all other meetings will continue and be reviewed on a case-by-case basis as events unfold. We will post updates on the web and mail them by email blasts.
Fear Not
This last word is really the first word. Last Sunday in the Adult Forum the topic, scheduled long ago, was ‘Discipleship and Courage.’ We noted that though the word courage is not prominent in the Bible, the words ‘fear not’ occur 365 times, one for each day of the year, let’s say. In Christ, God’s perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4.18) if we let it. God gives courage and relieves us from anxiety. Let’s keep this in mind and let it flow into our attitudes and action, so that it’s right at the heart of our witness, even as we take prudent precautions