Worship Update for March 15
In unusual times we are called to make changes to our normal routine when such changes seem prudent. I have been in consultation with some of the leaders of our congregation. From those conversations we have made the decision to cancel worship gatherings for the morning of Sunday, March 15. There will still be a live stream made available at 11:00, and we encourage people to stay connected to the worshipping community by this means. No decision about other congregational events has been made at this time.
On Friday the bishop of our annual conference, Bishop Scott Jones, convened a conference call with the clergy of our annual conference. The call featured Dr. Marc Boom, President and CEO of Houston Methodist Hospitals, and Dr. Ashley Drews, one of their infectious disease physicians. They shared with us some key information about the COVID-19 virus and what community entities should consider as a way of responding to its spread. A key part of what they shared was in respect to mitigating the rate at which the virus will spread, sometimes being framed using the phrase “flattening the curve.” The reason this is important has to do with the potential for this virus to overwhelm the capacity of our health care system. It is clear that response from community entities such as schools and churches has the ability to positively affect this.
Making a decision like this is not done lightly. It is made in the tension between the desire to be responsible and wanting to not overreact. Some of the big decisions we are seeing in our country in response to Coronavirus are not being met with complete approval. To some, it is all an overreaction. To that end, I would share with you these thoughts by Michael Mina, associate medical director of clinical microbiology at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in an article on Statnews.com.
“We are all wondering if our actions are melodramatic. And we’re feeling silly” (doing fist bumps instead of hand shakes, etc.). But this is the problem, that people aren’t recognizing that we are at this moment and we can make a decision right now to flatten this curve by … being OK with wondering if we’re being melodramatic.”
“Should we be canceling classes? Should we be canceling our flights? Should we not be shaking hands? All of these things are things that I want the public to keep wondering if we should be doing this. Because the moment we’re no longer wondering whether we should be doing it, it’s too late. That means that we know we should be doing it. And that is a bad place to be.”
Based on the information shared by the doctors at Houston Methodist and the recommendations they are making to the leaders of congregations, I am comfortable at this time with the decision not to have people gather at the church facility on March 15. Is it the right decision? I don’t know. What I do know is that it is a reasonable decision. The administrative council of our congregation will meet this coming week to determine a plan for the coming weeks. Your patience and your prayers are appreciated. As I mentioned in the previous update, please be calm. There is no need to panic about things; God is in control. With that confidence we make prayer rather than worry our mode of operation. May the peace of God guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Pastor Dave