May 28, 2020 — COVID-19 UPDATE from Pastor John!

Dear Friends and Family,

In Sue Monk Kidd’s excellent book on spiritual direction “When the Heart Waits” she mentions the fascinating Chinese phrase “wu wei.” I love unique phrases from other languages and this is a new favorite on my list (i.e., wabi sabi, sisu, ikigai, ob portu, etc). Wu wei can be described as “active non-doing” or “actionless acting.” We are in a season of wu-wei-ting. Waiting. Wu wei is the opposite of striving, and so it is an expression of spiritual liberty, where we trust God and let life unfold. We focus upon and dwell in the moment we find ourselves in, rather than prematurely lunging into the future or that next thing before the time is right. According to wu wei, if we act too quickly without enough information, we can rip our roots out from the present that we’re grounded in. And so we don’t force things, yet we’re poised to grow and emerge from the dark soil to sprout in the right season when the time is ripe. What are you wu-wei-ting for?

Session prayerfully and actively remains in the wu wei posture. The leadership has not yet set a firm date for when services will begin phasing in. We will get there, we just need to keep wu-wei-ing in on the matter. What we have been learning along the way is that churches have some of the most complex dynamics to navigate through regarding COVID-19 and re-opening, particularly churches with older demographics.

I have some sobering information to share. The latest guidance from the majority of musicologists and medical professionals is that at this time there is no safe way for choirs to rehearse or sing publicly until there is a vaccine and 95% effective treatment for COVID-19, which is likely 18-24 months away or more. In addition, there is the possibility that presbytery (this is yet to be determined) will require there be no congregational singing in re-opened sanctuary services until further notice.

Take a moment to reflect on what was just shared. The ramifications and repercussions for the church are profound.

Let us remember in our grieving and processing of this unprecedented news, that this safety precaution is temporary and redemptive. The purpose is to bring health to our community and world. The reason we are likely not publicly singing (for a season) is for God’s glory and for the public good. God is with us. People in past generations have weathered pandemics, and so will we. There were church closings during the Spanish Influenza of 1918-1919. That pandemic was much worse than this, and the church made it through. By the grace of God, we too will come out of this more resilient, creative, and dependent upon God.

It won’t be easy, but we’re going to do it! God is going to lead us through this challenging season we find ourselves in. We are the kind of people who rise to the occasion—because we are a resurrection people. We are united, empowered, and led by our crucified, risen, and reigning Lord who brought about the death of death by his death. Life came out of death. Our trust is in the eternal God, not in the transient forms we use to express our worship to God. We can still worship God in spirit and in truth, no matter where we are (sanctuary or internet or home) and with what we have (singing or no singing). God is still with us and filling us with praise and worship, even when we feel stripped down to almost nothing. Our online worship services will continue for a long time to come, even when we begin our services again in the sanctuary. We will continue to have music with singing and virtual holy communion in our online service. You are encouraged to sing in your homes and sing in your hearts to God. When we eventually re-start sanctuary services, we will find creative ways to worship together through prayer, Scripture, sermon, liturgy, non-wind musical instruments, with possibly a solo or duet (either recorded or live, dependent upon what session decides). I have included below the resources the session and staff have used to help navigate these COVID-19 waters.

Christus Victor! That’s Latin for “Christ is the Conqueror.” Christ has the victory, even over the coronavirus. In the meantime, Christus Victor helps us wu wei.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor John

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RESOURCES:

“No Vaccine, No Safe Public Singing”

“To Keep Churches Safe, use masks, limit singing and wait to resume Communion”

“The Risks – Know Them – Avoid Them”

“A choir decided to go ahead with rehearsal.”

“Singing, the Church, and COVID-19: A Caution for Moving Forward”

“Singing, the Church, and COVID-19: Update #1”

“A Conversation: What Do Science and Data Say About the Near Term Future of Singing“

COVID-19: April 1, 2020 LETTER FROM OUR SESSION

Our prayers for protection, provision, and perseverance remain with you and our world in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more…