– Runny nose
– Headache
– Cough
– Sore throat
– Fever
– General feeling of being unwell
Let’s keep our trust in the Lord our Healer! Health rules like these were a part of Moses’ law. God cares about cleanliness! We have wonderful promises in God’s word of his protection over our well being.
Remember the promise from Psalm 91:5-7:
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
Most of all, keep showing love in practical ways to those who need it most.
See you tomorrow!
Pastors Pradeepan and Amreitha Jeeva
Other Practical Considerations
Another thing to consider is the way your congregation handles tithing. If more people are staying home from services, remind them of the ways they can give online. At your services, you might consider adjusting the way you collect the tithe. Many churches pass a plate or something similar down the pews. If you feel it necessary to limit all contact people may have, you could instead place a collection vessel at the back of the sanctuary or near the altar for people to deposit their tithes.
Finally, and perhaps most urgently, consider who in your congregation may be staying home and therefore isolated. Since elderly people are particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus (the majority of deaths have occurred among those 70 and older), they may be staying home and potentially isolated. Some in your congregation may have compromised immune systems and may need to stay home as well. What do these people need? If your church doesn’t have a network in place to assist such people already, this is a great time to get volunteers and those in need connected.
Outside of your own church community, you should also consider what opportunities for community outreach and evangelism this time represents. People are concerned about the disease and many are fearful. What can your church and its members do to help those who are disconcerted? Greg Stier of Dare 2 Share has written an article about using the opportunity the virus presents to share the good news of the Gospel. What might his advice look like in your local context?
