Dear South Church,
This Sunday our congregation will be gathering online via livestream rather than in person. This is not a decision that your pastors, moderator, and church council have taken lightly. Rather, it is a sacrifice that we make, an act of love for the most vulnerable within and around our church community. It is not an act of panic, but a proactive decision based on awareness, compassion, and the hope of prevention. Live-stream with us at southchurch.com/live/.
Experience from past pandemics and this one suggest that social distancing BEFORE the virus is widespread is extremely helpful. This “flattens the curve” of disease transmission, easing the strain on our health system for those who need acute care due to COVID-19, flu, or other unrelated issues. Those of us whose health is not likely to be impacted by COVID-19 have an opportunity to care for those who are above 60 or whose immunity is compromised.
With that in mind, all youth group and choir/bells rehearsals are cancelled until further notice.
How can we stay connected? As we practice social distancing in person, we will need to work harder to stay connected in other ways. We will actively be communicating via church-wide emails, Facebook, and Instagram. We are setting up an account with Zoom, which we’ll use for virtual meetings. Children and families will be receiving at-home activities to continue to grow the spiritual lives of the littlest among us. If you are looking for ways to walk through this particular Lenten wilderness and don’t have a Lenten prayer jar or Alex’s series of Devotions, please let us know and we can bring or send one to you. As always, downloading the South Church app and following along on social media are great ways to stay connected and find opportunities for spiritual growth and care. Our Deacons and pastors are calling our seniors to check in and see what they might need. Most importantly, we ask you to reach out to someone at church (call, text, email) and ask them how they’re doing. Stay connected. Spread love, not fear in these days.
Please don’t hesitate to be in touch with Dana (203.913.0329) or Jenn (781.290.6466) if you are feeling fearful or lonely in these days. Alex is away on vacation until Wednesday, March 18th.
South Church Players have announced that next weekend's performances of HONK! have been postponed. We will let you know when we have more information.
Lastly, I will most likely be postponing my sabbatical scheduled for this spring. This is not the time to step away from South Church and I know there will be opportunities in the future for rest and renewal.
May God’s peace that surpasses all understanding surround you in these days,
Pastor Dana & Leadership of South Church
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