Something was different in worship this past Sunday. I hope you noticed because that means that the livestream worked and you were watching, or that you were actually present. I did not preach, Elizabeth McAdams taught no children’s lesson, Cord Carlin was not leading worship, and communion was not served. None of those changes were planned.
Welcome to pandemic 2020.
We learned Saturday morning that Cord had been in contact on Thursday with someone who had COVID. As a result, he and his family were entering quarantine. He recruited Rob McAdams to take his place leading music. Around 7:30 Sunday morning, Elizabeth called to tell me that Rob was very sick and that he and she were waiting to be tested for COVID. No one in the McAdam’s family had knowingly been exposed, nor was Rob exhibiting the classic symptoms of the virus, but wisely, they stayed home and sought the test. And just like that, we lost our children’s lesson and our music. Quickly, we decided to go without the children’s lesson (sorry, kids!) and I recruited Eunike Indrawan, who happily stepped in to cover music.
So far, so good.
Then I remembered that I had met Rob for lunch the previous Friday. If Rob had been exposed, the chance existed that I had been exposed. Wisdom therefore dictated that I stay home as well. Now we were without a preacher and someone to serve communion (which in a PCA church only a teaching elder is permitted to do). At this point the entire service was teetering.
Now, two hours before the scheduled service, I contacted Mauritz Bezuidenhoudt whom I was not even sure was in town. Within a few minutes, he agreed to preach for me. I participated in the service from home, along with many of you, and was grateful for the wonderfully gifted people that God has given us. Mauritz and Eunike’s gracious and serving spirits and rich gifts blessed us all.
Subsequently and sadly, the Carlin family tested positive for COVID. Do pray for them and others as they battle this awful disease.
But the story did not end there! Later this week, I became aware that Mauritz and his family had shared dinner with Cord and his family Friday night. This occurred before Cord had been informed of his exposure and the need to quarantine. Suddenly we were made to wonder whether all who had been in worship on Sunday with Mauritz were at risk.
Our judgment is no, they/you are not at risk, given the time it takes from exposure to reaching a point of being contagious. That said, it is a reminder for us all that if we have reason to think that we have been exposed, we must stay home until we are certain that we pose no risk to others. I am grateful to God that as it all played out, no one was put at risk. It is a reminder, though, of how vigilant we need to be.
For Rob and Elizabeth, the results were more favorable. Both tested negative for COVID and Rob felt fine later Sunday evening, apparently the victim of a run-of-the-mill twenty-four hour bug. Both Rob and Elizabeth are feeling fine and back to doing what they do.
Sharing Advent with our Community
Among the “what they do,” as I mentioned last week, is Elizabeth working with others to put together an amazing advent devotional packet. She originally designed this for our own families. I suggested we float this idea to the Oviedo community as an outreach venture. The result has shocked us and thrilled us.
Every year, we brainstorm ways to make a gospel connection with our community. This is the first idea that has really connected. We are at the unprecedented place where people in the community are asking us for material which points to the Gospel. Inconceivable, but true. And expensive. We did not budget for such a successful outreach effort like this. We have requests for 80+ packets and so we need to ask you, the congregation of CPC, if any of you might be able to help raise the $1,000 needed to cover the costs. If you can contribute to this cause, we would greatly appreciate it. Write a check, donate digitally using Tithe.ly, or via the church donations page. We also wouldn't turn down help assembling the kits, if you're willing and able.
Make the memo or note read “Because Oviedo wants CPC to give them Christian literature.”
