COVID-19 Update: March 20, 2020
Dear members of St Johns Lutheran Church,
Out of care and concern for the well-being of all in our community, the St Johns church council has come to the difficult decision to suspend activities, including worship, for the next couple of weeks. We will be working on livestreaming a weekend worship experience and continuing to post sermons and sermon notes on our website www.stjohnsdanforth.com.
We encourage growing in faith through reading and studying of the Scriptures and praying for God to be gracious to bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic in a manner in accord with His will. While we are a people of faith and believe in the power of God to heal every disease, we also believe that God has given us wisdom to care for one another in a sensible fashion. Therefore, for the well-being of all, we encourage you to observe the social distancing guidelines.
Please follow the CDC’s recommendations, such as staying at home if you are ill. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, seek medical care. Practice diligent handwashing, and cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing. It is recommended that if you don’t have facial tissue, to cough or sneeze into your elbow.
We encourage keeping in touch with others as a community of faith. Call others in the congregation and community to see how they are doing. For the elderly and others with potential health compromising issues, ask if they have any needs for groceries or other essential items. If in good health yourself, you might seek to assist them in meeting those basic needs. Pray also that God would help people with financial needs who have been impacted by the economic effects of this pandemic. Pray that God will provide for the financial needs of St Johns, that we might continue to assist in being the people of God in Christ Jesus to provide for the spiritual and physical well-being of those whom God has entrusted to our care.
As we pray for the LORD to put an end to this virus, remember that He is Lord overall, and He works all things for good to those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us.
May the LORD bless and watch over us all.
Pastor Marburger
P.S. Please forgive me when I stated that I had not heard of any of our political or healthcare leaders calling for prayer in these circumstances. Last night, I discovered buried in some of my secondary email, a notice from the American Family Association which included a request from President Trump for a Day of Prayer last Sunday. The call for prayer by President Trump was apparently issued on Friday, March 13, but also seemed to get lost in the media. We did, however, pray anyway and continue to urge fervent prayers.
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Marburger