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Message from Pastor Kevin and the Elders

Proverbs 3:5–6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

The above verses have many applications for our lives each day…I believe it applies now in regards to coronavirus.

Regardless of what is happening around the world…we can trust in the Lord.

Regardless of what others may say or how we may be feeling ourselves…we can always trust in the Lord.

He is the Lord, the Sovereign, the Ruler of all…we must acknowledge His Lordship in all situations.

We can trust Him regardless of the circumstances around us…He will make our paths straight.

A wise and godly farmer in Colorado, after a hailstorm had destroyed that year’s wheat crop, said…in times like this we glance at the fields and we gaze at the Lord.  Godly advice for the situation with the coronavirus in our country now…we glance at the events happening around us, the effect it is having on those around us…and…we continue to gaze at the Lord.  He is our hope and our help and our strength.

With that said…what are we going to do here at Grace Christian Fellowship?

What response would God have us do in this part of His body?

We need to pray!

This virus was not an accident or a surprise to God.  

He is still in control and He is still at work in our lives and through our lives.

We need to seek Him…

Look to Him for guidance…

Look to Him for His strength…

Seek for ways to share our hope with those around us.

I would like to take this on a week by week basis, at least at this point.  

For this week (March 15-21):

  • There will be no Sunday School
  • There will be a worship service Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
    • We will have a time of worship 
    • We will have a time of prayer 
    • We will have a time in God’s word
    • We will not have communion
      (we have plans for the future that will help avoid cross-contamination)
    • We will have an offering basket at the back of the church but will not pass it.
  • We will hold our annual meeting on Sunday – it will be brief
    • We will not be voting on By-Law changes 
    • We will be voting on elders
      • Daryl Lampela (new – 2 year term)
      • Bob Emmert (new – 3 year term)
      • Doug Coffman (renew – 3 year term)
  • Workday for this Saturday is cancelled
  • There will not be regular bible studies or youth group this week
    • Those who are able/willing can gather again for a time of prayer on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
  • We will be disinfecting commonly touched surfaces of the church…door knobs, faucets, toilet flushers, etc.

Please be respectful of other peoples’ space…6’ seems to be the standard.

Sit with your family but keep an empty pew in front and behind you.

No handshakes or hugs…but of course greet each other.

If you are not feeling well, if you are in one of the high-risk groups, or if you are just concerned…please do not worry or feel guilty about staying home.  

The phones are still working 😊, text, email, Facebook, etc…  Let us know how you are doing and know that we will be praying for you and trusting our great God!

Corrie tenBoom, along with other faithful from among the nations, led courageously in the face of Nazi fascism – a different form of deadly virus.  She reminds us…worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.

We need not worry…because we know the One who has defeated sin and defeated death!

1 Corinthians 15:55–57
55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Our response to others around us…

1 Peter 3:15
15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 

Share how God has rescued us from the universal epidemic of sin and the penalty of death.  Share that our hope is not found in remaining healthy this side of heaven.

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