An Important Message About the Coronavirus and Our Worship

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’” – Jesus, Matthew 22:37-40

How do we love our neighbors during a pandemic?

We keep them healthy.

The Session of Northminster met on Tuesday, March 10. At the time, we felt it was too early to decide if our worship services and other church gatherings should be canceled due to the Coronavirus. The Session decided that we would continue to pay attention to the news and heed guidance from health professionals.

As you are aware, the situation is changing quickly. Our friends at Impact SDA that use our building for worship on Saturdays decided to cancel their gatherings through the end of the month. The Hamilton County schools are closed, and colleges in the area are transitioning to online instruction. And just this morning, Mayor Berke officially declared a state of emergency in our community.

Worship is a critical part of the life of this community, and so we don’t make this decision lightly or easily. But based on the current information, and along with an increasing number of congregations in our area, we have decided to cancel worship services and any other in-person gatherings until further notice.

We will offer a livestream version of our service each Sunday on our Facebook page. Recordings of the service will be on this website.

As disciples, each of us can stay in close contact with our neighbors. Pray. Call. Text. Skype. FaceTime. Cook for each other. Whatever works, whatever we need, we will care for each other, especially those who are most vulnerable and isolated.

I know many of us are concerned about children who do not reliably get meals at home. I will continue to keep you posted on how we can help them as community groups organize to fill in those gaps.

With so many careful precautions being taken by so many people, we pray that we will not see the number of cases here that other regions are seeing. If that is the case, then our efforts will have succeeded.

Do not hesitate to email or call me or any member of Session if you have any questions, concerns, or needs.

May the peace of Christ be with you,

Laura