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COVID-19 Update at First Baptist Church (7/24/20)
We have begun re-gathering for worship. We appreciate that those who have attended in person have followed social distancing and wearing masks. If you are planning on staying home, that's okay! We will continue to livestream our worship services here.
We understand that some of our church family are really excited to get back to re-gathering and others may not feel ready. We love all of you, and support your decision. We want to assure everyone that we will continue to livestream our worship services, so everyone has the ability to worship with our church family in some way.
Chris and Kathleen are praying by livestreaming here a prayer each day at 7:00pm. (We'll post it on Facebook as well.) We chose this time, because in military time 7:00pm is 19:00hrs. This will be our prayer for Covid-19 at 1900 hours. We will take public and private prayer requests each day here and spend a few minutes leading prayer. We will also share a Psalm each day as an anchor to the way God's people have been crying out to Him in times of trouble for thousands of years.
For those of you who have been with us for a while, you will remember that we have been a church without a building before and have seen God use that situation to grow us individually and as a community. It is our assurance that God will use us as church that might not be able to meet face to face for a time as well.
As a church
We want to remember we are people drawn together by the great hope that our God is where our security has always been and that we are determined to love our neighbors in good times and in stressful times. Jesus’ Church has persisted and even thrived through plague, war, economic depression, social change, and overwhelming oppression before. The Church will persist through whatever circumstances come our way in the weeks and months ahead.
With that in mind, we can love our neighbors is by doing what we can to help slow the spread of the virus. We can also work together to make sure that people have the basic necessities, even if that means we drop stuff off on doorsteps without a hug. It might also look like calling those feeling isolated instead of paying them a visit. If Paul could write a letter from prison in Rome to help encourage the gospel hundreds of miles away in Philippi, we can be creative and continue to encourage the gospel in our community during times of social isolation.
We want to encourage everyone to be gracious and understanding towards one another during this time. All people respond differently, because God did not design us with a cookie cutter. Some of us by nature tend to be less worried about things going on in the world around us for which we have no control. For those of you who fall in that camp - we love you, and some of us are in awe of your ability to continue with life in trying times. We would encourage you to be cautious still with regards to helping slow the speed at which COVID-19 might spread.
Some of us by nature are constantly worried about the things going on in the world for which we have no control. For those of you who fall in that camp - we love you and are in awe of your ability to keep moving even though you are fearful. We would ask that as you battle concern over the virus you continue to look for creative ways to show love to those around you even if you are in isolation.
Finally, we recommend if you have not done so yet that everyone be familiar with the recommendations concerning personal precautions coming from the CDC and the Vermont Health Department. If you or someone in your household has a fever, cough or shortness of breath, please call your primary care provider. Please do not just walk into the clinic or hospital.
Londonderry Community
We are in contact with local officials on their recommendations for our church as well as how we can be neighbors to those who live around us. We will communicate any needs that come up as we hear about them. We encourage you to reach out with a phone call or text to those who live alone or might struggle with social isolation.
We would like to encourage you to take time to pray for our leaders, for medical staff, and for our community.
We understand that some of our church family are really excited to get back to re-gathering and others may not feel ready. We love all of you, and support your decision. We want to assure everyone that we will continue to livestream our worship services, so everyone has the ability to worship with our church family in some way.
Chris and Kathleen are praying by livestreaming here a prayer each day at 7:00pm. (We'll post it on Facebook as well.) We chose this time, because in military time 7:00pm is 19:00hrs. This will be our prayer for Covid-19 at 1900 hours. We will take public and private prayer requests each day here and spend a few minutes leading prayer. We will also share a Psalm each day as an anchor to the way God's people have been crying out to Him in times of trouble for thousands of years.
For those of you who have been with us for a while, you will remember that we have been a church without a building before and have seen God use that situation to grow us individually and as a community. It is our assurance that God will use us as church that might not be able to meet face to face for a time as well.
As a church
We want to remember we are people drawn together by the great hope that our God is where our security has always been and that we are determined to love our neighbors in good times and in stressful times. Jesus’ Church has persisted and even thrived through plague, war, economic depression, social change, and overwhelming oppression before. The Church will persist through whatever circumstances come our way in the weeks and months ahead.
With that in mind, we can love our neighbors is by doing what we can to help slow the spread of the virus. We can also work together to make sure that people have the basic necessities, even if that means we drop stuff off on doorsteps without a hug. It might also look like calling those feeling isolated instead of paying them a visit. If Paul could write a letter from prison in Rome to help encourage the gospel hundreds of miles away in Philippi, we can be creative and continue to encourage the gospel in our community during times of social isolation.
We want to encourage everyone to be gracious and understanding towards one another during this time. All people respond differently, because God did not design us with a cookie cutter. Some of us by nature tend to be less worried about things going on in the world around us for which we have no control. For those of you who fall in that camp - we love you, and some of us are in awe of your ability to continue with life in trying times. We would encourage you to be cautious still with regards to helping slow the speed at which COVID-19 might spread.
Some of us by nature are constantly worried about the things going on in the world for which we have no control. For those of you who fall in that camp - we love you and are in awe of your ability to keep moving even though you are fearful. We would ask that as you battle concern over the virus you continue to look for creative ways to show love to those around you even if you are in isolation.
Finally, we recommend if you have not done so yet that everyone be familiar with the recommendations concerning personal precautions coming from the CDC and the Vermont Health Department. If you or someone in your household has a fever, cough or shortness of breath, please call your primary care provider. Please do not just walk into the clinic or hospital.
Londonderry Community
We are in contact with local officials on their recommendations for our church as well as how we can be neighbors to those who live around us. We will communicate any needs that come up as we hear about them. We encourage you to reach out with a phone call or text to those who live alone or might struggle with social isolation.
We would like to encourage you to take time to pray for our leaders, for medical staff, and for our community.
