The grace and peace of Jesus Christ be with you.
Last night, the Session of the First Presbyterian Church met for our monthly stated meeting. As the number of COVID-19 cases in Lincoln and Logan County continues to grow, and amid increasing reports of cases in churches in nearby towns, our session voted last night to suspend all in-person worship and other meetings at church indefinitely. This policy will be reevaluated monthly to determine when we will return to our building.
From the beginning, our Session’s approach to the COVID-19 pandemic has been to err on the side of safety. With increasing numbers and knowing that it can take nearly two weeks to show symptoms from first exposure, we genuinely believe the most responsible and faithful way we can live out Christ’s command to love one another is to take action that considers the wellbeing of the community and not only our individual preferences. The decision to withdraw from our plans to return to our sanctuary was not easy, and it was discussed at length. However, as a people whose faith is rooted in the relational love shared between the Trinity, we must make decisions that protect those we serve—especially the most vulnerable.
Friends, I know that this is difficult news to receive. As your pastor, I have been looking forward to seeing you in our sanctuary. But—as your pastor—I cannot justify compromising your safety for a brief moment of normalcy. I’m am proud of your Session and the intentionality they are taking regarding our response to this pandemic. I am also thankful for those of you who have let us know you won’t be returning to church until we are in Phase 5 of recovery. Knowing that many of you are being proactive in your approach toward returning safely to church helped us as we made our decision.
The thing about God is that God loves us—all of us, in any of the spaces we occupy. God is with us whether we dwell together in a church building or use technology to commune from our individual homes. This coming Sunday, we will try something different to see how God can take an unknown place and make it holy. We ask that each person has three or four rocks and a little bit of oil available while we worship together from the comfort of our homes. Knowing that we will be away from each other a bit longer, we will engage in a ritual that will not only connect us virtually but remind us of the Spirit that binds us together.
We will get through this together. I am available for phone calls and visits, as long as we maintain proper distance and wear masks. If you or your family have become exposed to the virus, please also contact me; while we will necessarily be limited during any quarantine, I want to pray for you. Do not hesitate to call, text, or email if you have any questions.
Finally, remember this essential truth: we are the church. The building is but a place in which we worship, but the church is the people—you and me… us! Knowing that we will be worshiping in place a little while longer, I invite us to get creative on how we might be the church to one another and to our community in the coming weeks. If there is ever a time for the church to be the church, that is to embody the love of Christ to the world, now is the time! With God’s help, we will rise above these challenges and be a beacon of hope for our city.
God loves you. Your church loves you. And I love you.
Peace,
Rev. Adam R. Quine, MAS
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