Good
Shepherd members,
The
last few days have seen a series of cancellations as major sporting leagues and
events have been suspended and cancelled.
State universities are ending on site classes, and students will have to
continue using online means. We wait to
see if further measures meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus will impact
local schools.
While
it is possible to question whether all of these measures are necessary, putting
the best construction on things, we can say that this is a precautionary move
that is intended to prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed. The flu season is a time when hospitals and
health providers are already taxed.
Coronavirus has shown the ability to spread very quickly and can be life
threatening to the elderly and those with pre-existing health problems. A rapid
spread of the virus could infect people from this group and add them as a new
and additional burden to the health care system. In particular, the limited capacity of
critical care areas (with the essential presence of respirators) is a major
concern.
Humanly
speaking, it is important that we do not overreact in fear. We are not dealing with the bubonic
plague. While it spreads easily, the
coronavirus poses a very low threat to most people. A few adjustments may be necessary during this
time, but on the whole it is not going to change life at Good Shepherd Lutheran
Church.
Good
Shepherd will continue to be the place where Christ’s Means of Grace are
administered to deliver the forgiveness of sins and strengthen faith. There will be no changes of any kind to the
schedule of services. We always need what
Christ gives us in the Divine Service, and so it will never stop at Good
Shepherd.
Members
are encouraged to follow the common sense guidelines that have been provided
through many media sources. Wash your
hands thoroughly. If you feel that you
may be sick, stay home. These are measures that I trust you would do in any
circumstance.
If
you are elderly or have health issues that put you at risk, and therefore you
do not believe you should be present in gatherings of people, stay at home and
contact me. I will be happy to bring the
Sacrament to you and have the Divine Service in your home.
When
present at church, if you don’t feel comfortable shaking hands, do not do
so. The chalice will continue to be used
in distributing our Lord’s blood. If
during this time you are more comfortable receiving His blood from an individual
cup, then do that.
As
Christians we do not fear times of uncertainty because we know the certain
truth of the risen Lord. Jesus Christ
has conquered sin and death by his cross and resurrection. We live by the truth
of the apostle Paul’s words:
For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Romans 14:7-9).
Trusting in Jesus
Christ, our prayer now and always, is that of the psalmist:
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you. (Psalm 33:18-22)
In Christ,
Pastor Surburg
Best thoughts I have seen so far!
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