Coronavirus Update

After thoughtful prayer and consideration, we want offer an update on how our church will address the recent outbreak of the COVID-19 Coronavrius. As most of you are aware, the viral disease has been spreading quickly, and we are tasked to do our part to help slow down it’s spread. The reason this is so serious is because of how quickly it can spread, and because the virus is particularly dangerous for those over 70 or with weakened immune systems and previous health conditions. We are taking specific steps to love and care for our neighbors in Waco with a compassionate, Christian love. 

On Gatherings

It is with immense sadness that we want you to know that your pastors have come to the decision to cancel our gathered worship service this Sunday, March 22. Yesterday the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released guidelines recommending that all gatherings of more than 50 people be cancelled for at least the next eight weeks. We are taking this recommendation from a government entity very seriously, for several reasons. 

First, we want to be careful to follow the Scriptural command to submit to the ruling authorities that God has placed over us (Rom 13:1-2). There may be times when our submission to our governing bodies could be in tension with our obedience to the law of Christ. This is not one of those times. We do not think this recommendation to be unjust, immoral, or incapable of being carried out with a clear Christian conscience. The command we find in Hebrews 10:25 to “not neglect to gather together” is a serious one. By obeying the authorities over us, we are not neglecting the gathering but rather temporarily doing what we believe necessary in an isolated circumstance. 

Secondly, we want to take every opportunity to exhibit Christian love for neighbor. The spread of the coronavirus is a serious threat to many in our community, and so the most loving thing we can do for the health and safety of our neighbors is to suspend our gatherings for a time. For many people, contracting the virus could be lethal, and we must do our part to take every precaution. In our love for one another, we obey the command of Jesus (1 Jn 4:21-22). 

Although we cannot gather together as one body, which is God’s good design for his church, we want to make every effort to continue to equip you and to make Jesus known to you. We believe this happens best in the context of community. For this reason we are open to temporary and creative ways of worshiping together in which we can follow the recommendation of the civil authorities and maintain our devotion to one another. 

Starting this Sunday, March 22nd, at 10am all of our community groups will be meeting throughout the city in small gatherings to worship together simultaneously. 

Each small group will tune into a livestream where we will worship through song, pray, and receive Biblical teaching and preaching from our pastors. While this is no substitute for the in person gathering of the entire body, we believe that these smaller gatherings will be beneficial in helping maintain unity in our body and prevent spiritual isolation. 

How can I get connected with one of these small groups? 

If you are already connected with a community group at Grace Church, this will be the group that you will be meeting with on Sunday. Contact your group leader to find out where your group will meet. If you are not connected with a community group, please email connect@gracewaco.com and we will help get you plugged into a group.

Is it safe to gather in small groups like this? 

At this point, we are following the CDC’s recommendations. Please refrain from physical greeting or touch, be careful not to share food or drink, maintain as much distance as possible from others, and wash your hands frequently. If you or anyone in your family has any unhealthy symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat, or shortness of breath, please do not attend any gathering of any kind. We also recommend anyone over the age of 70 or with weakened immune systems to stay home and please contact us so we can help provide you with pastoral care. If you are at home and unable to attend one of our smaller gatherings, you can still tune into our livestream at 10am.

Are we still having community groups during the week? 

Yes, as long as you are healthy and stay safe. We want to continue our normal rhythm of meeting together weekly to encourage one another in the gospel. All other scheduled events for the next 3 weeks will be cancelled unless otherwise noted. 

How long will this last? 

It pains us to be away from the gathered body, even for one week. It seems likely that it will be more than a week or two before we can gather together again as one body, but are praying that is not the case. It’s also possible that our small group meetings will be deemed too risky to the spread of the virus and we once again will have to adjust our plan. We will take our decision week by week, and let you know as soon as we can. For now, we can work to support one another and long with a healthy anticipation for the time where we can meet together again.

On Care

We know that this time might be hard for many emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially. Let your pastors know if you are sick, unable to attend service and/or group, need counseling or encouragement, or are experiencing financial strain due to staying home from work, etc. We want to rally around those in need to provide food, grocery runs, child care, and anything else necessary. Please email a pastor or connect@gracewaco if you have any need.

In 2 Samuel 24 there is a curious story. David disobeys the Lord, and God gives him a choice of discipline: he can either choose to be pursued by his enemies, or he can choose to bring a great disease on Israel. David chooses the disease. Why? “Then David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.’” David knew that while there was no guarantee of mercy from his enemies, there would always be mercy from God, for he is a God of mercy. 

We are not saying that the Coronavirus outbreak is an act of judgement from God. What we am saying is that we should approach it like David. This virus is not outside of the hands of God: he is firmly in control. This means that just as he is sovereign, he is also good. If he is in control, we can trust in his mercy. Far better to be hidden in the merciful hands of the Almighty than in the cruel hands of natural selection. And that is where we sit. God knows what he is doing and cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13), remember that and trust him.  As we relate to one another, what we cannot do is fear a virus or fear one another more than we fear God. In the coming weeks we have an opportunity to come together in love and unity. All those who are healthy and able will be asked to step up and risk their own personal comfort to care for the needs of others. We will need errand runners and babysitters and prayer warriors and extra hands to clean. This is how the body of Christ works, and I have no doubt we will honor God in our love for one another. 

Finally, let this window into the fragility of the natural world serve as an opportunity for us to look past the dim mirror of this life and long for the eternal day when we see face to face and Christ’s body will dwell with him without any sickness or disease or blemish or sin. 

In Christ and for you,

The Pastors of Grace Church