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Northminster’s Plans for ‘Phase 1’
Good afternoon, Folks,
On Tuesday, the Session met to discuss our plans for Phase 1 of Virginia’s ‘Forward Virginia’ reopening plans. Up to this point, we have been limited to no more than 10 people at any gathering and, out of an abundance of caution and a desire to follow the guidance from the VDH and CDC, we have postponed all ministries. Since we have 8-9 people leading worship each Sunday, we’ve asked that no one else attend.
As of today, the 10 person limit has been lifted and so, if you greatly desire to do so and believe it is safe for you, the sanctuary is open for folks to join us on Sunday mornings. However, we believe it best to err on the side of caution at this time and are encouraging folks to join us on Facebook Live for worship, especially if you are in an at-risk category or are experiencing cold symptoms. Sunday school, women’s circles, children’s and youth ministries continue to be suspended at this time.
To summarize:
- The sanctuary is open for worship, but we still encourage you to stay home and worship with us online.
- All other ministries and programs will remain suspended for the duration of Phase 1.
- If you have any symptoms or are at-risk, please remain home.
The Session will continue to monitor the situation and will make plans as we learn more about Phases 2 & 3. As always, we welcome your feedback and invite you to email me or the elders. Particularly if you have need, please let us know how we can be of help and pray for you during this ongoing season.
We miss seeing you very much, but want to be prudent and wise in how we move forward.
Blessings,
Rev. David Garrison, and the Session of NEPC
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May 2020 Pastor’s Corner – What to do about Communion?
We are about to begin our second full month under quarantine, and under normal circumstances we would be celebrating the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. As we all know, however, these are not normal circumstances. How do we celebrate the sacrament in these times? Should we celebrate the sacrament during these times? Is it possible to celebrate the sacrament “virtually”? These are questions pastors and elders have been wrestling with over the past month.
As the kids say these days, the “TL;DR” (too long; don’t read) answer that your Session has come to, is that for right now we, once again, will not be celebrating the Sacrament this month.
Now for the (slightly) longer version.
As said, these are unusual times. Someone commented to me the other day how much they appreciated the online worship service, as it provided a sense of ‘normal’ in very abnormal times. That’s one of the key reasons why we are doing our best to keep the order of service as much as normal as possible. But, these are nevertheless unusual times, and there are some things we might normally do that we hold off on until we get back to normal, and the Lord’s Supper is one of those things. Our “virtual worship” is a blessing, but it is not a replacement for the real thing.
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is inherently communal and physical. As a visceral, physical experience it is one of the most tactile moments in our worship service. It involves all of our senses – taste, touch, smell, sight, and sound. It is also communal; it is an act of the community. While we are symbolically together through Facebook Live, yet we are not physically together. It’s like when traveling for work. I can still FaceTime my wife and kids, which is better than a phone call, but it’s not the same as being physically present with them.
Much like the spiritual discipline of fasting is meant to remind us of our deeper longing and need for God, it is our hope that as we “fast” from communion, it would remind us of how the sacrament serves as a ‘sign and seal’ of our salvation. As one theologian said regarding this absence, “the practice of the sacrament is an aid to our faith, it’s absence is not a detriment.” It is our hope and prayer that the absence of the sacrament will foster in each of us a longing for that wondrous day when we, once again, gather together as a congregation to worship our Savior and celebrate this sacrament once again.
Blessings,
Rev. David Garrison
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A Call to Prayer and Fasting – Good Friday, April 10, 2020
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April 2020 Pastor’s Corner – The Conundrum of the Cluster
The Conundrum of the Cluster
The Church Scattered
The Church Closed. Or is it?
A couple of years ago, God gave my associate pastor a vision of our church having transparent walls. For two years, we have been wondering how on earth God was going to turn stone and stained glass into transparent walls. We got the interpretation today. He’s making them transparent by locking our doors. Suddenly people will be able to see in from the outside! May God make transparent all the walls of our churches, that the world may know the Good News of Jesus Christ… He has been preparing us for this since November. We just didn’t understand what he was saying until now. Our church is being called to love and serve one another. We are the church sent out, not the church closed!
The Church Sent Out
Rev. David Garrison
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NEPC’s Response to COVID-19
March 18, 2020
Dear Friends,
We are in unprecedented times, being forced into new patterns of being that feel unnatural and strange, but are ever so necessary in order to “flatten the curve” and slow the spread of this pandemic. The rhythm and flow of our “normal” lives has been completely disrupted, and we’re just beginning to experience what this is going to be like. It’s hard, it’s scary, and it’s frightening. What are we to do? Well, there are a few answers to that, which I’d like to share with you today.
What am I to do?
Be wise and prudent, but not fearful. We can take the novel coronavirus seriously and apply appropriate social distancing and good hygiene without falling into fear. I encourage you to follow the guidelines issued by the CDC and the federal and state governments. Wash your hands often, don’t touch your face, stay 6’ away from others, and avoid large group gatherings. But even with those efforts you might contract the virus. Whether you do or not, you are always in Jesus’ hands. He is present with us in our isolation, our quarantines and even more in our illnesses. He is already and will continue to watch over each one of us. We need not fear for our present or future, because Jesus is already there.
What is our church to do?
Both Scripture (Romans 13:1) and our confession (Westminster 23.4) command us to submit to civil authorities, and while (at the time of the writing of this letter) no law has been issued barring us from gathering for worship, we do believe that it is our civic responsibility to comply, as best as possible, with their recommendations to slow the spread of this virus. To that end, we have cancelled all ministries and missions outside of worship. This includes Sunday school, Bible studies, women’s circles, and youth group. We are also moving the focus of our worship service to online streaming. As long as you have an internet-connected device (cell phone, TV, computer, iPad, etc), you can join us for worship. Simply go to www.facebook.com/npcmh at 11am on Sunday morning, and you’ll see the livestream there (you do not need a Facebook account to see the service). We will publish the bulletin online so you can follow along. We’ll send more information about how this works on different devices in a few days. In addition, the Sanctuary will still be open if you would like to be present with us, but we encourage folks to sit 6’ apart. But let me re-emphasize: If you are in the higher-risk categories for COVID-19, please do not put yourself at risk by going out. Also, if you have been reading for B90, by all means keep it up! While our discussion groups won’t be meeting, we’ll email you online videos and tools.
The Work of the Church goes on
In the midst of this, we are still hard at work serving you and our community. Our programs might be temporarily cancelled, but the work of the church is more than a program or ministry. Please continue giving. Our community needs the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ now more than ever. Send your tithes and offerings in weekly. If you find yourself quarantined and unable to go to the store or need help, please let us know. Look for ways to to love your neighbor, old or young. Invite a neighbor to join your family for worship in your living room (but practice appropriate social distancing). Call one another and check in to see how folks are doing. And when you hear of a need or concern, please let us know. In the midst of this terrible situation, we have an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus for each other and our neighbors in ways we’d never dreamed.
The Church has faced pandemics like this time and again throughout history. While we don’t know how long this will last, we know that it too shall pass and look forward to the time when we can worship and be together in person. Until then, be wise and prudent. Practice good hygiene, appropriate social distancing, and the guidance of our governing authorities. Help where you are able. And above and beyond all else, pray. For we are all in God’s hands, and we should earnestly pray for his mercy to bring an end to this pestilence both here and abroad.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. David Garrison
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