Dear Emmaus Road,

The Lord tells us to love our neighbor. At this moment,  we must learn how to demonstrate this love in a few different ways.
Sacrifice. Hope. Help.

Sacrifice.

Today, your leadership council (elders and pastor), in consultation with Emmaus Road member Andrew M., a professional health care worker among us,  decided to suspend our worship gathering this Sunday, March 9th. I imagine we have all been hearing a growing chorus of public health officials, civic leaders, employers, various organizational and institutional leaders, pleading with the public to work from home, avoid crowds, suspend large events, etc.  Added to that list are leaders of Seattle area religious communities,  including several fellow Christian Reformed pastors and councils. Emmaus Road’s leadership council has decided it would be wise to align with them. Temporarily suspending a worship gathering is a small sacrifice. It is respectful to those on the front lines in health care and those engaged as first responders. We may be called to sacrifice more, but for now, this is our initial response.

Hope.

For us and our neighbors, this is new, frightening territory. Vulnerable loved ones are at risk. Members of this church, and people we know in our circles of acquaintance, have family and friends directly connected to loss of life or agonizing quarantines being reported in the news. In addition, many of us, or our neighbors, may suffer severe financial hardship as sectors of the economy falter. People will need to hear voices of hope, not in superficial platitudes, but in words of encouragement that reveal a depth of faith and connection to a loving, compassionate, and saving God. To be present with people in their anxiety, listening and acknowledging, can be an expression of our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Help.

Nobody knows how long we will be dealing with this virus, nor how broadly or deeply we will feel its impact. People may need to depend on one another in unfamiliar ways, if institutions and agencies cannot keep up with demand. We may be called upon to exercise our faith and love in deeds of service and gifts of generosity, to help neighbors in need.

For now, we are simply announcing there will be NO GATHERING THIS SUNDAY. We will take things day by day, week by week, and apply our faith and creativity to being CHURCH BEYOND SUNDAY. Please be in prayer; please be attentive to church leaders as we try to provide direction.

Feel free to contact Pastor Eric Likkel with any questions or concerns (though he may not be able to answer them).

One last thing: don’t forget to set your clocks forward Saturday night!