All Public Worship Services Temporarily Cancelled at Munger for Sunday, 3/15/2020

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We are *temporarily* canceling all public worship services at Munger Place Church on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

Here’s why:

 

“Doing Nothing” and Staying Home Will Make a Difference In Our Community!

What the research and expert opinion shows is that the single most effective way to slow down the spread of the coronavirus is to practice social distancing, i.e., to stay home. [More info here.]

We are at a tipping point in our city with regard to the spread of the virus, and we have the ability to slow its spread by “doing nothing”!  That is, when we stay home, we make a difference.

 

 This Is About Our Hospital System and About Loving Our Neighbors

We know the virus will spread, and many of us will get sick.  The concern I have (after reading lots of reports) is lessening the strain on our hospital system, so that the people who are sick or injured from whatever cause will have a safe hospital bed in which to be treated and recover.

This is not about you or me avoiding getting sick—this is about us caring for others and thinking proactively about our hospital system by deliberately slowing the virus spread, thereby keeping more people healthier longer.

 
Flattening the Curve.png
 

I Do NOT Want You to Come to Church

For the first time in my entire pastoral ministry, I feel that the most faithful leadership I can show and the most love of my neighbor I can practice is to tell you not to come to church this Sunday.

 

NOW Is the Time to Act

 This is a temporary measure because NOW is the time to slow the virus.  Once it breaks out among us in as severe an outbreak as in Italy, e.g., it will be too late.

 

This Is Not About Giving Into Fear

It is not giving into fear to be prudent.  Fear and panic is buying all the Doritos at the grocery store and stocking toilet paper for the next 4 years!  Prudence is the opposite of panic—prudence is boarding up your windows when the hurricane is coming.  Prudence is preparing for the future.

 

How You Can Make a Difference

You know that I’ve committed to be candid with you, even if what I have to say makes people angry.

The following is what I strongly believe:

Out of love for our neighbors, we need to cancel our travel plans and our social activities immediately.  I am doing this personally.

We want to slow the spread of this virus, and that is how to do it.  Don’t wait for anyone else—LOVE GOES FIRST.  Do it now.  It is not brave or loving to persist with normal social activities.  Life will resume and life will go on, but NOW is the time to act.

By definition “too early” is “not too late.”

 

Here’s What Our Church Will Be Doing

 We will resume public worship services ASAP.

In the mean time, our Munger staff is working hard to prepare to deliver content to our people on a regular basis.  We will definitely do a livestream of some sort on Sunday morning, March 15, 2020.  Stay posted for the exact details.

In addition, we are making plans now to best care for the poor and vulnerable among us who will be hit hard financially when they miss work, etc.  More details to follow.

 

There IS No Reason to Be Afraid

 Friends, preparing and prudence are not panic.  They are wise.  We have no reason to be afraid because Christ is King.

 

Here’s What I AM Asking Us to Do:

1.      Spread this message.  Tell all the Mungarians you know that church is temporarily cancelled for this Sunday.  Tell everyone you know to stay home.

2.     Spread PEACE through your networks.  We have no reason to be afraid—Jesus has overcome the world!

 

Love and courage,

Andrew

 

P.S.  If I am wrong about this, then we’ll all be able to laugh at my expense in a few weeks.  I’ve never wanted to be more wrong in my life!  If I’m right, however, but refuse to take responsibility to act, that will also be clear in a few weeks, and God will hold me accountable for my leadership failures.