Matthews Presbyterian Church issued the following announcement on May 12.
May 12, 2020
Dear MPC Saints,
Another week, another change, right? I wrote to you last week that we were looking at the possibility of opening back up on a limited basis when Gov. Cooper implements Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan. Depending on how Phase One goes, which started this past Friday, Phase Two could start as early as next Friday, meaning that we could feasibly open worship services as early as May 24th.
As I somewhat suspected it would, the general consensus has changed. A number of medical experts worry that states are opening up too soon, and that this opening would create a significant spike in hospitalizations, ventilator use, and deaths. That may not come to pass. The problem, of course, is that we won’t know until it’s too late.
Many churches therefore are waiting to open until mid-June, when we know more about the effects of opening. Based off guidance from the presbytery and other area congregations, I believe this to be the best option for now. Of course, as I wrote last week, this is a fluid situation and is likely to change yet again, so stay tuned.
The harsh reality is that this virus will be part of our lives until either a vaccine is found or herd immunity is achieved. Either way, it’s going to take a while, up to two years. That’s depressing, I know, and it may be quicker, but we need to learn to live with this for quite some time. As such, we either continue meeting online for up to two years, or we open back up slowly, one awkward bit at a time, as safely as possible.
To that end, the staff is also planning some events outside in the parking lot, where social distancing can be achieved, but we can still gather. These events include movie nights and concerts. They are all weather dependent, of course, so they may be cancelled if necessary. We are still working the details out. Stay tuned for more information.
We are also still working out the details for summer trips. Montreat conferences and the youth mission trip to Washington, DC, have unfortunately been cancelled. We are exploring ways to meet locally in their stead. They won’t be the same, obviously, and we won’t really be sure what we can do until later, but plans are being made. The same is true with VBS and summer arts camps.
Before this virus started, we had good momentum. People were joining, babies were being baptized, and Christian education programs were flourishing. Everything was great. Then the virus hit and I still feel like everything moved forward. I worry, though, that as this thing progresses we will get complacent. Livestreaming on Facebook only goes so far.
We are doing everything we can to stay connected and maintain community. We will make the best decisions that we can going forward, balancing community safety with community cohesion and togetherness. The Greek word for church, after all, ecclesia means just that: a gathering. We will gather as best, as faithfully, and as safely as we can until this virus is over. Keep the faith, stay safe, stay positive. God is doing a good thing among us. I am blessed to be your pastor.
In Christ,
Luke
Links to join us virtually during the Coronavirus closure.
- Facebook Live Worship on Sundays at 10:30am
- Daily Devotions at 9am on Facebook
- Sign up for our new Connecting in Christ Ministry: Get to know and support another church member during this time
- Have a youth or child? Make sure you are receiving emails from Sarah Evans.
- Pastor Luke's Minor Prophets Bible Study Facebook Live Wednesdays at 6:30pm
Alerts Sign-up