G’day, Mitch here, Senior Pastor or Dalby Presbyterian,
I just want to talk to you about the current Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on our church family. And how we should respond. Now is a time for us to pray. Calling on our Lord to halt the virus and help his people use this moment to show the power of the Lord Jesus.
Just two days ago I got in touch, but now the news has changed. Below I will explain that our only ministries going forward will be small group gatherings and a Sunday live stream service.
Earlier in the week I pointed us to three things, and they are worth reading again: Jesus is Lord, love your neighbour, you listen to the authorities.
Jesus is Lord.
It’s really important to remember that nothing fundamental, nothing basic, about what we believe about God has changed. Jesus is still the risen King, Jesus still came to die for sin and to conquer death. We are still at the mercy of death in this life unless He returns beforehand. This virus is a reminder of those things, but those things have always been true and Jesus is still the lord and saviour of all those things.
Jesus is lord, and love your neighbour.
At the moment one of the big challenges for us will be to be obedient to the command to love our neighbour as ourselves. To look out for those around us to do simple things like at the shops not buying more toilet paper than we actually need for a couple of weeks. Or think about those around us isolated. Whether they need help. Maybe we can take an elderly person shopping, take them down early so they can get what they need.
It’s also worth remembering that this is a very new and unique situation that calls for wisdom. Part of loving our neigbour will be recognising differences of opinion in how we should respond. We need to be gracious to one another in this.
Jesus is Lord, love your neighbour and listen to the authorities.
We live in a time when you can listen to anyone from anywhere across the globe. You can listen to an anaesthetist from Italy, you can listen to a community group in the United States, the government in Canada. All kinds of messages about what we should do. God has given us a government in this country to care for us and to serve us under His authority.
It is because of the governments call to limit gatherings to under 100 and on top of that ensure people kept 1.5m apart at all times, that gathering at our building is not wise or able to be done.
One of the most helpful things we can do right now is pay attention to the advice our government is giving us. Websites like:
Or the Queensland government health website which is
Are the best places to get information.
Here are the three things to know at the moment:
- Sunday services will not occur in our building. There will be one service live streamed at 9am Sundays.
- Growth Groups will continue.
- We will place people into smaller groups so that they can get together with a few people, and get help with seeing streaming, if they wish. You will hear from elders or group leaders or group hosts soon.
These decisions are extremely difficult, and we ask you to pray for our church as we walk through this together.
Can we give you some instructions as we go forward:
- If you or someone in your household is showing any symptoms of a cold at all, do not go to gatherings. We want to look after our vulnerable and the elderly and we don’t love our neighbour by bringing our sickness along. If you’re showing any symptoms, stay at home.
- If you are someone who’s vulnerable, or close to someone who is, and you feel like you can’t come to a gathering, you have our full endorsements and encouragement to make your own wise decisions about what to attend at the moment.
And just quickly, I do want to mention giving as well. The reality is throughout this our costs continue, our staff still need a wage, and if you’re able, even if you don’t come to our gatherings, please try to keep up your giving electronically.
Of course, we understand there are all kinds of things happening for all kinds of people. And if you need help, or want to talk to us about any of these issues, please get in touch with me or any of the staff or any of the elders.
Let me me remind you again of these words from Philippians:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.