Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In light of the growing concerns regarding the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and the recent declaration of states of emergency in both Alabama and across the nation, your Session has made the decision to cancel worship and all Church activities for the next two weeks, beginning tomorrow. This cancellation includes all Church-sponsored weekday meetings and Bible Studies.
Following this two-week period of suspension, we will then re-evaluate the situation and make decisions about future gatherings of the congregation.
We believe that this unprecedented action, while difficult to take in one sense, is absolutely essential for the protection of our members, guests, and our community. We are also joined in this decision by a host of other local churches and sister PCA congregations, both here in Huntsville and all across the country.
I am very much thankful that our President has called the nation to prayer tomorrow, and I would ask that we join together in spirit to lift up our hearts to our heavenly Father in fervent supplication for His great mercy upon us. And as we pray, let us also ask that the Name of our dear Lord and Savior might be magnified even in this, and that we might bear a powerful witness to the Gospel as we endure these uncertain and trying days.
On these two next Sundays let me encourage you to gather with your families and loved ones for worship, prayer, and the reading of God’s Word. The Order of Service for tomorrow’s worship is posted on our website, and you might use our Scriptures readings, songs, and confessions to assist you. We will also post next week’s Order on the site as well.
In addition, I am hoping to record tomorrow’s sermon (and next week’s message) and post it online. When this is done, I will let you know. And should the cancellation of our worship services extend further, I will continue to prepare and record the sermons from Hebrews each week.
During these two weeks, our Session and Deacons will shepherd and serve you as we always do. Nothing at all will change in terms of our ministry to the congregation, and I remain available to care for you in any way that is needed. And, let us all be very deliberate in our efforts to bear one another’s burdens, to love one another as Christ has loved us, and to assist each other and our neighbors as needs develop.
A Word of Encouragement
As I sit here in my study typing these words, there are many emotions flooding my soul. And I believe you share them as well. I am sad that we cannot meet together tomorrow, fearful about the extent of this emergency and its potential effects upon our lives, concerned about the health and well-being of my dear Church family, and hopeful that this will pass quickly, and that the Lord will be merciful to those who become ill.
But far above them all, I am thankful to our Lord for you, and full of praise for all of the blessings He has so abundantly bestowed upon us through the years!
For fifteen years we have witnessed the unfailing power and faithfulness of our Father. He has truly “ blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). He has nourished us on His Word, carried our burdens, answered our prayers, forgiven our sins, filled us with His Spirit, abundantly supplied our every need, and even more! And He has so graciously used our little flock to bring the Gospel to our community, and equipped us to be “ salt” and “ light” (Matthew 5:13-14). Praise the Lord!!
If I might borrow some additional inspired words from the Apostle Paul, our Father has indeed “ begun a good work” in us, and He has promised that He will surely “ bring it to completion” for His own glory (Philippians 1:6).
This magnificent promise is not in the least way threatened by any virus, or any adversity for that matter! This present emergency, like all of the emergencies and calamities throughout human history, is fully under His sovereign command! His “ good work” will never be frustrated! And the witness of Scripture is that our dear Father takes a special delight in revealing His grace and mighty power in times of profound human weakness and inadequacy, with the result that He alone is glorified!
Let us cling to this promise! Let us rejoice in our afflictions! Let us believe that His Holy will shall be accomplished! And let us stand together in His unfailing grace and strength!
I love you all more than I can describe with words!
May our Lord richly bless you all and keep you in His tender care,
Mike
PS: Please help us pass the word regarding the cancellation of our services to any guests who have been visiting with us.