Regarding the Coronavirus or COVID-19
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ at One Hope Presbyterian,
By now you have probably heard about the Coronavirus or COVID-19. This is a respiratory illness that is like other influenza viruses, which spreads from person to person. Since it is a novel virus, that is to say a virus that has not been previously identified or detected, there is at this time no vaccine to weaken its effects and slow its spread. As you have probably heard, the virus is now spreading person to person in the United States. At the time of this post, there is one person in Texas (Fort Bend County) who has been contaminated with COVID-19. He is quarantined in a hospital and seems to have contracted the virus while traveling aboard. If you would like to learn more about the virus --the symptoms, how it is spread, etc-- we encourage you to reference this page from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The elders of One Hope Presbyterian want you to know that we are monitoring the spread of this virus and its potential impact on our community. While the coverage in the media tends to focus on the worst cases of the illness, it is important to know that the vast majority of people who contract the illness recover within a short period of time much like one would when getting the flu. We encourage you to not panic as you hear of the eventual spread of the virus. What is more, this is our opportunity to shine as followers of Jesus, people who regularly grapple with the fragility of life ("we come from dust, and to dust we shall return") and orient our lives around the hope of the resurrection. For almost 2000 years, followers of Jesus have faced the threat of diseases with courage, selflessness and sober-mindedness, and have looked to serve suffering communities as they are aggravated by fear and anxiety. Around the world fears stoked by the threat of the Coronavirus have led to irrational and community-destroying responses that have caused disturbances in the financial markets, and have even led to xenophobia against Asians (this because the virus most likely started in China). The gospel gives us the security we need to put those fears at bay, and to serve our neighbors. Let's pray for those who are suffering now. Let's pray for our civic leaders, that God grants them wisdom as they seek contain the virus as best they can.
At this time, the Session sees no need to discontinue our practice of weekly communion. We will however continue to monitor the spread of the illness on the CDC page, and if we need to make adjustments we will. COVID-19 provides us with the opportunity to remind ourselves of some basic practices that we should engage in at all times:
By now you have probably heard about the Coronavirus or COVID-19. This is a respiratory illness that is like other influenza viruses, which spreads from person to person. Since it is a novel virus, that is to say a virus that has not been previously identified or detected, there is at this time no vaccine to weaken its effects and slow its spread. As you have probably heard, the virus is now spreading person to person in the United States. At the time of this post, there is one person in Texas (Fort Bend County) who has been contaminated with COVID-19. He is quarantined in a hospital and seems to have contracted the virus while traveling aboard. If you would like to learn more about the virus --the symptoms, how it is spread, etc-- we encourage you to reference this page from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The elders of One Hope Presbyterian want you to know that we are monitoring the spread of this virus and its potential impact on our community. While the coverage in the media tends to focus on the worst cases of the illness, it is important to know that the vast majority of people who contract the illness recover within a short period of time much like one would when getting the flu. We encourage you to not panic as you hear of the eventual spread of the virus. What is more, this is our opportunity to shine as followers of Jesus, people who regularly grapple with the fragility of life ("we come from dust, and to dust we shall return") and orient our lives around the hope of the resurrection. For almost 2000 years, followers of Jesus have faced the threat of diseases with courage, selflessness and sober-mindedness, and have looked to serve suffering communities as they are aggravated by fear and anxiety. Around the world fears stoked by the threat of the Coronavirus have led to irrational and community-destroying responses that have caused disturbances in the financial markets, and have even led to xenophobia against Asians (this because the virus most likely started in China). The gospel gives us the security we need to put those fears at bay, and to serve our neighbors. Let's pray for those who are suffering now. Let's pray for our civic leaders, that God grants them wisdom as they seek contain the virus as best they can.
At this time, the Session sees no need to discontinue our practice of weekly communion. We will however continue to monitor the spread of the illness on the CDC page, and if we need to make adjustments we will. COVID-19 provides us with the opportunity to remind ourselves of some basic practices that we should engage in at all times:
- If you are sick, please stay home, and get better.
- If you cough or sneeze, please cover your mouth with a tissue, and dispose of the tissue immediately.
- Wash your hands and face regularly with warm water and soap for about twenty seconds ( or about the time it takes to recite the Lord's Prayer or our Orienting Prayer!).
- Regularly clean and disinfect objects that are frequently touched like keyboards, doorknobs, and cell phones.
This is also a good time to remind everyone of our Nursery policy. If your child has had any of the following symptoms in the last 24 hours, we ask that they do not attend nursery:
- diarrhea
- vomiting
- fever
- rashes
- colds with heavy coughing, congestion, and thick drainage from the nose.
Once again, the Coronavirus is an opportunity to remember the hope we have in Jesus Christ and the calling we have to love and serve our neighbors. It is fitting that this threat has come upon us in the season of Lent as we wrestle with our sin and its effects, our inevitable mortality, and our propensity to place our hope in false idols that can not keep us safe.
For further reflections on how to faithfully respond to the Coronavirus, we draw your attention to the following post by theologian and author Ian Paul.
We leave you with this blessing, which reminds us where our help and security comes from:
We leave you with this blessing, which reminds us where our help and security comes from:
The LORD bless you and keep;
The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Christ,
Kelly (and the Session of One Hope Presbyterian)
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