Psalm 91:1-2 says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’”

The Psalm goes on to talk about safety in the abiding presence of God, including His deliverance from “perilous pestilence.” I know that this Covid-19 has everyone on edge, and rightly so. It is a dangerous virus that requires our utmost caution. Even though we “abide in the shadow of the Almighty,” we should all be taking certain actions that will help limit the spread of the disease.

First and foremost, we should avoid contact with people who are sick. I do not believe that we should return to the days of Jesus when lepers were required to announce their uncleanness to everyone in the public square, but I do think it is prudent to stay home if you are hacking up a lung. Coughing and sneezing incessantly in public will make people uncomfortable and may cause them to treat you like a five-year-old. Avoid the embarrassment and stay home. Our worship services can be viewed live through Facebook Live on Sunday mornings at 11:00am, Sunday evenings at 6:00pm, and Wednesday evenings at 6:00pm.

We are monitoring the statements and recommendations of our government leaders. For now, we will continue to operate under our normal program schedule. For unrelated reasons (and in evidence of God’s providence) we have already canceled the 6:00pm Sunday night, March 15, service, and both campuses will be closed on Wednesday, March 18. These closings were already in effect by church vote to coincide with Spring Break here in Columbia County.

As we continue to gather for worship, let’s act in common sense ways that will help limit or prevent the spread of germs. Wash your hands often and utilize the hand sanitizing stations that have been strategically placed around the campus. Don’t be offended if someone doesn’t offer a handshake or refuses your offer. A smile and a kind word of greeting will be sufficient. Please cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Much of what the health organizations are asking us to do are things that we should be doing all the time anyway. We just need to be mindful of others around us and respect their right to stay healthy.

We will continue to serve our community. We will be intentional about being available to help families who may be affected by Covid-19. We believe 1 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Christians need not live in fear. We give testimony to our loyalty to Christ when, instead, we take whatever precautions we can take and then continue to live in the power and love of Christ.

You can stay informed by going to the CDC information website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Let’s end with some good news. I heard that Chick-fil-a will begin selling Chick-fil-a sauce in 16-ounce bottles in the near future. There is something to live for—so wash your hands!