COVID-19 (CDC Information)

Dear Friend of Sinners Church,

As Christians, we are not governed by fear. We are governed by the command of Jesus – to love God above all, and love our neighbor as ourselves. Our response to COVID-19 cannot be one of fear, and must be one of love for our neighbors and trust in God. In this regard, we join the church through the ages, our brothers and sisters through time who have not hung back in the shadows during times of crisis, but led in compassion and help.

COVID-19 is not a threat for most people. Many of us will catch COVID-19. It will feel like a bad cold (Fever, cough and shortness of breath). We will probably get better. But we may wind up spreading it to those who are vulnerable, so out of love for our neighbors, we must remain careful! According to the CDC, there are
Specific groups of people who could be hit hard:
  • Older adults
  • People will chronic health problems, like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease

For these high-risk people, the fever, cough and shortness of breath will become severe leading to pneumonia, and may require hospitalization. There is a real risk of death for those with a bad case.

What to do
  1. If you are in a high-risk group, it makes sense to quarantine yourself. It takes a couple days to a couple weeks before symptoms will show after being infected. It is an act of stewardship to take proper care of yourself to prevent infection. As usual, we will stream our worship service on YouTube so you can still participate in worship from home.
  2. If you get sick, stay home, except to get medical care. Let the church know, so we can love you through serving you, whether than be a ride to the doctor or bringing meals.
  3. If you are not in a high-risk group, consider what you will do to help the sick in our fellowship, and among your neighbors. The church has always stood up to love her neighbors in times of crisis. It’s who we are. On the other hand, if you get sick, please quarantine yourself out of love for your neighbor.

We are not governed by fear, but instead faith. We love and glorify God together in worship. We love our neighbor as ourselves. That’s who we are, as God’s people. This is our opportunity to show our communities the love of Jesus. Let’s not waste it!

Yvonne and I were talking about this crisis the other day. She shared with me how God has impressed on her the words of Psalm 72, and she wrote this prayer:

Father, may the spirit of protection, love, joy, wisdom and understanding
cover our world and all the earth in Jesus name.
We plead the blood of Jesus over us all.

Psalm 72 (NLT)

Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king's son.
Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly.
May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful.
Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors.
May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky. Yes, forever!
May the king's rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass, like the showers that water the earth.
May all the godly flourish during his reign. May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.
May he reign from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
Desert nomads will bow before him; his enemies will fall before him in the dust.
The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts.
All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.
He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them.
He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him.
Long live the king! May the gold of Sheba be given to him. May the people always pray for him and bless him all day long.
May there be abundant grain throughout the land, flourishing even on the hilltops. May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon, and may the people thrive like grass in a field.
May the king's name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun shines. May all nations be blessed through him and bring him praise.
Praise the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things.
Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!
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Statement on Sunday in-person Worship time:

Our rented building space is sacred worship space, not public property. On Sunday mornings it is intended for worship of Jesus Christ alone.

Fellow sinners are welcome here to worship Jesus with us in this holy, sanctified space. Entry for any other purpose is not permitted without our express, written consent obtained in advance.
 
The City Ordinance
The City of Milwaukee recently enacted an ordinance that requires wearing a mask in public spaces. Our building is private property, but we still want to follow our own mask guidelines as directed by recognized health experts.
 
Please be aware that according to the ordinance, at least the following persons should not wear a mask:
  • Persons with certain medical conditions, mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, or for whom no other accommodation can be offered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Centers for Disease Control guidance. 
  • Persons who have upper-respiratory chronic conditions, silent or invisible disabilities, or are communicating with an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing and communication cannot be achieved through other means.
  • Persons in settings where it is not practical or feasible to wear face coverings when rendering services.
  • Those whom federal, state, or local law otherwise prohibit wearing a face mask, or in circumstances where it is necessary to evaluate or verify an individual’s identity.
  • Persons whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a face covering.
We respect the privacy of your personal health care information and we will not violate it. Please be aware that many attendees may not wear a mask. If someone is not wearing a mask, we believe in good faith that they have a valid reason for not doing so.
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