[UPDATE] March 19, 2020 — As our leadership team was meeting about whether to meet again physically again this week, the County of San Bernardino made that decision for us. For at least the next 2 weeks, the “no more than 10” federal guideline became mandatory for the entire county. Therefore, we will not be meeting physically at the church, but we will be running online church at ColtonChurch.tv as usual.
March 13, 2020
There seems to be a lot of fear in America right now, especially in the light of COVID-19.
As the coronavirus continues to spread in the United States, churches have experienced growing concerns about the spread of the disease. The outbreak has caused nearly every religious organization around the world to rethink how it holds worship services, which typically involve people gathering in a confined space and coming into physical contact with each other.
And, although Maranatha is not a megachurch .. or even a standard-size church, for that matter … we are monitoring the latest news about the coronavirus just like you.
With updates coming at us all nearly each hour, we must all stay ever vigilant. Your church’s Executive Council has been monitoring the situation closely and met last night to discuss our church’s immediate response.
Specifically, I have had people ask: Will we be having church tomorrow? And the short answer is, “yes”.
As a church we exist to share a message of hope and assurance to a lost world, and we feel we must stay open whenever and however we can. In fact, in light of all that is happening, we must be more determined than ever to reach as many people as we can with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
Of course, we will continue to offer our live services online at ColtonChurch.tv for those who can’t come, as we have for several years now.
Maranatha Community Church cares deeply about the safety of our guests, families and community. So we encourage those who have symptoms, such as fever, cough or runny nose, even if they are mild, to stay at home and recover fully instead of coming for service. We also thank you for your understanding that anyone with these symptoms will be asked to go home and rest, and to seek medical attention.
We also ask that those who are at greater risks of potentially getting very sick from this illness (i.e., seniors, people with serious chronic medical conditions or primary immune deficiency, etc.) not come to the church this weekend but watch it online instead.
This should not be a time of fear and anxiety, but of total reliance on God. So, I hope you will please join us this Saturday at church if you are healthy, or online if not.
Would you pray for our nation and for our leaders, pray for our healthcare providers, and for all of those in our country and around the world who are directly or indirectly affected by the coronavirus. Together, we must pray against not only the spread of the new coronavirus .. but the spread of fear of that virus as well!
Next week, we’ll let you know if we will be meeting together again, in person or online.
In the meantime, know that divine health and protection is from our Lord Jesus. And remember that God is still in control and larger than any pandemic we could ever face!
Pastor George
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7