An Update on our Gatherings
As many of you know, quite a few churches across our state have begun to hold in person services again and yet there is a bit of difficulty that we are facing in our own county. Gavin Newsom has deferred to the discernment of each county whether or not to reopen. Our county supervisors and health officer have not yet given churches the go ahead to meet for in person services.
The New Testament scriptures are clear and repeatedly instruct us to submit ourselves to our governing authorities unless they order us to do something that violates our faith (Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:11-17; Titus 3:1-2.). While we are concerned about our constitutional liberties, given that churches are not being singled out for closure, we do not feel that our governing officials have asked us in any way to violate our faith in Jesus.
A church gathering is more similar to a concert type gathering than going to Costco or dining out. That being said, we will continue to obey the governing authorities.
The next stage of reopening will allow the churches to gather for in person services. However, the CDC’s requirements for churches’ gatherings enumerate many restrictions that would make it a burdensome task for everyone attending or serving (ie: gathering size limitations, no children’s ministry, cleaning and sanitization, temperature testing, contact tracing, etc)
We feel that rushing to meet the requirements of the CDC creates a consumeristic mentality that treats Church as an exchange of goods, rather than an interactive dynamic community of love and service.
Therefore we will continue to have our service online for the foreseeable future. It is our hope that as things calm down and continue to open up we will be able to host small gathering, meet-ups, and even home gatherings.
Our aim is to ensure the live gatherings are a better experience than the online ones. Until that can be assured, many churches will choose not to meet for public worship.
We would love to meet in person. And while this timeline is inconvenient, we are not ultimately moved by these things. The church is a people and not a place. We can continue to be the church and live out the Gospel and the kingdom of God whether we are scattered or gathered. We hope that in this season of uncertainty that you will show grace to us and others as we might disagree on some of these things.
I leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul:
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” Colossians 3:12-15
- Char (on behalf of the elder team)