Dear Restored Family,
With the increased concern and spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), there are at least two ways we want to be wise. First, we want to be wise by resisting the fear that seems so pervasive at this time. While fear catastrophizes and reacts, we are given resources as followers of Jesus to remain calm and resist over-reaction, even as we do our due diligence about the spread of the virus. We believe that living in the midst of a culture of fear with a different spirit is a great opportunity for His gospel of peace to spread. One of the ways in which we combat fear is by finding the comfort and presence of Jesus in the gathering of the church as we worship, proclaim the Word, break bread and fellowship with one another.
Governor Gavin Newsom has recently asked that unessential gatherings of more than 250 people in California be cancelled. We are a gathering of under 250 people and we believe worshipping Jesus together is essential so we will still be gathering. One helpful reality to remember is that as of today there has only been five confirmed cases of Coronavirus in San Diego and that person has been quarantined. If the situation changes on the ground here in San Diego we will not hesitate to make changes in the future. But for now cancelling gatherings seems premature.
So unless you or a member of your family are ill, we encourage you to still come out on Sunday to worship.
The second way we want to be wise at this time is by taking the necessary precautions to combat the spread of illness or virus and we wanted to inform you of the steps we are taking to make gathering together on a Sunday as safe a practice as possible for the time being.
Some Key Things...
If you or an immediate family member have been sick recently please DO NOT come to gathering.
There will be hand sanitizer at the back of the auditorium and we encourage you to use it.
There will be no coffee, food or donuts available this Sunday.
We have ordered pre packaged/sealed communion cups and wafers that we will use to remember Jesus together if they come in on time. Unfortunately we will not be utilizing our new, beautiful communion table for the time being.
Please refrain from hugging or shaking hands on Sunday. A verbal “what’s up!”or “hey!” can get the point across that you are stoked to see your church fam! We acknowledge that this might sound extreme but it is currently being recommended by every credible source of information about the virus.
For more on the Coronavirus we encourage you to check out these two articles on it from a gospel perspective…
FAQ about the Coronavirus from a Pastor + Doctor
If you have questions or concerns please feel free to ask. We love you and are down to chat.
We look forward to worshipping Jesus with you, Restored Uptown Elders