Dear PSWR Disciples,
May the peace of God be with you.
Like so many of you, we have been watching and learning about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it is impacting our communities, locally and globally. On February 28, 2020, if you are one of hundreds who have already liked our Disciples PSWR page on Facebook, you may have seen our posted statement of compassion and care concerning the coronavirus outbreak on behalf of Disciples Ministries. A link to this statement, along with other helpful information can be found at the end of these comments.
As Regional leaders and staff, we care about all of our congregations and members. We have had pastors send us notes of concern and care about our own welfare. Informally, we have met with our Regional office staff regarding safety precautions and we’ll soon do the same with our regional ministry team. Also in our blog and March E-News, you will find a letter on behalf of our Loch Leven Camp Manager, Nick Selway and staff about its own actions and safety precautions.
Here are some thoughts from our PSWR Regional Moderator and Disaster Recovery Ministry Chair, Rev. Dr. Norm Williams: “What we do and how we do it reflects the power of God in bringing wholeness and healing to this world. At each worship service I attended (last week) at some point in the three worship services, the pastor spoke of how the Coronavirus was affecting the local community and how it was impacting how we worship. We need to take every precaution we can to prevent the spread of any virus. They should be thoughtful and reflect the guidelines of our community health officials. We need to offer safe options and give our members permission to practice these. Options (that) could actually change the way we worship including our liturgy at the Table.”
In these times, we’re reminded of “God’s covenant of love which binds us to God and to one another.” These thoughts are written and shared in a manner not to make you fearful, but to encourage all of you to be careful and faithful. As we welcome one another, let us be about prioritizing one another’s well-being and accommodate best practices to show one another this Sacred and covenantal love with regard for our most vulnerable and provide safe spaces for us all to enjoy the very best we can extend.
With prayer and safe concern for you,
Richie
P.S. I would like to share that there are two new voices in the Regional Church office. Nancy Lopez and Denise Solis are serving as interim administrative assistants. Both are bi-lingual.
Nancy, a civil engineering student at California State University, Fullerton, works in the afternoons and Denise, a psychology major at Hope International University, works Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Denise will be assisting with the reservations for the WWOW event in Las Vegas this summer. Nancy continues to take the lead on digitalizing our archived records. Please join me in welcoming Denise and Nancy as they support the Regional Church office this spring.
Our Disciples Ministries, in the General Manifestation of our church “has collated best practices from a number of resources. We have reviewed their statement and encourage you to do so, as well. You may access it here.”
https://disciples.org/general-ministries/disciples-ministries-respond-to-corona-virus/
The following resources are being provided as references. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) does not endorse the entirety of each organization represented.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
https://disciples.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020MarchCOVID-19coronavirusAdvice.pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RGywLXBpY2PwAPwLrZt-QYFWdZPWFN68/view