As the leaders at Good Shepherd have discussed the coronavirus pandemic, we have decided that we will continue meeting for worship on Sundays at 10:30 am. That might seem like an easy choice, but it was not. Many in our community are at higher risk. Because we take our responsibility to each other seriously, we will not be communing for the next two weeks. During this time, we will continue to assess the situation, and I am sure you all will do the same.
We will also be limiting contact as much as possible during the service. As I expect some will decide to stay home, we will have enough space to provide adequate social distancing. Whatever decisions you make about coming to church, consider the safety of all. The purpose of limiting contact is to protect our vulnerable populations, and we alter our lives in during crises in service and love for our neighbor.
For those who stay home and will not be able to worship with us, Sunday sermons will be recorded and promptly uploaded. You will be able to find those on our website Sunday afternoons. Additionally, I will send out devotional materials regularly.
Finally, though we should be cautious and work to do all that we can to help our neighbor, we can always put our trust in God, who is promises to be with us always. It is to our Lord Jesus Christ that we turn in times of trouble because he is the great physician of both body and soul. We pray that God would curb the advance of the virus, and we ask that God would bless all efforts to thwart the spread of the virus.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. (Psalm 46:1-3)
Pastor Justin
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd is located at 2 Colonial Road in New Fairfield, Connecticut