As you know our world has changed in the past several weeks due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The BC government has advised that we refrain from large group gatherings of over 250 people, and though our worship gatherings are currently under 250 people, we feel it is wise and prudent that we cancel our Sunday worship gatherings until further notice.
We do this out of love and concern for the safety and well-being of our church family, particularly the vulnerable among us and in our community. The health and safety of all is deeply important to us.
This is a very unusual time for us. Although this global pandemic will affect the manner in which we do church, it does not stop us from still being the church. Church is about more than a building or a service; Church is about a people. Especially now, even more so during these anxious and disruptive times, we will continue to be the people of God.
You are invited to gather online for worship. We will be posting our worship services online Friday evenings. You can access church online through the front page of our website - www.mapleridgecrc.com. The service can be viewed again if you happen to miss it.
We will explore other creative ways to communicate and stay connected over the coming weeks as this situation evolves. Please check your inboxes and our website for updates.
We encourage you to look for ways to show hospitality (whether on-line or in-person) in smaller group settings, to study Scripture, to pray, to drop off groceries, and to share meals around the table. We want to continue being community together while we navigate these uncertain times.
We encourage you to care for those who are most vulnerable and we will seek to continue to be a church engaged with the needs of our community.
We also encourage you to join us in praying. We will continue to put our faith and trust in God alone. We will pray for our governments, for our health care workers and lab technicians who are working on caring for those infected. We will pray for those who are suffering and grieving. We will pray for the medical professionals who are on the front lines and managing increased patient counts. We will pray for the institutional leaders and specialists who are desperately trying to address, monitor and contain this outbreak.
If you need anything, please contact one of the pastors and we will attend to you however we can. Our doors and phone lines will continue to be open. If you are feeling anxious, please reach out for prayer and if you have any questions or concerns, please let us know.
The government of Canada has compiled a number of resources regarding COVID-19 including updates, risk levels, and how communities should be responding. Click here to view the webpage.
Likewise, the Christian Reformed Church of North America also has resources available here.
Grace and peace,
Pastors Tim and Randy