Dear St. John’s Family,
As I’m sure you’ve heard, Governor Wolf announced heighted mitigation measures yesterday in an effort to reduce the significant increase in positive cases, resulting hospitalizations, and strain on medical professionals from Covid-19. Many businesses and activities have been mandated to close, and all residents are encouraged to suspend non-essential gatherings. Worship services are not explicitly covered by this mandate, yet congregations are encouraged to comply. Bishop Peggy Johnson of our Eastern Pennsylvania Conference has also strongly encouraged congregations to comply with this mandate.
I and the leadership of St. John’s have prayed, discussed, and struggled with the appropriate approach for worship while these measures are in place (currently from December 12 – January 4). In a time when there are far too many questions and few good answers, we’ve earnestly tried to do what is right: to respond justly to a grim situation, while demonstrating integrity with our Lord’s call to love others by sacrificing for the most vulnerable among us. Based on this, we’ve made the very difficult decision to suspend in-person worship at this time.
Beginning Sunday, December 13, St. John’s will be recording our worship service a 9AM. Only participants in worship (including our Bell Choirs), audio-visual personnel, and members of their immediate households will be present in the Sanctuary. This service will be posted on our website as soon as possible upon completion. The same approach will be taken for the 3PM Christmas Eve Service; we intend to offer the 7PM Drive-in Service as planned. Also, we are adjusting preparations for the Drive-Through Living Nativity and intend to offer this outdoor event as planned. We intend to resume our distanced in-person worship when the measures lift in January.
I recognize many are disappointed – even upset – at this frustrating news. After a brutal year that’s left us hurting, we want to gather and worship. Especially at Christmas. We’ve taken precautions and we’ve been safe. It seems as if we’re giving in – why?
The Lord we love and serve calls us to sacrifice. Nurses, doctors, and medical staff have been working long hours for many months and are overwhelmed. Our healthcare system is on the brink of being overwhelmed. They gave and gave and gave; there is little left. Many are familiar with Shel Silverstein’s book, The Giving Tree, which tells of a tree that gave everything for the happiness and well-being of a boy – until there was nothing left but a stump. It seems that our medical professionals are almost down to a stump. As faithful Christians, I believe we can extend a powerful witness to our Lord by making this significant sacrifice for the good of those who are tasked with caring for us.
So, faithful friends, I am asking us all to make this sacrifice as a gift of love to the medical professionals who care for us. While difficult, I also sense it sends a powerful message of faith to our community and world: our God is bigger than any pandemic, and will sustain us as we sacrifice our in-person gathering for the good of others. I pray many will see that testimony and will receive with great joy the Good News of Jesus this Christmas.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
