Thursday, March 12, 2020
Dear SCA family and
friends,
Like you, we are trying to
stay informed about the latest developments and impact of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) outbreak, including how it affects our local community and family of
faith. We will do our best to communicate with you about decisions we make
that impact the SCA family.
First, I would encourage
you to think as a follower of Christ with regard to all of the information you
hear. Psalm 91 reminds us of God’s constant care and the peace He gives
as we allow our hearts and minds to be at rest and trust Him in all situations.
This means we make decisions based on faith, not fear. Decisions
based on faith are still wise, not reckless; they are still thought out, not
careless. However, the basis of how we
approach life is faith in a God who is bigger and greater than all that we face.
This current situation gives us as followers of Jesus a great opportunity
to let Jesus shine into our world that most often lives by anxious fear.
I ask you to pray for the
global family of believers. The SCA family is a global community with
many different nations represented each time we gather. Please take time
to pray, not just for your immediate family, but also for our faith family.
With Penn State University moving classes to online, some of our students will
not be back to State College for a season. Pray for provision, wisdom,
peace, and protection for all who have been impacted. If you have family
members being affected by the Coronavirus, please let us know at the SCA church
office so we can join you in praying for them.
As this relates to our
weekly gatherings, we will continue to assess things and make decisions as
needed. For the time being, we currently
plan to have our regular Sunday and Wednesday gatherings. If we reach a
point in where we feel gathering is no longer the wisest option, we will communicate
this with you through all of our regular channels (ex. Facebook, website,
text/email blast). Now would be a great time for you to make sure all of
your contact information is up to date in the Elexio database. This can happen by accessing your information
directly or contacting the church office.
Additionally, we are giving
extra care to ensure our facility is properly cleaned and sanitized before and
after each of our gatherings. As you
have probably heard repeatedly by now, wash your hands with soap frequently,
especially after contact with others and after sneezing or coughing. If you are returning from out of town, I
would encourage you to review the CDC recommendations for where you have traveled. When we do gather we should minimize physical
contact, which includes hugging and handshakes. If you are ill it is advisable
to stay home and receive the proper care.
We can all do our part in being responsible.
Should we reach a point
where we need to postpone a gathering, we intend to offer an online gathering
that will include worship, the message, and the other key details you would
find in one of our Sunday morning services.
Should that happen, we will communicate “how to” instructions at a later
date. Many of you already give online
through the Elexio app or through recurring giving on the church website.
If you haven’t, you can easily access that at any time or use regular
mail as well. If you’re currently unable
to join us for services, remember each week we post the message video and audio
podcast on the church website under the tab labeled “media.”
We are doing our best to
stay up to date and will continue to have conversations with those in the
medical community for advice and input.
But most importantly, we pray, seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and look
for His wisdom and peace in all situations.
Many Blessings,
Pastor Steve and the
Leadership Team