March 16 Update: All Blacknall events are cancelled through April 4.
A note from Allan Poole.
Dear Blacknall family,
Well, I never could have imagined this moment in which we find ourselves, faced with a pandemic whose threat seems to grow exponentially every day. Just forty-eight hours ago I was wondering about the worry, with only seven cases reported in North Carolina. Now, two days later, I am convinced that we need to take what might feel like dramatic action to deter the impact of the Corona virus, and to care for the many vulnerable ones in our midst. I also am mindful of the fact that Blacknall’s congregation in particular has among its members those who collectively care for thousands of patients every week in our area health care facilities! How can we best care for and support them so that they in turn can care for others?
A stellar team of Blacknall medical professionals with expertise in infectious disease and public health has worked tirelessly to lend their wisdom and guidance to us as we try to respond in a faithful way to the health challenge posed by this virus. With their input, we have made the following decisions effective as soon as this coming Sunday about our congregational life.
In a historic break with our commitment to weekly corporate worship, we will not have Sunday morning worship on March 15th or 22nd, during which time we will reassess the nature of the health threat posed by this corona virus.
In lieu of corporate gathered worship at Blacknall, there will be available via email and on the Blacknall website a liturgy of the Blacknall service, with written prayers, lyrics of hymns, and an audio file of Goodie Bell’s sermon for home and small group use. I hope many of you might find some sense of connection in our shared, although fragmented, worship together.
There will be no Blacknall events at Blacknall next week. This includes the Sunday evening service and the Wednesday Lenten service.
As many of you know, Evan and Lucy Cate lost their infant son, Moses David, earlier this week. The service that was scheduled for this Sunday at 2.30pm has been postponed to a future date. We are all grieving with the Cates and Dunderdales; I know you will find creative ways to express your love and support for them in this extraordinary moment.
Of course, we encourage you to stay at home if you are ill, and practice good habits of cleanliness, hand-washing and sanitizing. And by all means, if you learn of someone else who needs help, please let us know in addition to any action you yourself might take!
Our hope in taking these measures is that we might contribute to a leveling out of the infection rate so that our health care workers will not be overwhelmed. And of course, by taking precautions we are caring for each other so that all of us can care for those who have greater need.
We each have an important part to play. As we feel the isolation that comes with limitations on our friendships and normal human interactions, we can pay more attention to those who are isolated and alone most of the time. Are there ways in which we can be in closer touch with Blacknall neighbors near at hand? And other neighbors as well? There is lots of room for creativity as we turn our minds to the challenge before us. Now is the time to do so.
There will be unexpected gifts that come from this anxious time. As we struggle with the unnatural practice of “social distancing” we will appreciate anew the fact that being made in the image of God means that we are by nature made for relationship with others. And we are all suddenly aware of how easily we lose sight of our dependence as creatures; with that loss can come a certain presumption, accompanied by a loss of gratitude to our loving Father. In this crisis we are being reminded of some primary truths that give shape to our very lives.
May the Holy Spirit equip us to “shine like stars in the universe” as we face this moment together in Christ.
Allan