Church Update – 3-21-20 AM

Good Morning Church Family, Beloved of God,
 
Well, our governor (J.B. Pritzker) has announced a statewide ‘stay-at-home’ order aimed at stopping the spread of coronavirus.
 
The order is expected to begin at 5 p.m. Saturday (tonight) and continue until the end of April 7.
 
The governor is asking Illinoisans to ‘hunker down’, stay at home and not come into contact (as much as possible) with other human beings as a way of fighting this virus.
 
President Trump has started to refer to himself as a “wartime president” seeing as he (and his team) are fighting a war against COVID-19.
 
To borrow a line from Thomas Paine during the Revolutionary War—“These are the times that try men’s souls”—and indeed they are.
 
For many Americans, they find themselves isolated and bereft of human contact with only social media to satisfy their longing to connect and communicate with others.  At this time in history, I thank God we do have social media as a way to connect with each other.
 
Having said that, please join us tomorrow at 10 AM for the first livestream of our church services.
 
Tomorrow’s service will be basic, as we want to keep it simple so see how things go.
 
But then beginning the week after, I’d like to introduce some worship into our service before the message.
 
Please keep things in prayer—as someone has said, “Life is hard, but God is good!”
 
I love you all, and want to encourage you to keep looking up—and remember that God is on the throne (sovereign) and we must trust Him to see us thru difficult times no matter how bad things get around us.
 
Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJV)
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
 
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NKJV)
Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls– Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
 
In Jesus precious name,

Pastor Phil


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