Dear Country Homes family -
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ.
As you may know, late yesterday afternoon Governor Inslee issued a stay-at-home order in an effort to help curtail the spread of COVID-19 here in Washington State. As responsible citizens of Washington, it is important - it is critical - that we do just that: stay in our homes. Only businesses that are essential to the overall physical health of our community are allowed to remain open. Others, including social, recreational, and spiritual establishments, must close for a minimum of two weeks beginning this Wednesday afternoon (the 25th).
With this in mind, Country Homes Christian Church will be closed beginning the afternoon of March 25. Todd, our Admin Assistant, will be working from home. All calls to the church phone number will be forwarded to Todd’s cell phone during his normal work hours - Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM. Internet accessibility to the church will remain available.
I will be working from home as well and will be available via my cell phone during my normal office hours of 12 PM - 3 PM, Wednesday through Friday (and, of course, any time when you might feel an urgent need to call). Please contact the church office for my contact information.
Also, thanks to the great support by Lisa, Kathye and others, I will continue to be able to post on the website (chchristian.org) brief Sunday liturgies, as well as additional items (prayers, readings, other church-related information) during the week. You’ll be able to access these via the Reflections link and the About Us/Important Information link. We are also working on other ways to ‘virtually’ connect. (More to come on that).
Additionally, I will continue to check in with you via phone, mailed correspondence, and/or email over the days to come. I encourage you, as well, to continue to check in with one another via phone calls, mailed note cards, and email. Please do not hesitate to contact Todd regarding additions to the prayer chain as well. Also, if you feel particularly overwhelmed, please do not hesitate to contact me, your Elder, and/or anyone with whom you feel a connection. Please, do not be reluctant to reach out.
PLEASE take Federal and State warnings seriously and stay at home in accordance with the current rules/statutes. Doing so minimizes the chance of infection, which in turn maximizes the ability of our health care system to treat those that require critical care. The next few weeks will mean the difference between life and death for many people; we must do our part to help life move forward.
We will continue to find ways to get through these interesting and, at times, trying days.
We will continue to find ways to rejoice in our lives.
We will continue to worship God.
We will continue as a church.
We will continue.
As we are in the midst of the Season of Lent, we have the opportunity to look at ourselves and one another in new ways - to experience and to be curious about the transition in ourselves, in others, and in society. We will learn, and we will grow. And we will move through these days through the grace of God.
On Easter day, April 12th, we will celebrate the Christ who rises. Regardless of where we may physically find ourselves, we will spiritually be together. Christ will still rise! In the fullness of our faith, we also rise - and we will rise through this season together. Thanks be to God!
As always, you are in my prayers,
Pastor Dolores