COVID-19 RESPONSE

MID-WEEK UPDATE | WEDNESDAY (4.1.20)

MID-WEEK UPDATE

MID-WEEK UPDATE | WEDNESDAY (3.25.20)

UPDATE | THURSDAY (3.19.20)

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

• We are suspending the planned April and May Vision Gatherings.

• We will be using Zoom to meet digitally as a Missional Community.

• We will join Summit Crossing Limestone online on Sundays at 11:00 AM for our Sunday gatherings.

• We will host a Mid-Week Update every Wednesday at 7:30 PM.

UPDATE | FRIDAY (3.13.20)

VIDEO TEXT

Good afternoon, New Eden.

I wanted to take a moment and communicate to you our response as a church to the Coronavirus disease. We are not health experts, but we have been monitoring the situation closely and listening to others who are experts in their various fields as we have made the following decisions.

Let me just tell you right up front what plans of ours have immediately changed, and then I will share with you our heart behind these decisions.

Both gatherings for this Sunday, March 15th, have been canceled. That means we will not be gathering with 6th Ave Church on Sunday morning and we will not be having our Vision Gathering on Sunday night as originally planned.

The Madison location of our sending church, Summit Crossing, will be live streaming a time of music and preaching on Sunday morning beginning at 11:00 AM, so our recommendation will be for you and your family to join them for that at summitcrossing.org/live.

Now, let me share with you our heart and some of the factors we considered as we made this decision.

First of all, official communication recommends avoiding gathering in bigger groups, especially in tight places. With us being mobile and limited in the way we can plan our gatherings, especially our childcare space, we felt it would be best to postpone. Also, from a pastoral perspective, these Vision Gatherings are crucial to us unifying as a church and understanding the central mission God has given us. So, to launch these Vision Gatherings during a time where many could be out, due to sickness or simply because of their choice, seemed unwise.

And the last driving factor in this decision, and by far the most important, is the Kingdom ethic Jesus taught us when he called us to love our neighbors as ourselves. The coronavirus impacts those who are older and have certain pre-existing health conditions in a much more dangerous way than those who are younger and generally healthy. So, even though life might continue as normal for many of us, that’s not the case for others around us that we could come into contact with. If we can serve those who it does affect by some simple inconveniences and precautions, then by all means, we should do so.

I was just talking to my wife yesterday, and I had the thought that if the effects of this disease were reversed, and it impacted young kids in a much more dangerous way than others, I would be doing whatever I could to keep the disease from spreading as a way of protecting my own young children. And I would also be calling others to do the same. 

As a church that believes in the value of all life, including the sick and elderly among us, we should have the same serious response to help prevent the spread of this disease as if it would affect us or someone we love personally. 

Now, to some, this may seem like we’re overreacting, and it’s perfectly fine for you to have that opinion. We respect that. However, from the health experts we have read, the right time to take precautions will seem like it’s too early to most people. As you may have already heard, as of this morning, there is a confirmed case in the state of Alabama and many more just north of us in the state of Tennessee. So, during this time, we have chosen to lead out in this way, not from fear or overreaction, but from a place of cautious concern for our neighbors. We say all the time that discipleship is not contingent solely on a Sunday gathering, and this is a time for us to live that out. We thank you for understanding and trusting us with this decision. 

Our encouragement for you as the church, as God’s people, is to keep checking on each other, commune with Jesus together, and keep hanging out. But do so in a manner that considers your neighbors. Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, keep a distance of three to six feet apart between family groups, and together, let’s do our part to lead the way in curbing the spread of this disease before it even takes off in our area. 

We will communicate further plans for gathering in smaller groups in homes in the coming days, so look forward to that communication. And if we find there are opportunities for us to serve others during this time, we will let you know. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here and available for each of you. I love you all and look forward to us being the church together during this time.

Joel McCarty
Pastor for Preaching & Oversight