Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - March 18

Posted: Wednesday March 18, 2020  |  2:15 PM          Cantonese 粵語  |  Mandarin 國語

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update  

Our Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak  

In light of the continuing rapid changes happening every day with the coronavirus (COVID-19), all ministry gatherings at the church (including weekend services, events, meetings, and activities during the week) have been suspended until further notice. We would like to take every reasonable precaution to keep our community and our city safe by doing our part to flatten the curve of growth.  

Small groups and fellowship groups are advised to meet online rather than in person or in people’s homes. Why are we changing the way we do things? Because of love. It is important to change our practices at this time because of our love for our vulnerable neighbours – the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Paul reminds us in Romans 15 that the strong must consider the weak. We are making adjustments to the way we gather for worship and fellowship not to minimize our own risk, but to protect others from risk. We change our practices not out of fear, but out of love for God and love for others – to be socially responsible.  

Worship Services Online Every Week  

For however long we may need to suspend our worship gatherings at Fraser Lands Church, we are committed to prepare and record a series of weekly messages for you to access online. To be a part of this week’s online worship service on Sunday, please check back for more info on the website homepage in the coming days. We thank you for your continual worship of the Lord through giving as we are accepting donations by e-transfer. Please refer to the instructions found at: fraserlands.ca/giving.  

Youth and Children’s Ministry  

Youth Ministry counselors will be arranging meetings with their small groups of students through the use of social media. The online meetings will be for updating one another, mutual encouragement, friendly games, devotionals, and prayer. Resources and guided discussion questions will be provided for parents in the near future to aid in the discipleship of our students.  

In regards to Children’s Ministry, we encourage parents to spend time together with their children in studying God’s Word through the activities provided each Sunday on the Children’s Ministry page.  

Prayer and Pastoral Care  

If you would like to be prayed for during this time of uncertainty and change, please click here to submit your prayer request. For Cantonese or Mandarin prayer requests, please contact Pastor Anita or Pastor Peter directly. Our prayer team will hold your request in confidence and will pray faithfully for you. If you need pastoral care, you can click here to contact one of our pastors. “Social distancing” doesn’t mean you have to be alone, or feel alone.  

Ongoing Information  

For ongoing information about what is happening at Fraser Lands Church, and how we are responding to the COVID-19 crisis, we encourage you to continue to visit our website daily or sign up below for our e-newsletter to receive the latest updates. We are staying up to date with the directions from the provincial health officer and will adjust our procedures accordingly. For more information and latest updates on COVID-19, you can visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website at: http://covid-19.bccdc.ca/   

A Word of Encouragement  

In times like this, when worry and fear seem to be all around us, let us remember God’s promise in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.” During this time, what does it mean for us to be a loving presence of Christ in our neighborhoods? Let us continue to pray for our community, our city, our country, our world and, particularly, our health care workers. Let us pray together as a church and ask God to intervene. May God grant you good health and give you opportunities to demonstrate His great love to those around you. God bless!

In His love,
Pastor Abe