A Note from Pastor Gary on COVID-19

Dear Church Family,

The news has been coming at us very rapidly this week.  I am sure for many of us it feels almost surreal and definitely uncertain.  There’s a song I remember my mom singing, part of it went, “Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know Who holds my hand.”  I like that.

The Pastoral Team, alongside an established Harvest Ministries Response Team, has been carefully monitoring local and international reports and official statements regarding the Coronavirus outbreak.  With great caution and care for the Harvest church family and our island, we want to prayerfully consider how ministry continues during this season.

Our intention is to work closely with government and healthcare professionals and follow the guidelines and recommendations from GovGuam and the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).  At this time, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Guam.  As long as this is the case and we receive no further counsel from GovGuam, we will maintain our normal schedule of ministry activities, including regular services on Sunday.  If the official counsel changes, we will respond quickly.  We will continue to prayerfully determine on a day-to-day basis whether further steps are needed.

For Sunday services, we encourage you to practice standard flu-season precautions (cough etiquette and thorough hand washing) and limit physical contact with others, hand-shaking, etc.

In addition, we would ask that you not attend if you…

·       have had flu-like symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath, vomiting) in the past 14 days.

·       have traveled recently to areas that have been highly affected by the Coronavirus in the past 14 days.

·       have been in close contact with someone with flu-like symptoms in the past 14 days.

If you aren’t feeling well we encourage you to stay home and catch the service on Livestream or Facebook page.

During this season, we want to demonstrate care for one another, including the most vulnerable among us—the sick and elderly.  We also want to encourage our church family to look beyond ourselves in order to consider creative opportunities to live out the Gospel before our neighbors, friends, and family.  Psalm 62:8 challenges us to “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him:  God is a refuge for us.”  What a powerful testimony this will be as we live by this kind of faith and seek ways to care for those around us.  I am eager to hear the testimonies of how God uses our church family during these days.

Last Sunday, we finished the message time with this challenge.

live the Gospel.  love people.  share Jesus.

This is what we are called to do – in every season and circumstance of life.

Please let me or any of the pastors know if you have questions or if there is any way that we can help you.  We look forward to seeing many of you this Sunday.

Prayerfully,

Pastor Gary for the pastoral team

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