Faith’s worship services, Sunday School, and youth group gatherings will be cancelled for this Sunday, March 15 due to COVID-19 and recommendations of our state government and health officials.

We value the importance of gathering to worship both for our own spiritual health and the opportunity to share our hope in Christ with others. We do not make this decision out of fear but out of love for one another and a desire to care for those at greatest risk. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates next week.

Please know that we are praying for each of you and thinking of ways to continue to care for you in these times of anxiety. In the days ahead:

1. God’s Word will continue to be preached.
A video of a simple worship service will be posted on the homepage of our website Sunday morning at 10 am faithwilmington.com. We will also send an email link as well as post to our Facebook page. Please gather those in your home to worship with us.

2. Community Groups may continue to meet.
This will be at the discretion of the group members. Our concern is that you are kept both physically safe and spiritually fed. For those groups that decide to meet we ask that you exercise great care for one another through strict hygiene practices. We suggest all of those attending CGs consider the following:

• If you are sick, have a compromised immune system or have been exposed to COVID-19 you should NOT attend such gatherings.
• Ensure that all shared surfaces are disinfected before and after the meeting.
• All those attending should wash their hands thoroughly (more than 20 seconds) upon arrival at the gathering and upon returning to their homes.
• Attendees should maintain healthy distance from one another and avoid physical contact.

**Monday’s Young in Heart community group is cancelled for March 16.**

3. We encourage you to have a time of Bible study in your home.
The Word of God is precious to us at all times, but we need its truth in days like these. Read the Bible with your children, read it via video chat or phone with friends or loved ones, and draw your comfort and assurance there.

4. We will continue to serve you.
If you have particular spiritual needs and would like to talk to a pastor there are numerous ways to contact us whether it be email , or leave a message on our office voicemail and we will get back to you (302-764-8615). Though we have cancelled services for this Sunday, we are still your pastors, elders, and deacons and want to continue to serve you any way we can.
We will continue to communicate with you through email and social media as we receive new information and recommendations. Updates on schedules and other news will be easy to access at faithwilmington.com/updates

5. We want to be good neighbors.
Communicate and serve one another earnestly as a church family. Reach out to others in your CG or Bible study, communicate more and not less! Text and email neighbors who are elderly, have medically fragile dependents, or live alone, to show them your love and God’s love for them.
If your family is in a medical position that leaves you unable to go out in public for supplies, please let us know if our diaconate can assist you.  Should this particular crisis cause you economic hardship you may also contact the deacons to discuss assistance. 

6. Give online as you are able.
Given that the cancellation of services places the church in a challenging economic situation we ask that you continue to tithe and make offerings if you are able. You may do so on line at https://faithwilmington.com/giving/ or by sending your check via mail to our church office.

Finally, let us not forget that while we should be wise and exercise appropriate precautions, we should not panic nor should we despair, but we can trust the Lord together. Let us remember these words:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?...No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:35-39.

In the grip of grace,
Kevin