Starting with all our services in August, we are asking that all people ages 8 and up wear face coverings in the building when crowds are present, whether for worship, Bible class, Sunday School, or meetings in order to comply with the new mandate for the State of Indiana. If you do not have a face covering that covers both your nose and mouth, we will have disposable ones available for anyone that needs them.
The only exceptions to this should be people who are eating or drinking, those performing physically exerting tasks like maintenance, those who are under the age of 8, and those with medical conditions that make regular breathing difficult.
We have no desire whatsoever to have to police this. So if you are not wearing a mask, we are going to assume that you have a legitimate reason not to, as I just explained and leave it at that. For the most part, I will commend you to the honesty and integrity that God calls us all to in our dealings with one another.
As we studied a few months ago, Peter wrote to the converts in Asia who were under the rule of the Roman Emperor. In the second chapter of that letter, he said, “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.”
We had hoped that practicing social distancing in our services would be sufficient, and we will continue to do so. However, as the state has issued new requirements, we have had to adjust our practices accordingly, and we do so as Peter writes, “for the Lord’s sake” as a witness to the mercy, compassion, respect, and hope that God wills for all those who confess Him.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of this, I invite you to reach out and speak to me personally. We all lament, we all groan with the creation that we would see such times as this, and we know that the Holy Spirit laments and groans with us as we move forward in submission to God and those He’s placed over us.
Peace,
Pastor Brett Satkowiak