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In recent months the media has encouraged all of us to become hyper-vigilant about our health.  The term social distancing has developed as way to make certain we remain apart from one another.  Our anxiety levels have increased in response to these things.

As we continue to isolate ourselves anxiety can turn to fear.  Fear of what we can’t see.  Fear of what is coming next.  Fear for ourselves and fear for our loved ones.  Fear about the economy, our jobs, homes, food supply. The list can be endless, if we allow it.

If we allow it.  God created us with free will. WE CAN CHOOSE to not be anxious.  We can choose to not be afraid.  God created us to not be timid and fearful, but to “rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Gen. 1:28b)  When we choose to follow Jesus, and to put the Lord God first in our lives, there is no room for the type of anxiety that rules over us. 

When we seek God in thanksgiving for all that He has provided; when we ask for guidance and lay our burdens at His feet, He will pour a peace into us that is inexplicable.  There is a certainty that He has a plan that is absolutely perfect.  We don’t have to understand, but we don’t have to worry either.  God is in control, all day, every day.  He is awake, alert and aware of each of us.  Nothing happens without His knowledge.

So what will we allow this week?  Anxiety, irrational fear or God’s abiding peace?  We each have the power to choose.

We will be meeting for Sunday service at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot. Please join us there or on facebook at 9:20 a.m. to hear Pastor Ann’s message!  We will see you soon!

Cove Church of the Nazarene

Reopening plan

1. Drive-in Sunday services for the duration of May. No children’s discipleship at this time.
2. Reopen the sanctuary on June 7, 2020.
3. Printed signs will remind people to maintain social distancing.
4. Printed signs will remind people to wear masks.
5. Everyone will wear masks for the next 2 weeks after reopening the sanctuary. Rows will be spread out and social distancing between family groups will be expected until July 2020. Seating will be done by families and directed by ushers starting from the front to the back. At the end of service, people will exit from the back to the front, encouraging social distancing. Once they leave the building, they are responsible for themselves.
6. Greeters will hold the doors open so that people are not having to grab the door handle to enter or exit.
7. Greeters will have hand sanitizer to use if they shake hands with anyone.
8. Hand sanitizer dispensers will be at the Welcome Center along with Clorox wipes to clean any writing instruments if visitors fill out a visitor’s card.
9. People will be encouraged not to give hugs or handshakes.
10. The altars will be open both for seekers as well as for those who want to help seekers as they pray. However, individuals must be wearing masks. Additionally, all individuals are reminded to sanitize their hands afterwards. The altars will be wiped with Clorox wipes at the end of the service.
11. Offering will be received in the same manner as we currently receive it. An usher will stand at the exit of the sanctuary with the basket so that individuals can give their tithes and offerings.
12. The nursery will be opened on June 7^th. It has been closed for 2 months; therefore, no coronavirus is there.  However, the provider will have to sanitize surfaces if there are toddlers who are running around playing with toys. And she will have to be vigilant about washing her hands between handling children.
13. Children’s church will occur starting on June 7^th.
14. Hand Sanitizer will be used as children come into the children’s church and as they are leaving.
15. Individual boxes of supplies for each child are designated with their names so that the child only uses their supplies and not those of others.
16. Sanctuary (chairs and altar) and children’s church room will be sanitized before the next ministry time.

Teen Discipleship

1. Teens will maintain 6 feet distancing between themselves and others.
2. Adults will wear masks.
3. Teens will use hand sanitizer when they come to class and before departing at the end of class.
4. Any tables used (game tables or regular tables) will be wiped down after use with Clorox spray.

Children’s Discipleship

1. Children’s discipleship will begin on June 10, 2020.
2. Adults will wear masks during children’s discipleship.
3. Children will use hand sanitizer before opening, entering each room and before closing. Then they will use hand sanitizer before being released back to their parents.

Wednesday evening parents’ discipleship

1. Social distancing will be maintained between family units. Tables will be wiped with Clorox wipes after use.

Bathroom use during any service or ministry or gathering opportunity

1. A different person for each service will be designated to use Clorox wipes to wipe bathroom stall doors, toilets, and handles on faucets at the sinks after each use.
2. Individuals will be encouraged to use a paper towel and then throw it away when opening the door to exit the bathroom.

Last week I talked about giants as strongholds in our lives.  I realized that I only looked at one side of the conversation so I’d like to explore a different direction today.

Strongholds are meant to be places of safety and security.  In ancient times European people built strongholds that eventually became the remarkable, beautiful, enduring  castles that we all recognize today.  Strongholds can be less obvious also, without physical form. 

Our Constitution is a stronghold that most of us take for granted.  Living in the U.S. we are quick to say, “I have the right to…”  Before COVID19 we couldn’t imagine being restricted from going anywhere anytime with anyone we chose.  Suddenly our “right” to freedom of movement has changed.  Do we no longer have that right?  I believe that it will return.  In the meantime, consider how changing that one stronghold has impacted our entire way of life.

Have you used your “rights” to build personal strongholds for yourself?  Have you built walls around your heart?  Is your place of refuge a computer game, where real life doesn’t enter in?  Perhaps you have surrounded yourself with all the things that we’ve been told will make us happy, so that your stronghold is the physical presence of your stuff.  Do you use your “right” to roam the internet in a way that diminishes you or someone else?

What I am really wondering today is this:  do our “rights” interfere with our relationship with God?  I would love to hear what you think about this.  Please feel free to leave comments. 

Pastor Ann is going to be speaking with us about the strongholds in our world on Sunday morning.  Please join us LIVE in the parking lot at 964 W. Hwy 190 in Cove, livestream with us on Facebook or watch her sermon later in the day on YouTube.