Christian Cv19 thread, anyone?

[StrawberryJam200]

I was surprised to see nothing on this board, and I don’t think there’s anything under the main Cv19 board either.

I’ve been getting quite concerned about this virus for weeks but trying not to get caught up in secular panic. I feel the need to pray with others about the situation, also to specifically witness to colleagues and my own teens at this time that my eyes are firmly fixed on things above. I confess, they haven’t been lately. I know Christians on here will have a range of reactions to the threat/situation/government response, let’s try to focus on Jesus though. Also to support those in ministry positions, who are going to face a variety of difficult choices and situations in the coming months.
(I might signpost on the CV board so people know about this thread.)
May God bless you all this day.

That sounds very sensible, yes

I think if people who are feeling generally well gather in small groups, and observe hygiene, then that should be reasonable.

A member of our congregation sent this yesterday and it really resonated with me.

I am half terrified as I work in a high risk environment (uni) and half blase. Just starting to feel ill today
www.premierchristianity.com/Blog/There-s-a-sickness-far-worse-than-coronavirus-and-Christians-have-the-antidote?utm_source=Premier%20Christian%20Media&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=11374074_Ignite%2010%2F03%2F20&utm_content=Antidote&dm_i=16DQ,6RSAI,RCS1CV,R2Z89,1

I saw this on facebook today.

I genuinely think people who think religion has anything to do with this or can have any bearing on the outcome need help from a psychiatrist

I am meditating on and speaking out Psalm 91.

@StonedRoses - I really love that poem. I generally post it every year on New Year's Eve.

People often don't quote the whole thing but it is beautiful:

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.

God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.

These are strange times but God doesn't change.

Hi MaomiMak! Well all of us on here need help then.....

StonedRoses, thank you so much for all you are doing, and I'm sorry you are feeling so stressed about it all. Praying for you now, for the peace beyond comprehension.

Strawberry, I understand. I'm scared too.

Pickleme, thank you. Yes, I'm going to stay in from tomorrow j think, I've decided church is probably pushing it (large congregation, about 150-200) so I'm going to stay away. It's going to be hard but I am feeling at peace about it. I am lucky to work from home anyway due to my health, and I want to turn it to a positive - actually write the next book I've been dithering on for a while, for example - the subject matter is very relevant in these times. So I'm trying to look to the good in it. I'm used to being housebound for weeks at a time, but I can imagine it must be so hard for those who are not, especially if you have small DCs. Let's keep praying and encouraging one another.

Yes let’s keep praying and encouraging.

Was wondering when we’re going to hear from national church leaders, it would be good. A call to prayer, ideas for how to pray. I must admit it almost seems too big to pray about. This is such a “test your faith” moment.

Maybe anyone who comes across any good specific anti-Cv prayers could post them here?

We’ve already got the King’s prayer from 1939, and the CoVid19 one (Scripture) in the photo donated kind of inadvertently by MaomiMak!

I'll share as I come across them.

Mine is a very small church, lots of children, also lots of elderly. We'll usually be 25 adults, 6 children. I think we'll need a serious conversation about how to manage that, actually. Hmm.

Anyway, Morning all! What do you have on today?

Checking and organising my food stocks....

I haven’t stockpiled, just bought enough for ?3 weeks for me and the children. Seemed prudent to me, like the Wife of Noble Character in Proverbs 31 etc, but some believe any extra buying is wrong? Possibly not a discussion we want to get into here, I don’t know.

When I started buying extra, maybe 3 wks ago, it never occurred to me it might prevent others from getting what they needed. Have also been buying stuff for Food Bank collections in supermarkets, which I’ve not done much previously.

Have also signed up for our local community Fb page’s request for volunteers to take shopping or whatever to those in isolation, think there’s a lot of those being posted.

It's not stockpiling, it's sensible preparation.

Nothing will run out- the shops are refilling regularly. But individuals may not be able to get out, so it's sensible to have enough to see you through.

There are people whose homes and budgets are too small to stock up. As long as we look after them when they need it, it's ok to be prepared ourselves.

How's this?

When Martin Luther was dealing with The Black Death plague, he wrote these wise words that can help inform the way we approach things happening in our world right now...
“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God."

Luther's Works Volume 43 pg 132 the letter "Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague" written to Rev. Dr. John Hess

LefttoherownDevizes - that article was really helpful in putting things in perspective - but this line really made me laugh:

''The world’s answer is to panic and buy toilet paper. The church’s answer is to look to Christ.”

Hello

Thanks for srarting this. Its good to keep fellowship in difficult times.

I went to confession on Friday and said Id been generally failing to put my faith in the Lord. After I felt much less anxious. I have been praying since January and feeling like this was coming towards us.

I will return to the passage quoted by @IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere Thank you. The Martin Luther quote is great too.

Its sad that church services may well be cancelled for Easter and we won't be able to see family. For now Im continuing to go. Its a big church with few people so we can spread out. Will stop at some point.

This is useful. Becca on the Christian coffeehouse pointed me towards digitalnun and im enjoying her blog.

www.ibenedictines.org/2020/03/12/digitalnuns-guide-to-self-isolating-for-dummies/

I'm so cross at lack of leadership and strategy in my church. One influential member is convinced the advice is wrong, and won't follow it until they have to. The vicar gave no sign of having thought about it at all.
Churches need to show leadership in their communities and rise up to meet this challenge.

Sorry! Just needed a quick huff!

That dummies guide is fab!

I also loved the self isolating thing. Makes a lot of sense. I’m half tempted to join holy orders and retreat till it’s all over. No so keen on the celibacy and lack of family bit though!

Yes, might be an idea to post the digital nuns thing on a more general board?

I too would like more leadership from church, both local and national. Our nation should very much be praying, at least that’s one thing Trump’s got right (even if it’s for dubious reasons).

www.premierchristianity.com/Blog/Coronavirus-and-God-s-promises-3-things-Christians-need-to-remember?utm_source=Premier%20Christian%20Media&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=11364988_Christianity%2012.03.2020&utm_content=Corona&dm_i=16DQ,6RLA4,7I9OZD,R21BK,1

You are right we need concerted global prayer. I am sure there are millions of individual efforts. It would be nice to feel less alone and praying together feels more purposeful.

Pickle that is so frustrating about your church. My church have listened to and followed advice very closely and livestreamed our service for the first time yesterday which had hundreds watching and making community in the comments section - it was so lovely for me in isolation and for so many more. The staff team are having a meeting about further contingency plans today.
You're right Zen about concerted prayer efforts. It's good to pray together and this needs it more than ever.

Ooh, look! This would be a comforting thing to join in with!

Just thought I’d update on here. I was working yesterday and in a lull went to see the chaplain. So glad I did - I hadn’t really considered their ministry to staff as well as patients. Anyway we had a good chat which really helped. Talked about faith being about trusting in God, that he is walking alongside us suffering with us. He also made the parallel that as a doctor I use lots of guidelines and protocols to almost do my job on autopilot and that in times like this falling back on the ritual and formal prayers can help by reading then when you don’t know how else to pray. At the end he asked id I wanted to take communion and this time it took on a greater significance for me. I really felt Him joining with us. I definitely felt Gods presence.
So the chaplain said to pop in anytime to chat or to use the chapel anytime to sit and pray. Very glad I went

That sounds good pickleme.
Oh StonedRosesthat sounds amazing. I’m doing a Shadow of Fear 5-day Study on YouVersion Bible app, and it started with Jesus calming the storm - He was with them in the boat all the time they were panicking.

downloads.24-7prayer.com/pdf/Prayers/cv%20prayer%20slides.pdf
My vicar has just sent this, from Pete Grieg of the 24/7 Prayer movement. Really good, liturgical, Biblical, relevant.