The Church and the Corona Virus
Galileo Church
Fort Worth, Texas
March 9, 2020
To all the beloveds of Galileo Church in and near Fort Worth who connect with us in the bodies God knit together as well as the Spirit of Christ that inhabits us – grace to you, and peace, from God our Parent and our brother-Savior Jesus.
More than ever, I hope this letter finds you feeling healthy and strong in body and mind. Late winter allergies and seasonal anxieties aside, the Corona virus has all of us nervous about every tickle in the throat and ache in the head. Just today a case of COVID-19 has been reported in Frisco – the closest it has come to our homes and families and church.
At some point it will be helpful to reflect theologically on what this potential pandemic shows us about ourselves in this world God still loves. I’m thinking especially about the leveling effect of a truly global virus, and how our physical health is, as it turns out, only as protected as the health of our poorest (global and local) neighbors; and how even the most self-interested person might argue for universal health care and paid sick leave for all workers on this basis.
And I’m thinking about Martin Luther’s 1527 letter, “Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague” – which, he says, you (Christianly) can, unless you have a prior commitment to care for your neighbors in ways that are particularly relevant during a disease outbreak. Priests and physicians and community helpers of all kinds should consider widespread illness an opportunity to care for Christ himself, a la Matthew 25:36, “I was sick and you took care of me…”
But for this moment, let me outline the ways your church servant-leaders have so far determined to make our life together somewhat more hygienic while this virus runs its course.
Communion bread will be pre-cut into pieces by folx wearing gloves. For now, take a piece carefully from the tray. If we feel a need to start distributing the bread by gloved hand, we’ll make it happen.
The communion cup will still be offered for intinction (dipping), but your use of it is optional. You may receive the blessing of our new covenant in Christ without actually dipping into our common cup.
Hand sanitizer is available throughout our worship space. We encourage everyone to use it before you come for communion, and again after, or as much as you like. (And if you’ve got an extra bottle or two you can bring to the Big Red Barn, we’ll be glad to have it.)
An elbow bump is a great way to greet each other in the peace of Christ. We always ask each other before hugging, out of respect for physical privacy, neurodiversity, and anti-social #moods. But for now, let’s forego body-to-body and hand-to-hand contact and trust our words (and our elbows) to convey our friendship-in-Christ.
This is important: It’s okay to not come to worship. Our Inside Out livestream is available every Sunday of the world at 5 pm Central on our channel: galileochurch.churchonline.org. And you can enjoy Last Week’s Worship on our website, galileochurch.org, if you can’t be with us live. If you feel ill, text over a prayer request and catch us online. If you discern that smart social distancing means avoiding the crowd of worship, let Inside Out bring worship to you. You can register your virtual attendance during the service, and we’ll be glad to know you were “here.”
Most of our G-groups are on sabbath break through Easter (April 12). The Spiritual Care Team and Missional Logistics Team will be discerning whether it feels safe and smart to begin those meetings again in a month. For this moment, it seems like we’re going to need each other’s companionship for fortification. We’ll be interested to hear your take on that as winter turns to spring.
Please know that Galileo Church’s servant-leaders are striving for that beautiful balance between confidence in God’s compassionate care and faithful stewardship of the community God has entrusted to us.
We hope you are experiencing a measure of peace in each day, even while uncertainty about this virus and its effects is flourishing. Let us remain prayerful for and with each other, for those who are sick around the world, for those who are especially vulnerable to respiratory illness, for those who are grieving the deaths of beloveds, for those whose anxiety is debilitating. And may “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding…guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
If you have questions or thoughts about this letter, please reach out.
peace – Katie, for the MLT, SCT, and pastoral staff