Please note there are four video updates from Steve, Sam & Jake at the end of this letter:
Pastoral | Children | Students | Giving
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As we all know, the COVID-19 virus has generated unprecedented levels of response from our governments and public officials. The church leadership is monitoring the situation and processing the information with which we are being provided. It is our desire to keep open lines of clear communication with the entire church family during this time. We’d like to share with you these early thoughts about how our church will function over the next few weeks.
We serve a sovereign God and we are not reacting in fear or panic to this pandemic. God is fully in control of our lives and this world. We can trust him completely. The board is leading in faith and with complete confidence in our Lord.
Our God has commanded us to love him supremely, love our neighbours as ourselves, and also to honour the authorities of our land. One of the ways that we love God is by cooperating with government authorities, especially in an area of health and safety. We are not reacting to social media reports, but we are responding to the plans of our duly appointed authorities and our public health experts.
As you are aware, our public officials have closed schools and recommended the cancellation of all large gatherings. Guelph has also closed all museums, arenas, recreation centres, and libraries until schools reopen on April 6th. Unless there is a drastic change, this is the minimum period of time in which these closures will be in force.
Given these realities, we will be cancelling our Sunday morning worship services and suspending all Crestwicke programs until at least April 6th. This means that we will not meet for worship on March 22, 29, and April 5. Although we hope that everything will be able to go back to normal after that time, we cannot predict the future. Right now, our hope is to be able to meet on April 12, which this year is Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. If we can gather to worship on Easter, it will be a true celebration for so many reasons!
The best way to keep updated about the church is to check our website. Our staff will be producing videos (see below) which you will be able to access from our website. Some of these videos will consist of general information, but others will consist of devotional teaching. We are hoping to post a short devotional on Wednesdays, and then a fuller video for Sunday mornings.
In terms of pastoral care, given the fact that COVID-19 requires self-isolation and quarantine, the pastoral staff are going to be limited in what we can do for personal visits. Nursing homes and hospitals have already put tight restrictions in place. Please, if you have concerns or are sick, do not hesitate to call the church to speak with a pastor. If we cannot come out to see you, we will still talk and pray with you on the phone.
There have already been people who have expressed a desire to be able to continue to bring their gifts and offerings to the Lord. Even though we often give at church, we don’t really give to the church: We give to the Lord! Numerous missionaries, local and international ministries, and our staff depend on the generosity of God’s people here at Crestwicke week by week. Whether we are able to have a service or not, our expenses and financial responsibilities remain the same.
Thankfully, in the fall we became equipped with ways to give that do not depend on physically being in the building. If you are used to putting your offering in the collection plate, we’d ask you to please consider giving this month in one of the following ways:
∙ Pre-Authorized Giving or EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer)
∙ Giving Online at our website
∙ Text-to-Give
∙ Mailing in your offering
Please go to the our Donate page for more information. If you need help or have any questions, you can contact Stephanie in the office, and she will walk you through everything you need.
This is a reminder of how precious it is to be able to gather together as a church family to worship God. Many believers in the world today do not have freedom to meet together openly. We often thank God for the freedom we have to meet as a church—this is a good reminder of how blessed we are. Let us also remember, however, that the greatest blessing is that our Lord Jesus Christ is always with us. We can praise him and talk to him at any time and in any place.
There will doubtless be many developments over the days and weeks to come. If you have any concerns or anxiety, please do not hesitate to contact the church office, staff, elders, or deacons. Pray for one another. Above all, go directly to God.
This situation is reminding us of how much we appreciate our church family. Until we can gather together again to worship our Lord and Saviour, be safe, and go in grace and peace.
Every Blessing,
Pastor Steve West
On behalf of the leadership of Crestwicke Baptist Church.
Crestwicke Pastoral Update:
Children's Ministry Update:
Message for Our Students:
Giving Update: