Fairfax Family,
We’ve been closely monitoring the rapidly-changing status of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and have been giving thoughtful and prayerful consideration to how Fairfax should respond at this time. Jesus calls us to love our neighbor. That is at the core of our mission and is the organizing principal around which everything we do revolves. The question we keep coming back to is this. What does love compel us to do? What does loving our neighbor look like in this cultural moment?
In answering that question, we want to be proactive and not reactive. We want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. We want to act in the most loving way, not because we are being forced to, but because we truly believe this is what God’s love compels us to do. Given the importance of “flattening the curve” of this rapidly spreading virus, this is what we sense God leading us to do over the next two weeks.
Online-Only Weekend Services
This weekend and next weekend (March 14/15 and March 21/22) our services will be held online only. We will livestream all three of our weekend services (Sat. 5:00pm, Sunday 9:30 & 11:15am). Our hope is be able to gather onsite after that. But, in the meantime, we encourage you to join us online as we learn and grow together. And you can still invite your friends! To watch the livestream on our website, just click here. To watch the service on our Facebook page, go to Facebook.com/Fairfaxcc.
Online Resources for Fairfax Kids
As we gather online, our desire is to keep your kids engaged and provide ways for them to grow spiritually. We’ve curated online resources for your kids, which we highly encourage you to utilize. You can head to the Fairfax Kids Facebook page to check it out. We are encouraging our parents to watch with their children and are providing questions parents can ask that encourage intentional engagement. Our Fairfax Kids staff will follow up with more specific instructions concerning resources that are available.
Online Engagement with Students
During the next two weeks, the Hangar and the Hub will be doing a live broadcast on Instagram at 4:30 and 6:30pm on Sunday. They will also be having virtual small groups for Middle School and High School students. Starting on Monday, our Student Ministry will be live on Instagram every day at 4:00pm. Our Student Ministry staff will follow up with additional information about all live broadcasts and virtual small groups.
A Two-Week Pause for Groups
We are asking ALL of our groups (those meeting in homes and those meeting at the church building) to take a two-week pause in face-to-face gatherings. Our Community Life staff and Transit staff will be sending out additional information to all of our groups about creative ways to stay connected and nurture spiritual growth during this time.
Close the Church Building
The church building will be closed for the next two weeks as we do a complete deep cleaning of the entire facility using EPA Registered Disinfectant. This will be a comprehensive, section-by-section cleaning that will provide a safe environment for kids, students and adults when we reopen the facility.
Serving the Church and the Community
We realize that the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) goes beyond the physical. There is a spiritual, emotional and financial impact as well. If you need to talk to someone about something you are dealing with during this challenging season, please contact us at care@fairfax.cc. In addition to serving our congregation, we want to respond to needs we are seeing in our community. Tomorrow, we will be delivering over one thousand cans of soup to a local Title 1 Elementary School. This Fairfax County school has the highest population of students receiving reduce-priced meals. With school closings, food insecurity is a significant problem for these families. Additional cans of soup are being provided for the Lamb Center in Fairfax City. This drop-in day shelter cares for those experiencing homelessness in our area and will continue to provide meals through this crisis.
Giving
Even though we are not gathering in-person for the next two weeks, you still have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others by giving your tithes and offerings to support the ongoing mission of our church. In many ways, our commitments both locally and globally are even greater during this time. You can give online here. Thank you!
Final Thoughts
It is important to emphasize that none of these decisions are fear-based decisions. Rather, they are decisions rooted in faith-filled wisdom. The coronavirus (COVID-19) is yet one more reminder that we live in a broken, fallen world where people deal with sickness, suffering, and death on a daily basis. But, even though the circumstances surrounding this pandemic are rapidly changing, the power of God has not changed. The hope of the gospel has not changed. And our mission as a church has not changed. God is still in control and our hope is found in Him alone!
In Christ,
Rod
