Sojourn Family & Friends,
Since our last update, we have seen escalated conversations and cancellations surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19) throughout Portland and across the country. We wanted to update you as to how our leadership is thinking during this time, and some practical steps we are taking for our church family in the coming weeks.
Our government leaders have asked that assemblies of 10 people not to meet over the next 15 days and all non-essential gatherings be cancelled. Although, we believe that community gatherings for worship are essential to our flourishing as humans and followers of Jesus, we believe that it is wise to cancel the Sunday gathering as well as all other Sojourn gatherings through the end of the month to help prevent the spread of the virus (i.e. Sunday Gathering, Gospel Community, Serve Night, etc.).
We hope that you would see these changes less as inconveniences to endure and more as opportunities to tend to God's presence in our current reality. May we continue to be the loving presence of Christ in our homes, on our blocks, and in our city. Historically, moments like these have provided unique opportunities for the church to put on display the unparalleled goodness of life when Jesus is King, and a profound love of neighbor.
Here are a few resources we thought you’d find helpful for the weeks ahead.
C.S. Lewis on the Coronavirus by Matt Smethurst
Love in the time of the Coronavirus by Andy Crouch
Christ and the Coronavirus by Melissa Mayes
Talking with children about the Coronavirus by the CDC
Specific ways to pray in regards to the Coronavirus
Moving forward, please continue to use info@sojournpdx.org as a means to reaching the leadership team. If you find yourself with either physical symptoms of the virus and aren’t able to seek medical attention, or have economic needs as the result of the fallout from this pandemic, please contact us! Sojourn has some funds set aside in benevolence if you have a need or are not able to meet a need, let us know. We are committed to continuing to support and love our church family in the midst of this crisis.
We will be posting updates online over the next couple of weeks along with some resources for you to study through and discuss with your household.
Grace and Peace,
Sojourn Leadership
