/fairfaxs-website/image-f878f-i65ab.png "Fairfax Presbyterian Church")
We know that this is a stressful time for all of you, with the threat of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) forcing you to stay home from work and school, and self-quarantine. FPC wants to remain connected to you and provide the spiritual and social support that we all need as we face this crisis together. With God’s help, we will get through this!
FPC is responding by putting plans in place to ensure the health of our community and the continuation of our worship, ministry and mission. We want to care for ourselves and the wider community by taking steps that will slow the spread of the virus. As of today, our plans are:
1. Worship. We will NOT gather in the Sanctuary on the following Sundays: March 22 and March 29. Instead, FPC services will be available by live-stream at 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. on Sunday so that you can worship at home via your computer or smartphone. In advance of these services, take a minute to locate the live-stream option on the FPC website: http://fairfaxpresbyterian.org/listen-live/. The live-stream services will include prayers, scripture, sermons and music, since we all need the guidance and reassurance of worship during this stressful time. In addition, you can continue to support the mission and ministry of the church by mailing your gift to the church or through online giving: https://fairfaxpresby.breezechms.com/give/online. We will reassess and update our information as needed regarding future services, and post information online. For now, the Sermon in Music is moving to May 3 and Youth Sunday to May 17.
2. Building Closure. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have put our emergency health safety plan into place. Following the decision of Fairfax County Public Schools, FPC is now closed to all events and meetings until further notice. Watch the FPC website for updates: http://fairfaxpresbyterian.org/.
3. Continuity of ministry. A public health crisis such as COVID-19 is an important time to be the church! Although church members are right to practice social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus, this is not the time to become isolated. Please continue to reach out to fellow members and neighbors through phone calls, texts, emails and video chats. Trusting that our lives are in God's hands, we will continue to worship God and serve our neighbors through all the days to come.
4. Mission to the community. We are installing "Little Free Pantries" on the front patio of the church, outside the narthex. Hungry neighbors are welcome to come by at any time and pick up canned goods and other non-perishable food. Thank you, outreach coordinator Susan Wisseman, for establishing these pantries! Church members are encouraged to add contributions to the pantries at any time — a nice “get out of the house” activity! In addition, our food closet will be available by appointment. Please email the pastors at the addresses below.
5. Contacts: If you have questions or concerns, or if you would like to talk with a pastor, please contact Henry Brinton at henry@fairfaxpresby.com or Yena Hwang at yena@fairfaxpresby.com. Other staff members will be available to serve you by appointment. Although much of our work will be done remotely, we are all happy to respond by email or telephone, and to meet in small groups as needed.
We encourage you to take this unprecedented situation as a part of our Lenten journey towards the cross. While this situation brings financial and medical uncertainty and unrest, it is allowing us to experience a different kind of rest, an unexpected time to break from everyday busy-ness for ourselves and for the earth. The European Space Agency reported a dramatic decrease in nitrogen dioxide over northern Italy, where there has been a nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19. NASA images show similar reduction of pollution in China during their lockdown. We trust in God who is our Creator, Redeemer, Nurturer, Sustainer, and Provider. We trust God to guide us through this time with wisdom and grace.
In hope, health and peace,
Henry G. Brinton & Yena Hwang