Dear Church,
With the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the news and on all of our minds, we are writing to update you on Keokuk Evangelical Free Church’s procedures. We are doing all that we can to keep the church a welcoming place for all. Like you, we’ve been following this evolving story closely. Please read through this entire letter as it contains detailed plans for living out the gospel during this season.
- In response to the State of Iowa’s temporary restrictions on gatherings of more than ten people, E Free will not gather for our regular worship service this weekend. The live service will be available online at E Free’s facebook page Sunday at 10:15am. The Elders are looking at other potential ways to fellowship during the next few weeks and at ways to continue to grow and serve the Lord through this time. We will communicate more as further plans unfold.
- Keokuk Evangelical Free Church’s office hours may vary this week. Please contact Larisa or Pastor Bill directly or email kefcoffice@gmail.com.
- We will inform everyone to the best of our abilities through our website, emails and social media as conditions change in the coming days and weeks.
Scripture guides us to reject fear, but we are also commanded to never test the Lord our God. Therefore, offer grace to one another as you walk through the difficulties of this time.
Following the advice of medical professionals, we have reviewed and increased our standard practices of cleaning and sanitizing. During this time, we are asking you to help us protect the community in the following ways:
- Stay at home if anyone in your household is sick or is in a high risk group, or if your state has issued a stay-at-home order. If you or someone you know tests positive for COVID-19, please let us know so we can find a way to help, pray for everyone involved, and take any necessary precautions here at church if needed.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- Cover your sneeze or cough with a tissue or your arm and get in the habit of NOT touching your face.
- We advise & encourage you not to shake hands; let others know you’re happy to see them by smiling & waving instead. They will understand.
If you are sick with any illness or need to stay home to comply with state infection control restrictions, we do still want to stay in touch. Our weekly sermon recording is posted on our website on Mondays at https://www.keokukefree.org/messages/. We are exploring online giving but nothing is set up at this time.
-For any questions or if you feel you have relevant information we need to be aware of, please contact Larisa at (319) 795-3961 or Pastor Bill at (815) 742-4757 or kefcoffice@ gmail.com.
Other ways you can help:
- Pray. Pray for those impacted by the virus, as well as their families and loved ones.
- Prepare to give. In the coming weeks, there may be opportunities for our church to help those in our congregation and our community. Also, our ongoing costs will not be dropping during this episode, so please continue your faithful giving before the Lord.
- Look for the opportunity! Our forefathers survived many serious outbreaks and were remarkable for turning crises into an expansion of doing the great commission. History provides us with examples of what Christian faithfulness looks like in times like these. Martin Luther, when confronted with a more menacing and dire contagion than we currently face, encouraged the church to “remain steadfast.” May we be faithful to “proclaim the gospel” in our day, too.
We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis, and as necessary communicate more guidelines and boundaries for our ministries through our website, facebook page and through email.
In Christ,
The Keokuk E Free Church Elders
Links to find out more:
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- Iowa Dept. of Public Health: https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus
