ERBC Coronavirus Update
Note: Updated 4/4/20
Dear beloved ERBC family and friends,
What a whirlwind! We're updating this page in an effort to keep you informed of our response to the coronavirus and to help you navigate this quickly-changing landscape. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us .
The elders met on Tuesday night March 17, 2020 to discuss all things church related to the coronavirus.
Here's what we know:
Clearly, this is a serious situation. We take the wisdom of officials such as these, who look out for the good of the nation, to be God's gift to us and we want to heed their counsel.
Here's what we're doing:
Based on this information, we are making the following changes through the end of March. However, we may extend this as necessary.
However, we still want to encourage you to worship the Lord on Sunday Morning!
The elders would urge the congregation to hold Sunday worship sacred while we're apart from one another, just like in normal times. To help you with this, we will be posting a message from Pastor Marty (available both on YouTube and Facebook) by early Sunday morning. You will be able to find the YouTube link on our sermons page. We will also provide suggestions for songs, discussion questions, and prayer on our Worship While We're Apart page. For your own spiritual health, and that of your family, please take time for Lord's Day worship.
Member Care
During this time, our elders and deacons will be reaching out to folks in the congregation regularly via phone call to check in. Please let them know how you're doing and how we can pray for you. And if you have any needs, whether financial, childcare, or anything else for that matter, let us know that too. We will resource it as best we can.
Giving
Your continued generous, sacrificial, and consistent giving is important at this time. We need to be ready to meet the pressing needs of this strange time, as well as the ongoing needs of our missionaries, our facilities, and our staff. In fact, if you're in a position to give more than you normally do, that would be helpful as there will likely be others who cannot give what they normally do. We're very grateful for your generous giving to the Lord's work at ERBC.
There are several ways you can give.
A Special Opportunity
Brothers and sisters, despite the challenges of this season, it also provides us with a couple of special opportunities.
This time provides us with a special evangelistic opportunity. Many are understandably fearful right now, and it is a powerful witness to see followers of Christ not characterized by fear but by faith in our good and all-powerful God. Let our steady trust in Him during these troubled times shine a winsome gospel light to all we come into contact with. And check in on your neighbors. Do they need something? Be there for them. As Galatians 6 encourages us, so then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
This time also provides a special discipleship opportunity. Some of you are going to have more time on your hands than you might normally have. How are you going to use that time? Let us encourage you to not spend more time in the headlines than you spend in the Word of God and in prayer! The headlines will probably not tend to steady your faith, strengthen your trust in Jesus, or build you up. But God's Word and prayer will. May this season be a time where your faith is strengthened, where Jesus becomes more precious to you, and absence from the gathered church family causes your heart to long for the time when we can be together again.
Love in Christ,
Your pastors and elders
Dear beloved ERBC family and friends,
What a whirlwind! We're updating this page in an effort to keep you informed of our response to the coronavirus and to help you navigate this quickly-changing landscape. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us .
The elders met on Tuesday night March 17, 2020 to discuss all things church related to the coronavirus.
Here's what we know:
- In Vermont, Governor Scott has issued a "Stay Home, Stay Safe" directive, requiring Vermonters to minimize activities outside the home until April 15th.
Clearly, this is a serious situation. We take the wisdom of officials such as these, who look out for the good of the nation, to be God's gift to us and we want to heed their counsel.
Here's what we're doing:
Based on this information, we are making the following changes through the end of March. However, we may extend this as necessary.
- ERBC is postponing our Sunday morning worship services.
- Small groups, including Men's Group and Ladies' Group, will not be meeting in person; however, some small groups will be meeting via Zoom videoconferencing.
- Daily Facebook Live devotionals on the East Randolph Baptist Church Facebook page. Check them out here!
However, we still want to encourage you to worship the Lord on Sunday Morning!
The elders would urge the congregation to hold Sunday worship sacred while we're apart from one another, just like in normal times. To help you with this, we will be posting a message from Pastor Marty (available both on YouTube and Facebook) by early Sunday morning. You will be able to find the YouTube link on our sermons page. We will also provide suggestions for songs, discussion questions, and prayer on our Worship While We're Apart page. For your own spiritual health, and that of your family, please take time for Lord's Day worship.
Member Care
During this time, our elders and deacons will be reaching out to folks in the congregation regularly via phone call to check in. Please let them know how you're doing and how we can pray for you. And if you have any needs, whether financial, childcare, or anything else for that matter, let us know that too. We will resource it as best we can.
Giving
Your continued generous, sacrificial, and consistent giving is important at this time. We need to be ready to meet the pressing needs of this strange time, as well as the ongoing needs of our missionaries, our facilities, and our staff. In fact, if you're in a position to give more than you normally do, that would be helpful as there will likely be others who cannot give what they normally do. We're very grateful for your generous giving to the Lord's work at ERBC.
There are several ways you can give.
- You can mail your check to: East Randolph Baptist Church, PO Box 216, East Randolph, VT 05041
- You can set up auto bill pay or an EFT with your bank
- You can give online! We have just rolled out a secure online giving option, which you can access here.
A Special Opportunity
Brothers and sisters, despite the challenges of this season, it also provides us with a couple of special opportunities.
This time provides us with a special evangelistic opportunity. Many are understandably fearful right now, and it is a powerful witness to see followers of Christ not characterized by fear but by faith in our good and all-powerful God. Let our steady trust in Him during these troubled times shine a winsome gospel light to all we come into contact with. And check in on your neighbors. Do they need something? Be there for them. As Galatians 6 encourages us, so then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
This time also provides a special discipleship opportunity. Some of you are going to have more time on your hands than you might normally have. How are you going to use that time? Let us encourage you to not spend more time in the headlines than you spend in the Word of God and in prayer! The headlines will probably not tend to steady your faith, strengthen your trust in Jesus, or build you up. But God's Word and prayer will. May this season be a time where your faith is strengthened, where Jesus becomes more precious to you, and absence from the gathered church family causes your heart to long for the time when we can be together again.
Love in Christ,
Your pastors and elders