Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
As we and our community continue to work with the effects of the coronavirus, or Covid-19, I would like to take a moment to answer a couple of questions. The first is a question regarding why God would cause this virus. The answer is that God did not cause this virus. The world has been fallen since sin entered the picture with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. There the world was broken so completely that it ceased to run like God had intended. Death entered the world along with sin. It is from that fallen condition that our current pandemic stems. God will use even plague for the good of the world according to His own design, and we trust in Him to do the right thing for us and all who believe.
The second question is, “what can I do”. Always start with prayer. Pray for all of those who are suffering, out of work, sick, out of groceries, or in danger. They need your prayers. Yes, God cares when we pray. It is not “merely wasted words in an empty room” as someone online recently stated. God cares, listens, hears, and responds to prayer. So pray. Also remember that as Christians, God’s people, you can show God’s love to all those around you. If someone needs groceries, pick them up for them. If someone needs meals, let us know. God’s Church at Faith in Buena Vista is ready to respond. Let us bring people God’s love!
The final question is what is Faith going to do? We will conduct our last regular Service for a couple of weeks on Wednesday, March 18th. Services will then be shifted to an online format. We are working toward accomplishing that already. Don’t have a computer? Don’t worry. You will be able to check in to Service with a phone. Continue steadily to hear God’s Word. From that Word comes faith and strength, strength that you will need even more in this time of crisis. We are also working out arrangements for Holy Communion. We will not neglect Word and Sacrament even in the face of national emergency, but we will be smart and care for our brothers and sisters even as we continue.
More coming soon,
God bless and keep you,
Andrew Becker
Pastor
Faith Lutheran Church Buena Vista
Faith Lutheran Church 