Where Do We Go From Here?

Dear Family and Friends of Linden Presbyterian Church,

The Session met on Friday evening to discuss our life together as a congregation during the current Covid-19/Corona Virus outbreak. It was agreed that we do not want to be over reacting to the events of this day, but that we should err on the side of caution as regards the gathering of people for the events associated with often with church life.

It was determined that effective today, March 14, 2020 we would cease all meetings and gatherings at the church for a period of 2 weeks, including worship the next two Sundays, March 15 and 22. There will be no meetings of any church boards, no Bible Study and no outside groups using the building during this time.  The Session will convene on Monday, March 23 to discuss future actions.

We are looking for ways to post this Sunday’s sermon and prayers online. Keep checking back to these pages for more information.

During this time the office will be open its usual hours. Please contact us if you have a pastoral emergency or just want to talk.  There will be daily postings on the web-page and Facebook page on ways we can continue to care for ourselves and others during this difficult time. The Mission Food Bank will continue to offer emergency food bags and are looking at ways to handle our end of the month distribution.

In times of anxiety, it is information that we want more than anything else. But sometimes too much information can weigh us down in hopelessness and raise up our levels of stress. Beloved of God, here are a few things you can do to get through these times.

If you don’t have a set time of the day for prayer and scripture, try to make one so that you might center your hearts and minds in God. Pastor Dave hope to be posting a daily reading and meditation beginning on Monday.

Limit your TV and computer time so that you are not on information overload.

Take a walk outside if only for a few minutes.

Listen to music.

Get some form of exercise or practice some form of mindful movement such as yoga or Tai Chi.

Call a friend and check in with them.

Read a book or a comic strip. Find a mystery or a comedy that will lighten your heart or divert your attention for a little while.

Finally friends, if you need more information to keep you informed about things you can do to combat the virus, her

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/COVID-19-PreparetoSelfIsolate.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/cleaning-disinfection.html

You are all in our prayers during this time.  On behalf of the Session at LPC,

Pastor Dave