After Governor Pritzker's press conference today, the pastoral leadership and deacons met together to discuss options for tomorrow's services. We have been closely following each new development and are working hard to make wise and careful judgments to best serve our church and community.
As of this afternoon, the total number of confirmed cases in Illinois was increased to 64, including one new case in DuPage County. While this is not cause for serious alarm, it has encouraged us to modify our initial plans for tomorrow.
Many of our sister churches in the area have elected to cancel services for tomorrow, and others have not. After lengthy discussions, we have decided to meet for a limited morning service, while also making it easy for those who choose to stay at home and listen to the sermon.
Staying Home
We strongly encourage those who are more vulnerable to illness to stay at home. Additionally, we know that many of you are heeding the governor's guidance to avoid groups and therefore choosing to stay home from church. We support this decision.
For those who elect to stay home, we will have the sermon available on the Village website by 10am here: https://www.vbcaurora.org/village-sermons. We encourage you to gather with your family, or with a friend or two, and listen to the sermon and discuss it together.
Additionally, if you'd like to listen to the worship music for this Sunday, you can stream it on Spotify (link).
Attending
We are considering our options for the next few weeks, including alternative meeting options. We will have more information in the following days.
For those of you who would like to meet once more before these potential changes, the pastors, deacons and worship team will be at Village to hold a limited service at 10am with nursery, but no Children's Church. We will not have Sunday School.
In summary:
We will not meet for our 9am Sunday School hour;
We will meet at 10am for the Sunday service in the sanctuary;
We will have a nursery;
We will not have Children's Church.
Lesley Galante has been hard at work cleaning and sanitizing surfaces in preparation for tomorrow.
If you choose to attend, please do your part by
Embracing social distance strategies (sitting a bit further apart, avoiding handshakes and hugs; etc.);
Using hand sanitizer when you enter the building.
Additionally, if you don't feel good, please stay home—especially if you have a fever or other COVID-19 symptoms.
Difficult Decisions
We recognize that some of you may be relieved by this decision, and others may be frustrated by it, viewing it as an overreaction. We believe our government is seeking the best interest of the population, and think it best to follow their lead. These are difficult and complex decisions.
We do not make this call because we are afraid, but because we desire to love our neighbors well. Out of a desire to help reduce the potential of spread in our own congregation, and protect more vulnerable populations of our communities, we are choosing to do our part in reducing the risk of disease spread.
This is a rapidly-evolving situation, and will let you know what next Sunday looks like as we get closer. Keep one another in prayer, and be intentional to check-in with one another!
- The Pastors and Deacons