MEMORANDUM
FROM: THE PRESIDENT, REV. NORVA RODNEY
On Monday March 16, the Most Honourable Prime Minister outlined a raft of regulations aimed at containing the impact of Covid-19. As of Wednesday, March 18, and for the next seven days, all public gatherings are limited to a maximum of twenty persons.
At this time, the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) is generally supportive of the spirit of these measures. Our prior advisories conveyed our awareness of the threat that COVID-19 represents and affirmed the commensurate proactive actions to re-order our lives accordingly. We commend the wide-scale compliance among our churches with the proposals set forth in our recent communique released over the weekend.
Notwithstanding the uniqueness of this challenge, let us draw strength from the testimony of the church, which has faced similar crises throughout the centuries. We ought to keep at the fore of our response the faith we have in Jesus Christ and the opportunity we now have to demonstrate His way and the hope and life He offers to those who follow him.
As we continue to demonstrate corporate responsibility amidst the current crisis, we also encourage the employ of our God-endowed creativity, with regard to services of worship on Sunday. We propose the following for your consideration, modification as needed and implementation:
- Mobilize our congregations to make the most of the rich opportunities which are available in smaller configurations;
- Limit each worship experience to a reasonable duration;
- Build out an appropriate worship liturgy/order of service, which bears the above in mind (see sample document below);
- Plan to effect two or three corporate worship events at staggered times throughout the day;
- Where separate sanctuary and education/multi-purpose centre facilities are available, it may even be possible to have two simultaneous worship events occurring.
- At each of these worship events, organize to receive worshippers in tranches/groups of no more than twenty (20). This will require that persons sign up for particular services so that the recommended numbers are not exceeded. Encourage members of the church council/officers’ corps to spread their attendance, to ensure that some members of the leadership are available at all scheduled events.
Let us do our best to resist the temptation to slip into the clutches of self-centredness, but instead find ways to look out for each other, and in particular, the most vulnerable in our communities. It is very important to bear in mind that the practice of social-distancing, in which much of the world is now engaged, is really an expression of being our brother’s/sister’s keeper, as together we work to reduce/slow down the transmission rate of the virus, thus giving our medical personnel and facilities the needed breathing space to treat with the serious cases which will end up needing medical attention and hospitalization.
We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us in all we do and that our enlightened actions will be inspired by faith, hope and love. Indeed, our faith in the resurrected Lord commits us to maintaining hope and reducing hysteria amidst challenging circumstances. In the power of the Spirit, let us continue keeping faith with the Word, in this ever-changing world – affirming our identity in Christ.
Sample Document
Order of Worship
Call to Worship … 3 minutes
Hymn of Praise / Praise in Worship… 3 minutes
Prayer of Invocation…. 3 minutes
The Lord’s Prayer… 2 minutes
Responsive Reading…. 5 minutes
Welcome and Expressions… 5 minutes
Prayer of Intercession… 5 minutes
Prest’n of Tithes and Offerings… 3 minutes
Scripture Reading… 5 minutes
Solo /Special Musical Offering… 4 minutes
Sermon… 15 / 20 mins
Hymn of Response… 3 minutes
Prayer of Intercession & Thanksgiving 8 minutes
- For persons who are displaced and/or suffering as a result of COVID-19
- For Doctors, Nurses and other health professionals on the frontline
- For those professionals who are working towards the production of a vaccine
- For the just distribution of resources and health equipment across the world
Benediction… 1 minute