Mt.

Lassen Community Church is temporarily shifting our

Sunday Church Services from onsite to online (thru Mar.
31) out of concern for the elderly, those with underlying
medical conditions, and in response to the President’s
request for help

In response to our concern for the elderly, those with underlying medical conditions and
president Trump’s request for help and call to action for every American to limit the
spread of COVID-19, the Elders at Mt. Lassen Community Church have decided to
temporarily shift our Sunday Church Services from onsite to online (thru Mar. 31)
to meet yours and others’ spiritual needs.

We have learned that COVID-19 has its most devastating effects upon the elderly and
those with underlying medical conditions. The number of Italy’s escalating deaths have
clearly shown that. As Christians, we are called in the Bible to care for “those who are
weak” (Rom. 15:1; 1 Thess. 5:14). Most recent evidence shows the virus does pose
serious risk to middle-aged and even the young. But the greatest risk is still on the
elderly and those with weakened immune systems. We believe we need to join in the
sacrifice and love for them by refraining from public Church Service gatherings and
ministry meetings as the President is requesting from Mar. 15 thru Mar. 31.

Our next two Sunday’s online Church Services will include inspiring music led by our
own Gwen Salvador and our worship team, and then I will give a spiritual
encouragement and teaching through the life of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke (“Following
in His Footsteps”). And kids will have their own special teaching in between the Church
Services LIVE on the same stream at 10AM by our own Christian Education Children
Coordinator, Jerilyn Cleeves!

To watch our LIVE Church Services this Sunday:

1. Simply go to the front page on our Church website

(www.MtLassenCommunityChurch.org) at 8:30 or 10:30AM. Then, scroll down
to “Mt. Lassen Community Live Stream,” and click the video icon.
2. Kids and parents can click the same video window at 10:00AM sharp for a fun
and special Bible teaching from Jerilyn.
3. During this national crisis, THANK YOU for your faithfulness to give your tithes,
offerings and financial donations via our “Online Giving” tab on the website or by
sending them via mail at: Mt. Lassen Community Church, P.O. Box 501, Chester,
Ca. 96020

We are also postponing all official Bible studies and ministry meetings thru Mar.
31. In lieu of those gatherings during this pre-Easter season, we are encouraging you
to dive deep with God and others in three significant (and maybe unexpected) ways:
1. View your increased “physical distancing” from others not as isolation but simply
obstacles to creative ways of fellowship. Outside of social media, you might
consider going “old school” by calling others in the church family and catching up
on those phone calls you’ve been meaning to make. Facetime and Skype with
friends. Spend more creative time with family members in your own home with
whom you are less likely to share fun moments and intimate thoughts.

2. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” I’ve
encouraged hundreds through the years to consider their recovery from a
medical surgery or other “isolating situations” as “moments in a Monastery” to
better connect with God. That’s my encouragement here. Commit thru Mar. 31 to
daily increase your Bible reading. Sit more or take more walks with God and
learn to commune deeper with Him. Learn what it means to “Pray without
ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Speaking about how perspective can change
everything, I love the way one young blogger put it here:

3. Exactly! Lastly, don’t wait for others or the church to organize ways to help
others, because we’re being asked not to do them together anyway! Rather, you
be God’s arms and love TODAY to those in your sphere of influence. Pray about
how you can help. Post on your social media times and ways you can serve
others like widows, widowers, the elderly, those medically isolated or others who
have special needs. I love the way MLCC home group host Jennie Mathews
worded it on her post:

If there are any elderly or ill neighbors who need groceries, mail picked up,
anything, and don't want to go outside your home with the virus - call or
text me and I will help out with anything you need this week. I work from
home so I have a flexible schedule. I can drop off outside your door so
there's no contact, if needed.💗

More ideas to help others could include: call or check in with your neighbors (love
thy neighbor?), support parents whose kids are out of school, find something you
 can do for a struggling small business, take your spouse on a date to a quiet
secluded location or two or three (!), donate blood, or make a local restaurant or
grocery run for those in need. What about others’ spiritual needs? Help others
spiritually with their fears. Watch for opportunities to share about God’s love and
promises in the Bible. What about sharing on social media the link to our Church
website so your friends and family can watch our online Church Services on
Sundays?

Imagine if you make the three above actions over the next two weeks, how you will
surface from this pre-Easter “March madness” to a brighter Holy Week (Palm Sunday,
Apr. 5, to Easter, Apr. 12) feeling better about your spiritual life and growth, ready to
worship our Resurrected Lord Jesus!

Here are some other helps for parents, ideas for “isolated” kids, and more ways to help
those affected by COVID-19:

For more about the latest information about COVID-19 symptoms, helping your family to
fight against it, how to protect older adults and those with underlying medical conditions,
etc., click HERE https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

What To Do With Kids At Home On Coronavirus Break For Who Knows How Long
(Without Losing It)

7 things you can to do help people affected by the coronavirus pandemic

While the world panics about the corona outbreak, and others criticize leaders and
people for how they are handling it, I simply see this global and national crisis as
another huge opportunity (like 9/11) to show God’s love to others and help them find
and follow Him. That includes offering our Church Services online! What a great
opportunity for all of us to encourage friends and loved ones to watch!

As each Sunday, I look forward to worshipping and studying God’s Word with you. And
this Sunday you have no excuse not to bring your Bible “to Church”! J

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may
overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13)

Finding God’s hope, peace and healing in the viral storm,

Pastor Todd DuBord

www.MtLassenCommunityChurch.org
www.MtLassenTheatre.org
www.MeetYouAtTheDock.com
www.NationalTreasures.org