261. Return To In-Person Meetings

This Sunday (2/27), all services and meetings are transitioning to in-person. Bible studies will happen in person as well. House church meetings and Home Gathering will be subject to each shepherds’ / Youth Shepherds’ plan and situation so ask them for details. Weekly Youth House Church meetings can continue online as the service still has a capacity limit, and fellowship on Sunday is on hold.

Many countries are dropping restrictions fast. England removed all COVID-related limits this week. Several states in the US dropped mask mandates. Regarding the concern about the BA.2 omicron variant, scientists say that those who are vaccinated or had BA.1 (our first experience of Omicron) recently are not very likely to be reinfected by BA.2. It tells us that a new wave is unlikely if the current trend continues. It seems that many countries are starting to treat the COVID variant like the flu, something we need to learn to live with instead of expecting it to die off completely.

However, we would like to start in-person service cautiously. Physical distancing and mask-wearing will remain in place for now, and fellowship on Sunday (with food) will likely resume when we can be all mask-free, though subject to change. The government is considering lifting the masking requirement with a specific timeline, which is to be communicated later.

The law of inertia says that it is easier to move a moving object than a stationary one. We’ve been stationary in many ways during the pandemic. Even for me, getting out of the house requires a lot more energy than before. However, once we start to move and engage with people more, we will feel more comfortable resuming our everyday activities, including church ones. So, in the meanwhile, get more physical activities, continue to foster social connections, and above all, continue your private discipline to connect with God. What anchors our hearts in a chaotic and changing world is the peace of God available in his presence.