March 11, 2020
Christ Lutheran Church

A Pastoral Letter Regarding Coronavirus

Grace mercy and peace to you from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Beloved Children in Christ:

It is the Lutheran faith that God, “defends us from all danger, and guards and protects us from all evil.” (Small Catechism 1st Art.)

In the Lutheran Litany (LSB p. 288) we pray that God would deliver us from "pestilence and famine.” Pestilence includes such things as coronavirus. And so we should continue to pray, even as we accept Fatherly discipline from the hand of our God.

But as often as God reproves us for our sins our posture must be one of sorrow and regret over our many transgressions of God's Holy Law. But repentance is not the final word, faith is! A faith that boldly believes in, “the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting,” obtained for us on the cross.

Know, too, that Scripture continually urges us not to fear or to be dismayed whatever threat may be afoot. For Christ our Lord is with us and he promises, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:7) Instead he will give us life, salvation and resurrection from the dead. That is where the true and final hope of every Christian lies. This is our goal. There is no other.

Hear the Word of the Lord. St. James (4:14) writes, "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

And St. Paul confesses: "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil. 1:23).

And in another place St. Paul testifies, "For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's." (Romans 14:8)

In the wake of coronavirus some churches are suspending Divine Service or making changes to their Eucharistic and worship practices. Such changes, however can not be done hastily. A pastor must safeguard two things: the practice and theology of the church; and the well-being of his sheep. This being the case our worship and Holy Communion practices will continue as normal but with these allowances for the duration.

If a person is ill, weak or at risk and wishes to stay home the pastor will gladly bring private communion. You need only call.

If a person wishes to attend worship but feels he must abstain from the Sacrament he may do so and will not be judged for his abstention.

But to help insure that no virus is spread the pastor will, for the duration, place the Body of Christ into the hand of each worshiper, and then come with the Cup of his Blood so that you may dip your host into the cup.

Be assured in so doing that we are still truly communing with Jesus; and still receiving the very Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.

This measure, along with everyone taking extra care as regards facial and hand contact should be adequate to see us through the emergency.

All questions and concerns are welcome.

I now close with this paean from Psalm 103 (3-5):

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

Peace to all in Christ!

Your spiritual Father,
Rev. Dean Kavouras, Pastor