Mosaic Church Update: COVID 19 and Worship Service

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Family,

On Thursday evening (3/12), Dallas County declared a Public Health Emergency that included a county wide prohibition of public and private (indoor/outdoor) gatherings of more than 500 people. In addition, they are strongly discouraging public and private gatherings (outdoor/indoor) of more than 250 people.

Given that most of the people of Mosaic reside in Dallas County, that the facility in which we meet is in Dallas County, and that we trend closer to the 500 number in total attendance on Sunday; we have decided to cancel in person services this Sunday.

We are not afraid. Jesus is Lord.

But, we must be wise and we must be people who peacefully and gladly contribute to the common good of our city by attentive care for our neighbors and submission to our governing authorities.

To not gather in person on Sunday (3/15) breaks my heart, but for at least this Sunday, it’s the right thing to do.

But, the church of Christ can’t be cancelled. While we gather as the church for worship, the church is not just our once a week corporate worship.

We don’t just gather as the church in worship, we scatter as the church in witness.

And we have an opportunity in these days to witness. To be witnesses of the peace and love of Christ in the midst of fear, confusion, and trial.

In light of this, I want to encourage you to:

  • Still worship this Sunday. We will have a digital worship service on Sunday (that will be posted at 10AM on Sunday at the Mosaic Facebook Group). In addition, we have created this Mosaic Family Worship Guide and this Gospel Community Worship Guide if you would like to use them for family worship or to have your GC gather at your home (be careful and cautious in making sure that everyone is healthy and that no one is a high risk participant.)

  • Pray. This is a time of national and local concern and fear. Pray for our leaders, that they may have wisdom. Pray for our city, that we may be protected. Pray for the sick in our midst and in the world, that they may be healed.

  • Check in now on at-risk Gospel Community members and neighbors. Many of us live in neighborhoods with people who are considered at risk by virtue of age or health. Text, email, or call them to ask how you can help and pray. Consider: Ordering groceries for them, picking things up for them and leaving them on the front porch, etc.

  • Remember the people at Mosaic and in your community who you know are hourly employees, gig workers, or in the service industry and consider how you can pray or bless them as this could significantly impact their finances. If you are a member of Mosaic Church whose work is impacted in a way that is financially debilitating to you and your household, please let an elder, staff member, or deacon at Mosaic know.

  • Continue to exercise radical generosity. In these days, the church has an opportunity to meet scarcity and selfishness with abundance and generosity. I know these are uncertain days, but what is certain is the great reward of heaven: the face of Christ Jesus.

We will continue to evaluate all upcoming Mosaic gatherings and events (beyond Sunday 3/15) in light of directives given at local, county, state, and national levels.

We are hopeful, for the sake of the vulnerable, that this will not continue for a long season.

If you are a member of Mosaic Church and are in need, please reach out to an elder.

If you have questions about specific events on the calendar or specific ministries, please contact the ministry representative leading that event/ministry.

You can continue to stay in the loop by checking the Mosaic Richardson website, this newsletter, and the Mosaic Richardson Facebook group. 

I leave you with the words of the Heidelberg Catechism, which we have said together on some Sundays at Mosaic:

What is your only hope in life and death?
That I am not my own,
but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death,
to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.

In Christ
Kyle Worley and the Elders of Mosaic Church

Resources that shaped our decision:

Kyle Worley