Christians in an age of Coronavirus - Part 2

This is the stream where Lydia was baptized in Philippi, Greece.

Early Christians, those who lived in the first three centuries of the Church, faced terrible plagues. Their actions and attitudes endeared them to many others. They were willing to help the sick and that was at a time when no one had health care - as we understand it today. Their actions ring down through the ages. Christians could look back at the church in Philippi, which was known for generosity, and they wanted to share what they had.

Our local church has cancelled all week-day activities for two weeks - committee meetings, prayer and Bible studies, outreach and drop in center and youth meetings. We rearranged ourselves on Sunday morning. For the first time ever, we sat 5-6 feet apart yesterday. Attendance was way down.

We will have volunteers helping seniors who need supplies and they will shop at stores to pick up what seniors and the ill need for their day-by-day meals and needs.

Just a quick update about the seriousness of this disease. The flue has a record of killing about one person in 1,000 which is a fatality of 0.1%. Coronavirus has affected 162,000 as of this morning, with about 6,000 deaths. That makes 3.7%, or 37 times more deadly than the flue. In the USA about 18,000 die annually from the flue-often among those who already have some form of lung disease. or weakness. If this virus is not stopped, the number of people it could kill in North America and around the world will be much higher.

Many jurisdictions have set a limit of 50 persons in a gathering. Here in Ontario, the limit is 50 persons. It was 250. Just now, it seems the limit has been dropped to 10 persons in a group. Our subways are packed everyday, so I'm not sure what this means for the spread of the virus, or for people going downtown for work.

Schools in some places are being closed for eight weeks. In Alberta, cay care, schools and colleges and universities are closed with no end in sight. Roman Catholic Churches, Anglican churches, Protestant churches, Orthodox churches, mosques, temples and synagogues are all closed for the next while. Also affected: day care centers, libraries, gyms, museums, community centers, sports halls.

It appears that the rates of increase of the infection in Canada are now doubling every three to four days. People are coming back to North America from Europe since Canada and the USA have cut out flights from most countries.

As of this afternoon, a Phase One trial has been with an initial injection that may lead to a successful cure.

As believers, we listen to the calming words of the Lord Jesus Christ whose voice of calm rings down through the ages: "It is I. Be not afraid."

In the midst of tension, stress and high emotions, perhaps we can learn to ask our neighbors: "What can I do to help?" Let's continue to be faithful witnesses, even when we might not want to be.