Dear friends,

The Proverbs teach us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” If this is so, then the fear of anything or anyone else (more than the Lord) is the beginning of foolishness. Jesus reveals what has always been true about His Father – that the most fearful One is also the most gracious One. John tells us that this “Perfect Love casts out fear.” God’s love and wisdom are intimately connected!

If you are like me, I find myself questioning and complaining about the why’s and the what’s of our present crisis. I am being reminded that the better question is “Lord, what do You want Your children to learn in the midst of this? What do we learn about His love and what wisdom may we gain from it?” For a profound take on these issues, read “C.S. Lewis and the Coronavirus”.

Here are some things you may need to know:

• Our staff and session have been working and praying diligently to respond faithfully and wisely to the present situation and circumstances. In an effort to honor God in our worship and respect our governmental leaders (Romans 13:1), we will be worshipping via livestream at 9:30am on Sunday March 22^nd and March 29th. We are canceling our gathered worship services for those days to support our country’s attempt to slow the spread of the corona virus.
• Livestream and worship resources can be found here. (https://wpcspartanburg.org/live)
• Our Church office will remain open Monday through Thursday from 9-5 and on Friday from 9-12. Our ministers remain available.
• Our His Hands ministry team is actively seeking information regarding people who may need help during this time – running errands, picking up medications, groceries, or just checking up on them. We are encouraging our covenant partners to look after each other. If you or someone you know may be in need of help, please contact Beth Wolfe at 864-216-2761 or email beth.wolfe@gmail.com. You may also call the church office.
• Unfortunately, one of the effects of canceling our services is financial. If you are able and would consider mailing or dropping your weekly offerings by the church office, it would be greatly appreciated and very helpful in maintaining our ministries and paying our bills. You may also give on-line here. (https://wpcspartanburg.org/wpcs/give_online)

I will miss seeing your faces and greeting you this Sunday in worship. I hope you and your family will join us in worship all across Spartanburg county as we livestream.

Your friend

Steve Wise

Dear friends,

Jesus teaches us the greatest commandment is that we love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves. This is the purpose and goal of our lives. All of this is always and only in response to the love of God for us in Jesus Christ.

Now we are ‘on the spot’ with a crisis in our society which is as much spiritual, emotional, psychological, and mental as it is physical. How we respond reveals how well formed and shaped we are by the love of God. How we respond will also form and shape us as individuals and as a community - either in the love and trust of God or in fear and anxiety. Never have we needed Jesus or needed each other more than now! Please join me in praying for the Spirit of Jesus to enable us to love God and others well in these days.
We continue to monitor the recommendations of health organizations and our government. As of now, our weekly programming (WDS, Wednesday evenings, youth gatherings, etc.) have been discontinued. Discussions are underway regarding Sunday worship options.

I plan to communicate regularly with you - without delay but without haste. I do not wish to add to anxiety or risk misinforming anyone. If you are in need of assistance, please reach out to the church office – 864-585-4186. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this congregation and going through this together.

My prayer today – Father – remind us each moment that You are good, You love us, and we live in a safe and secure universe. You invented medicine and government. You are Healer and King over all.
Steve Wise

Dear Church Family,

These are very anxious times and the swirl of information of the last week has certainly heightened. Our leadership has been in discussion throughout the week. As we prepare for our services this Sunday, I thought it would be wise to make you aware of our plans moving forward at this point.

Our leadership has been discussing an appropriate response to the situation that is not driven by anxiety but is wise and thoughtful in its posture. We are monitoring information provided from several sources including our own medical community. Our contacts with local schools allow us to keep abreast of decisions the schools are making.

As we move into this weekend, I wanted you to be aware of our response.

First and foremost, let us be careful in how we relate with, speak to and speak about one another as we all have differing opinions regarding the various approaches to the virus in our society. Grace in everything! Secondly, please be patient with your leadership as we try to take the appropriate steps to wisely and faithfully address the situation. Few if any are experts and all of them have day jobs. Thirdly, please remember that personal responsibility is crucial for all of us in regards to our own health and decisions. Thoughtfulness, patience and consideration in all things.

So, for our gathering this weekend (and for the foreseeable future)

- in greeting one another - both formally in the sanctuary and informally throughout the building - we ask you to follow the recommended guidelines of recognized health organization (i.e. methods of acknowledgment that limit contact - apparently the Corona-virus "pound" that I like to employ does not necessarily qualify).

- we will not serve communion at any of the services on this Sunday, March 15. We will be in discussion on when to return to regular communion next week. I know for many this is a major disappointment. However, our practice of intinction seems to be a high risk to many health organizations.

- we encourage those who are not feeling well or who may be more susceptible to this virus due to other medical conditions to stay at home.

Please be in prayer for our country and church as we walk through these strange days.

Steve Wise

Senior Pastor

Psalm 91: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
³ For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.