紐約州長公佈新的群集行動計畫. We are following New York State COVID-19 Cluster Action Initiative guidelines.
從7/12開始:中文主日崇拜YouTube 直播, Zoom 網路 或 現場 Beginning 7/12: English Sunday Services on YouTube Livestream or in person
從6/7開始:中文主日崇拜YouTube 直播 或 Zoom 網路 Beginning 6/7: English Sunday Services on YouTube Livestream or Zoom
3/15 主日崇拜及當天所有聚會及活動都取消。靈修視頻 3/15 Sunday Worship Service and all other meetings and activities will be cancelled. Devotional Video
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耶和華本為善，在患難的日子為人的保障，並且認得那些投靠他的人。(那鴻書1:7) 親愛的教會家人：
願主耶穌基督的恩惠在此刻愈發的與大家同在。我們祈求神不斷的賜下智慧給教會領袖們，使教會領袖們知道如何在此時照管祂的群羊。在這人心惶惶的時刻，更是我們靠著神的恩典剛強壯膽的時刻。
我們應當如何看待新冠病毒(COVID-19)危機？
單靠我們自己的想法而非聖經的準則來看待這次事件，是危險而偏頗的(箴言 3:5-6)。身為基督徒，我們不該讓焦慮主導我們的反應(腓立比書4:6-7)，而是在禱告中相信我們的神是全知並慈愛的關顧著我們的需要(馬太福音6:31-32、詩篇94:19)，並且將我們肩上憂慮的重擔卸下給神(彼得前書 5:7)。
把憂慮卸給神並不代表輕忽事件嚴重性(箴言 14:6)，而是運用神給的分辨力(希伯來書5:14)帶著永恆的盼望(哥林多後書5:1-10)繼續在這艱困的時刻行出祂的旨意。掌權的神是良善而慈愛的，祂叫萬事互相效力，讓愛神的人得著益處(羅馬書 8:28)。
我們的心思意念也會在此時被顯明出來。而神最看重的是我們如何照祂子女的樣式，用信心來回應這令人恐懼的事件。若此刻我們能在神裡面得到平安而非恐懼(約伯記15:24)、盼望而非絕望(詩篇 42:11)、剛強而非疲乏(以賽亞書40:31)，不論是對神(彼得前書 1:7)或是對我們自己都是極寶貴的。
基督徒不只單單關心身體，更在乎靈魂(馬太福音10:28)。雖然我們的肉體會衰殘，但我們應該藉著祂每日加給我們無窮盡的恩典，更多著眼於神在我們靈魂中所動的工(哥林多前書4:16-18)，並且堅心倚賴這日日向我們顯明的恩典。
耶穌也曾教導預備祂的門徒以迎接將來更艱難的挑戰，其中也提及了瘟疫，正如今日教會所面對的新冠病毒(COVID-19)( 路加福音 21:11)。神告訴我們要有心理預備、做好準備、並且忍耐到底，特別是要與主內的肢體有深刻的連結(希伯來書 10:23-25)。
教會目前已經執行的因應策略
教會在大堂外以及各兒童主日學教室內都預備了乾洗手液，我們鼓勵弟兄姊妹多加利用。所有兒童在進入教室前會由老師帶領洗手。
教會每週將由專業清潔人員進行深度清潔。
教會已改用一次性密封式主餐餅/杯，以減低病毒散佈可能性。
教會未來將有哪些因應策略？
教會將會繼續在政府對集會規定的基礎上(羅馬書13:1-2)，預備進行線上遠距崇拜，以供目前因居家隔離或是健康狀況不佳而無法參加實體崇拜的弟兄姊妹利用；若未來政府宣佈取消一切集會，弟兄姊妹也可利用視訊軟體在家參加遠距崇拜。
同時，教會將在遵守紐約州政府對集會人數規定的前提下，繼續維持實體主日崇拜。教會將鼓勵會友保持良好衛生習慣(如勤洗手、若有發燒咳嗽請留在家中、遵守居家隔離相關規定)。
重大報告事項會經由教會網站、Facebook(臉書)、WeChat、電子郵件、或電話公布。請確認您與教會聯繫管道的暢通，以確保您能接收到最新的消息，包括四月份浸禮、週五團契、牧師簡報、以及每週禱告事項。
若未來水牛城有社區傳染確診案例、中小學關閉、或政府宣布禁止集會，教會會全面改採線上遠距崇拜。教會執事會目前正密集觀察事件動向，並根據最新狀況決定是否全面改採遠距崇拜。若教會實體聚會被取消，我們鼓勵會友們在以確保公眾及自身安全的前提下繼續維持肢體間的互動。
我們應該如何面對這世界？
身為基督徒，我們重視的不應只是衛生紙、存糧、或乾洗手液，而是屬靈的層面(羅馬書14:17)。儘管環境再艱困，基督徒對永生的盼望將成為你我為主而活的動力(哥林多後書5:1-10)。
抓住機會為神做見證！神對聖徒其中一個心意就是在災難來時成為神的見證(路加福音21:10-13)。我們可以坦誠自己的恐懼，並承認這些災難是源自於我們的罪(羅馬書 5:12)，現在就是呼求賜永生的主(約翰福音10:10)的時刻(哥林多後書6:2)。
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (Nahum 1:7)
Dear beloved church family,
We hope that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is ever more present to us in these times. We ask the Lord to continue to supply the church leadership with wisdom to know how to care for His flock in these times. It is a time for our confidence to grow in our great God (Joshua 1:9).
How should we view the COVID-19 crisis?
Understand that there is a danger in thinking it through only in our own understanding to the exclusion of biblical guidance (Prov 3:5-6). Our response as Christians cannot be sinful worry (Phil 4:6-7) but a putting on of prayer to our God who knows all things and cares for us (Mt 6:31-32, Ps 94:19) and releasing our worries as a burden from our shoulders to His (1 Pet 5:7).
It does not mean recklessly living (Prov 14:6) as if it were business as normal, but with God given discernment (Heb 5:14) continue to do His will in these difficult times with an eternal perspective (2 Cor 5:1-10), knowing that in His sovereign goodness, he desires to work this out for our ultimate good (Rom 8:28).
We understand that our hearts are being revealed, and what matters most to God is how we respond in faith as his children to these issues of fear. Its precious to him (1 Pet 1:7), and so to us also, to find trust instead of fear (Job 15:24), hope instead of despair (Ps 42:11), and strength instead of fainting (Isa 40:31).
Christians have a concern for the body, but more so for the soul (Mt 10:28). Though we may experience the body failing, there is to be a greater focus internally at what God is doing in our inner spiritual life- in the unfolding and unfailing grace given to us daily (1 Cor 4:16-18). So we are to cling to that grace being revealed daily!
Jesus prepared his disciples for greater difficulties ahead- including pestilence like COVID-19. (Lk 21:11). God tells us to expect it, be ready for it, and endure it, especially by making sure we have deep connections to the body of believers (Hebrews 10:23-25).
What has the church already done?
There are hand sanitizers available outside of the sanctuary and in the children Sunday school rooms that we encourage everyone to use. All children will have their hands cleaned under teachers’ supervision before entering the classrooms.
We have adjusted the cleaning protocol for our professional cleaners and provided them with additional supplies to ensure a deeper cleaning each week of the church facilities.
We have suspended refreshment service to eliminate the risk of virus spread due to food contamination.
We have moved to single serving sealed elements for communion so that there will be no personal handling of the communion elements.
What future adjustments are we going to make?
We will continue to obey state and federal mandated regulations for assemblies (Rom 13:1-2) as a minimum baseline. We are preparing equipment to broadcast our services through a streaming service to allow members who are currently staying at home due to quarantines or higher risk conditions to participate in our Sunday services virtually. We are also preparing for video conferencing capabilities to help members facilitate worship at home should the time come to move from physical to virtual services.
Meanwhile, we will continue to have our regular service schedules on Sundays, but at reduced occupancy as required by New York State. We encourage the practice of good hygiene and preventative precautions as loving neighbors (frequent hand washing, stay home if sick with fever or cough, obey local quarantine orders).
Important communication will be made via the website, Facebook, WeChat, email, or phone. Please make sure you are connected to stay updated as we make announcements about the upcoming baptismal service, Friday fellowships, etc., as well as video briefings from our pastors, and weekly prayer guides.
We will begin virtual services when there is community spread of COVID-19 here in Buffalo, or when the local school districts close, or when government agencies recommend suspending physical services. The church council is also actively monitoring the situation, and may decide to suspend physical services for other reasons as the situation changes. In the eventuality that our physical services are suspended, we encourage our congregation to extend hospitality and fellowship to one another while exercising discernment for public safety.
How should we engage the world?
It’s not about toilet paper, soup, and sanitizers only. As Christians, we are more concerned with the spiritual realities in operation (Rom 14:17). Despite conditions that are difficult, the Christian's view of heaven energizes him to live to please God through it (2 Cor 5:1-10).
Seize the opportunity to witness! One of God’s will for the saint is to be witnesses when calamities come (Lk 21:10-13). Acknowledge fears and connect the fact that disease and death is due to our sin (Rom 5:12) and the timeliness for them to call out to God (2 Cor 6:2) who gives life eternal (Jn 10:10).
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