11/04/2020

A note from Bishop Dillahunt regarding COVID-19 & Staff Travel in November and December

Dear Southern Ohio Synod Children of God,

Grace and peace be with you in the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

The Psalmist reminds us ever so eloquently in Psalm 121: “I lift my eyes to the hills from where will my help come? My help comes the Lord, who made heaven and earth…The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.”  Over these last 8 months flexibility, patience, creativity, grief and challenge in ministry has been a constant theme. But always we remember from where our help comes. As we stand on the threshold of the next weeks looking toward Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and New Year’s, many feelings come to mind. And always we know from where our help is to come.  COVID-19 continues to be part of our lives.  And we are mindful of those who are sick, suffering and grieving the death of those affected by this virus.

As you know, Pastor Abrams, Pastor Kerrigan and I have been carefully traveling to congregations since September.  We are always mindful of protocols in the congregations and practice social distancing, wear face coverings and leave soon after worship is ended. I continue monitoring the SOS counties using the Ohio Public Health Advisory System map, and have decided for the health and safety of the Bishop’s office staff, that none of us will visit a county that turns purple.  If the county in which we reside is purple, we will stay home. If any of us were scheduled to visit a congregation in a purple county we will make arrangements directly with you about how we can be with you virtually.  We will not visit a congregation in a county that is purple until that county is off purple status for a minimum of three consecutive weeks.  We do not want to be super spreaders of this virus and want to keep you and us healthy. 

As we move into these next weeks, my prayer and hope for all of our SOS congregations is that you stay focused on where our help comes, and cling to the hope of Jesus Christ.  We are not alone--we are together in Christ.  I can speak for the rest of the office staff when I say, we miss being with you all.  Know that you are in our prayers and we look forward to the time when we can all gather together as SOS!

In Christ,

Bishop Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt