Dear Brothers & Sisters,
May the Peace and Joy brought by the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
This year, Easter Sunday falls on Sunday, 4/12. The purpose of celebrating Easter every year is to help us to remember that Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross, was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day. His resurrection proves that He is God.
This year in this Lent season, we are having a new experience. The world is infected with COVID-19. The side effect is unbelievable. People are rushing to the store and market to buy toilet papers and rice! This frenzy hunting is another kind of ‘suffering’. The melting down of the stock market is really some kind of ‘crucifixion’ to the American. People everywhere are praying for the quick recovery from the COVID-19, so that all kind of business may joyfully celebrate Easter.
Starting from 3/17, 9 counties in the Bay Area are implementing the ‘Shelter in Place’ policy. The church is no exemption from this. Chinatown and the financial area in San Francisco are very quiet. People from all kinds of businesses are crying out, ‘When will the business come back?’
Dear brothers and sisters, we had been very lucky for a long time since WWII. We have been relaxing even when people on the other side of the world are crying, mourning, and suffering. We take it for granted that this kind of lifestyle would last forever. So, have we been awakened by COVID-19? Life is always full of surprises. Let us keep watch and be vigilant. Get prepared!
In what way should we Christian stand in this hour? First, do we really believe that God is in control? Did you notice that the White House always hold prayer meetings in times of national emergency? Let’s keep praying at home for others. Let us hold each other close with prayer. Second, to whom we look up to for our help? The Dow Jones Industrial Index or the Resurrected Lord Jesus?
Our building will be closed by the order of the ‘Shelter in Place’ but the Church is still alive! Please join our Sunday Service when links are posted on our Facebook group.
I hope that we can have Easter Service on 4/12 at church, but please pay attention to the ‘Shelter in Place’ notice.
In Christ,
Pastor Ernest Kan
The English and Chinese translation of this letter can be downloaded here.
The COVID-19 response recommendations being issued have evolved on a daily basis as more information is gathered. The recommendations also varied from community-to-community. In this age of instant access to information, please be aware of the sourcing of the information you are reading and forwarding. CUMC is following the guidance issued by the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH), which is coordinated with similar agencies in the Bay Area. You can find information on personal practices to help limit your risk and also Health Orders for how organizations are to be operated at the SFDPH website.
In compliance with current guidance from the authorities in San Francisco for Sheltering-In-Place, CUMC will be suspending operations and the church will be closed until the Health Order is lifted.
Tremendous efforts from those in front of the camera (our speakers and worship teams) as well as those behind the camera (information technology and audio-visual teams), enabled us to live stream the worship services on March 15th. These teams are diligently exploring ways to enhance the video viewing experience in the future. If you wish to view the March 15th services or archived sermons, you may access them via the Posts tab on CUMC’s Facebook page or as YouTube videos after post-processing at the CUMC website:
We are striving to a recorded YouTube video worship service made available for March 22nd. Please check the CUMC Facebook page and website.
These are challenging times for us all and it may be hard to understand why a loving God would allow things like this to happen. God did not promise to remove us from the struggle, but He did promise to walk us through the struggle. Please remember those who may be struggling with the isolation orders, those who have been afflicted by COVID-19, families who are caring for them, the healthcare workers who are stretched to their limits, and the officials who are making the policy decisions on how we are to proceed.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.