“The Weekend Wanderer” is a weekly curated selection of news, stories, resources, and media on the intersection of faith and culture for you to explore through your weekend. Wander through these links however you like and in any order you like.
Coronavirus – Public Health Informational Links – In the midst of all of the ever-changing updates on coronavirus and COVID-19, it is important to stay informed about what the virus is and what to do. I urge everyone to stay informed through the following resources:
- World Health Organization, “Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19)”
- Center for Disease Control, “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)”
- Please also check your state and local resource information, which for us in Wisconsin include Milwaukee Health Department and Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Coronavirus – Church Resource Links – I have also come across a wide variety of resource links for churches who are trying to navigate this situation. Here are the resources pages I have found most helpful. If you have others, please feel free to post them in the comments for this post.
- “Coronavirus Resources for the Church” from the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College
- “Is Your Church Ready for the Coronavirus?” is a summary of the previous resource by Jamie Aten that I posted last week
- “Should Your Church Stop Meeting to Slow COVID-19? How 3 Seattle Churches Decided”
- “Community without Communing: Resources for Virtual Church” – a pool of resources from pastors of churches of various sizes
- “Coronavirus and the Church” – The purpose of this site is to assist churches and ministry leaders as they prepare for and respond to the effects of the Coronavirus in their congregations and communities
- “COVID-19 And Your Congregation” – a denominational resource page that is fairly concise and helpful
- “Flu Season, Coronavirus, and the Church” – this is a resource page put together by the Wisconsin Council of Churches, which has links to additional resources
- “What the Early Church Can Teach Us About the Coronavirus” – Moses Y. Lee provides a historical reflection on how the church has responded to plagues and health crises as a way to inform our present action
“Eastbrook at Home” – Like many other churches, we were forced to move our weekend services away from public gathering because of the declaration of a public emergency by our governor and the recommendation that events involving groups over 250 not meet. We have dubbed that online presence “Eastbrook at Home,” and it also includes links for further worship and discipleship at home resources. You are welcome to join us. We also have pulled together a page for congregational updates, including from our Medical Advisory Team, at “Health and Wellness Updates.”
“Love in the Time of Coronavirus” – Andy Crouch offers a thorough and insightful look at how we can step forward to shape the culture at this unique time.”A leader’s responsibility, as circumstances around us change, is to speak, live, and make decisions in such a way that the horizons of possibility move towards shalom, flourishing for everyone in our sphere of influence, especially the vulnerable.” I view this as a must-read article for anyone with some sort of leadership presence. Justin Taylor offers a helpful summary of Crouch’s article in “A Guide for Christian Leaders in the Time of Coronavirus.”
“Wuhan Pastor: Pray with Us” – I had not seen this letter written in January by an anonymous pastor from Wuhan, China, until I stumbled upon it recently when searching for something else. Given the way this situation has changed so quickly for us in the States, as well as around the world, I highly recommend reading this pastoral letter to believers in a time of crisis.
“Bethlehem Christians Bear Burden of Israel’s Coronavirus Crackdown” – “Visitors to Israel are now required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, according to safety measures implemented by the Israeli government in response to the global COVID-19 outbreak. The new policy has put a major dampener on Easter pilgrimages to the Holy Land—where 6 out of 10 tourists were Christians in 2018—dealing yet another blow to communities heavily dependent on foreign visitors.”
Music: Keith and Kristyn Getty, “Jesus, Draw Me Closer,” from In Christ Alone
[I do not necessarily agree with all the views expressed within the articles linked from this page, but I have read them myself in order to make me think more deeply.]
