For Immediate Release

March 15^th, 2020

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matt 5:14)

Can our light be hidden if we don’t have a building?

Good morning everyone.  Since the video update yesterday evening, the situation surrounding the COVID-19 virus has been changing, even in Hanover with worship services now beginning to be cancelled.  In the last 12 hours, at least two local congregations have temporarily closed their doors for public worship, with the weekly community Lent services also being cancelled.

While we have been told that we are still okay to meet together this weekend, in consultation with Ministry Council, multiple sources from the medical world, as well as Health Canada and Ontario Public Health guidelines, we have decided that for the following two Sundays (March 22 and 29, 2020), we will be closing down our regular Sunday worship gatherings.  This is in addition to us temporarily closing all our weekly ministries this past Friday.

During this time, Hanover Missionary Church will not be providing any sort of live streaming worship service from our location.  However, we are happy to help provide families with suggestions for home Bible studies, as well as make suggestions for some excellent electronic resources that you can view and make use of from the safety of your home. Please contact a pastor for suggestions. 

While it is our desire for us to remain connected as a community, and it would be our natural desire to see small groups gather within the context of homes, we also need to be aware of the need for social distancing.  Any such gathering needs to be at your own discretion.  We are not organizing any official networks of small group meetings as a ministry of HMC.  

During this time, the church office will be officially closed for public access, but the staff and pastors are still available by phone or email.  For those who wish to give to our weekly offering, please consider using the tithe.ly app and giving electronically.  If you need to use the debit terminal or drop off an envelope in a lock box, you can still do that.  

We are currently working through a strategy and plan to ensure that the congregation is still cared for in this time.  If you are in need, are wanting prayer, and are needing some extra care because of the present COVID-19 outbreak, please contact our office and speak with a Pastor, or with Marie.  

Currently, the plan is to have worship services resume for April 5th, 2020.  We will re-evaluate our current situation over the next couple weeks and will keep you updated on any developments.  Please watch our website and social media pages for important updates.   

As we deal with what has become an unprecedented time within our country, remember that regardless of what happens with COVID-19, we are still the church. We don’t need a building to be the church.   You (the people) are the church.  As such, closing our doors do not stop us from being on mission for Jesus.  It does not stop us from loving others.  It does not stop us from being a source of light, hope, encouragement, comfort, and peace in a world that seems to be falling apart with panic and fear.  You and we are the light of the world.  The light of Jesus in us can not be hidden and needs to be shared.  

Find ways to be Jesus.

Until we gather again,

Pastor Dave

Read the original March 12, 2020 update