COVID-19
Message from Rev. Joel Coppieters
Dear members and friends of Côte des Neiges Presbyterian Church,
Like many of you, we have watched closely the latest developments over these last 48 hours and have in particular heard the requests to limit our group activities and points of contact. Taking these measures to limit the spread of the virus will be particularly important until the end of March.
For the safety of our more vulnerable members, to respect civil authorities, to provide a good example to the community and to ease the decision for those who might feel constrained to be present in spite of their concerns, we believe it is wiser to suspend our Sunday services at Côte des Neiges on the 22nd and 29th of March, and to scale down the Wednesday prayer and Bible study.
I will be present at the church at these regular times for informal prayer and pastoral care, but we encourage you to pray, to read the Scriptures and to seek the Lord in your home with those around you. Don’t forget that the sermons from past Sundays, many months back, are still easily accessible online.
We are seeking to create a bit more online community, so check your email, as well as the church’s website and Facebook pages for short devotionals and prayer requests. Among other things, we are praying together for our sister Emelia Kyei Addo whose mother passed away in Ghana last week, for our sister Rosemary Walker who is trying to make her way home from Congo before the borders and flights are completely closed and for Margaret McPhee who is waiting for a transfer to palliative care.
Please continue also to pray for me. I will be delivering groceries and necessities to several needy families affected by the shutdown, and while we have scaled back services at the cemeteries, we do need to proceed with several small graveside services where there is a time sensitive burial required.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, concerns or prayer requests, and let’s work together to keep connected by phone and email with those most isolated who may need our help and support.
Our God is loving and almighty. Though He reigns sovereign over creation and the nations of the world, He is deeply concerned about the smallest details of our everyday lives. It is at moments like these, when we reach the limit of our own abilities and are reminded of the frailty of life, that we learn to count on Him and are reminded to set our priorities on the things that are eternal.
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