March 25thLoving our Neighbours in the Midst of the Covid-19 Crisis
Loving our Neighbours in the Midst of the Covid-19 Crisis
How shall we be Chinatown's “Living Room” now, in these weird, unsettling, and unprecedented times? Are we even in the crisis yet, or are our health authorities correct in warning us that the real crisis is still on its way and we are merely in that anxious stage leading up to it?
Only a few short weeks ago, when we gathered as a provincial Mennonite family in Mission, who could possibly have foreseen this seismic upheaval to our life and times? So together with our sisters and brothers across Mennonite Church British Columbia, the Chinatown Peace Church family is wondering: “What does God’s mission for us look like now?”
Three weeks ago, we finalized our purchase of a small property on Main Street here in the heart of Vancouver’s Chinatown. Now, as financial markets plummet, we feel grateful our purchase completion date was last month, and not this one. However, our next steps are much less clear. Appointments with potential partners for building social housing and other community programming integrated with our own ministry space have been cancelled or postponed. Currently, all energy and resources are getting channelled toward the crisis at hand.
So, at the moment, we’re trying to practise being Chinatown’s Living Room on the 8-9 senior residents in our current building. Once or twice a week we drop off bread. We’ve posted signs in the hallway, letting them know they can call us if they need any errands run, any assistance, anything at all. We had planned to do a thorough cleaning of the building this past Saturday, power wash the back steps, clean up the garbage in the alley. This Saturday we were planning a dim sum breakfast along with a “meet-and-greet.” But seniors are an especially vulnerable demographic. So, both events got postponed.
How, then, shall we live out our mission now? I think we’re slowly emerging from our initial shell-shocked daze. We are missing our regular, in-the-flesh connections as a little group of about 40 in our Sunday morning breakfasts and worship services as well as our “Connects” (small group events). Yet, we continue to meet together regularly Sunday mornings and throughout the week via Zoom, FaceBook Live, FaceBook Video Chat, and good old phone calls. Besides, this new phase of physical distancing has presented surprising opportunities. As I type this, we have reached nearly 1800 people with our first Sunday’s streamed worship service, and over 750 people have watched at least part of that event.
Likewise, our prayers for one another are marked by a clarity, urgency and immediacy we haven’t seen before— particularly for those of our church family who work in health care, as well as for those who have already been laid off from their jobs. Who could have seen that coming just two weeks ago? Still, as many of us are now staying at home, we are also looking for ways to support neighbours who are self-isolating. Sandra and I put up this sign in the mailroom of our building. We’re encouraging our members to reach out and check in on any of their neighbours who may require assistance.
Today, as we face into the challenging months ahead, we’re no longer looking quite so far into the future. Jesus’ words ring especially true for us right now: “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:34).
So, “Father in heaven… may Your kingdom come in Chinatown as in heaven. And give us today our bread for today” (Matthew 6:6-13).
Written by Tim Kuepfer,
English Pastor at Chinatown Peace Church in Vancouver, BC