Dear Church Family,

I want to take a few moments to let you know what’s happening at Hood River Alliance as we respond to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID -19) in our communities.

In support of the state-wide initiative to slow the spread of the virus we will not be meeting in large gatherings for the foreseeable future. We will continue to monitor the states recommendations and resume services when we feel it is responsible and safe to do so.

In the mean time we are working on the technology to Livestream our 9am Sunday service from our webpage (hralliance.org). Once the service is streamed, it will be saved for viewing any time after that. We hope families, friends and small groups will gather together to view the service, eat, pray, take communion and worship together. The church is not the building we meet in but the people who gather together for worship. After we gather, we scatter into the community to be the hands and feet of Jesus to tangibly express the love of God to those we come in contact with.

We are all responding differently to news of this virus, our intention is not to be reactionary or fearful but to be thoughtful and loving as we make decisions moving forward. Our church family is committed to be fully engaged in the Life and Mission of Jesus. Jesus always prioritized the lives of those who were physically weak, at risk or on the margins, we believe we are still called to this mission.
So, over the next few weeks, lets be intentional about how we live. Resist the urge to horde and grasp and embrace the impulse to share and serve. Call on neighbors and friends who may need assistance. Don’t take needless risks that could lead to the overcrowding of medical facilities, wash your hands, don’t touch your face and practice good self-care. All of these things are an act of worship, that prioritizes the lives of those around you.

Grace and Peace,

Steve