Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril, their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits' end.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.

                                                                                   ~ Psalm 107:23-32

COVID-19 has been a storm in which has changed each of our lives. Everyone experiences storms in life—occasions that bring pain, suffering, or loss. I am sure you have asked or have been asked by other people all sorts of questions: Where is God? Why has this happened? Was it something I did? Did God cause it, and if so, why? 

When we find ourselves in tumultuous times, the safest place to go for answers is God's Word. The literal storm described in the Psalm above provides insight regarding the Lord's role in the various upheavals we face to reveal His presence in the hard times of life as well as the good times of life. 

The turbulence of life causes interruptions, misery, and helplessness. COVID-19 is shockingly changed our way of life and will continue to affect us in the future. The Psalmist is telling us to do what the sailors did—they cried for God's help. God then brought them out of their distress by calming the storm and guiding them to a haven. 

In response, they thanked the Lord for His loving kindness and wondrous deliverance and praised Him to other people. There's nothing like the sense of relief that comes when a storm is past. It is a reminder of the fragile nature of life. May we never forget to respond like those grateful sailors of praise and sharing with others.

On June 7, we will be gathering face-to-face once more. We will be taking this process slowly and deliberately. There will be one central entrance at the school road ramp door. As people enter the building, individual temperature checks and hand sanitizer will be available. Anyone having a temperature of 100 degrees or higher is encouraged to stay home or seek medical assistance. We will follow social distancing guidelines, including separation of chairs, use of face masks, avoiding physical contact, or clustering of unrelated individuals. HCC will provide disposable communion and facemasks. The offering plates are located at each door to give your tithes and offerings on your way in or on your way out. You may give your tithes and offerings as an act of worship through the website's online tab or sending your gift to the church P.O. Box 465 Howard, PA. 16841.

The HCC Livestream worship service will continue weekly at 10 AM for those who are high risk, those not ready to venture out, or those who prefer to stay home. Until further notice, there will be no Sunday School classes or children's programming. Below is the list of guidelines for our "Open for Worship" campaign. 

We are thankful for God's provision and love in times like these. We are encouraged at the engagement of HCC during this season of quarantine. You are a testimony of the grace of God. The church is healthy, and God's work continues to be our priority. We love you, and please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. 

                                                                                              On Behalf of the HCC Elders, 

                                                                                               Don Crane

"Open for Worship" Guidelines Adopted May 26, 2020. These guidelines will be reviewed weekly.

1. All Staff, Volunteers, and participants will be wearing masks. Exceptions will be for those verbalizing a chronic respiratory issue as long as the individual is not high risk. 
2. Additional hand-sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the worship entrance and in the sanctuary. Please wash your hands and sanitize regularly.
3. Howard Christian Church worship service will be a touchless experience. A thorough sanitation process will be performed in high-volume areas after each event. Facebook Live and Howardchristianchurch.org will continue to broadcast the service.
4. All doors will be propped open.
5. Disposable communion will be available as people enter the service. 
6. Everyone will maintain a distance of six feet between yourself and any unrelated individuals. 
7. All Youth, Children and Adult Classes will remain closed until further notice. 
8. The church will not offer water fountains, hospitality food, or coffee. You may bring your own, but the church will not provide any such items. 
9. The offering will be touchless. Offering plates are located at the doors and available to give upon arrival or during departure. Online and mail-in services remain in place. 
10. If you do not feel well, have a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, have health concerns, or high-risk issues, please stay home. Please know that we love you, and it is your health we cherish.