For a time of study and the word this morning, I wanna have you turn to Proverbs chapter 4. Proverbs chapter 4, we, last week, began talking on the subject of responding to this stage of the coronavirus crisis, and I guess we can count last week as part one. that message and today is part two, and we'll be looking at a number of scripture texts, as we try to find guidance from God's word as to how we as a church should be responding. To this stage of the coronavirus crisis.
Today marks the 11th Sunday that we have not been able to gather as a church on a Sunday morning. And we also find ourselves at a stage of this coronavirus crisis when all 50 states in our country are in some stage of reopening, including many churches in various states. The state of California is itself in what we would call stage 2 of reopening, and the pace of the opening even here in California seems to be gathering steam that is looking more and more unstoppable. In our own state, a group of several 100 pastors have decided to defy our governor's guidelines and reopen their Sunday morning gatherings beginning next Sunday, May 31st, regardless of what our state authorities decide.
These pastors are certainly entitled to follow their conscience and do as they deem best, and we respect that. But some of the leaders in this movement have produced videos in an effort to persuade others to join them, not just in opening up on May 31st, but joining them in their defiant approach to this matter. And some of the statements in these videos are barbed with criticism of church leaders that have not chosen to go along with them in their particular approach. As I shared with you last Sunday, it is the elders' belief that there are many officials in our county and state government along with our federal government who are working very hard on our behalf, who deserve our Thanksgiving and our patience, and they also merit our.
Earnest prayers. Their efforts are already meeting with success, making it increasingly likely that we as a church will be able to meet together on a Sunday morning in the very near future. In the meantime, we here at Cornerstone are already getting things in place for the first Sunday of our reopening in a way that will ensure the safety of our people when that day comes and we hope in the very near future. We are thankful for our county board of supervisors here in Riverside County who have joined with other counties in California in appealing to our governor....
