"Special At-Home Worship Service #2"

We wanted to let everyone know that we did not meet together physically as a congregation this week because we wanted to protect our FCC family from any ripple effects from the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). But we did provide an “at-home” version of a service for households to go through together.

We understand that it's hard to feel disconnected at this time when so many people are panicking and living in fear -- and maybe even feeling alone and vulnerable -- but we also know that the best way that we can keep one another safe is to prevent the spread of infection. That’s why we’ve been sending daily emails to everyone in the church family to help people know that we’re thinking of everyone.

With that in mind, let me encourage all of us who are feeling stressed to recognize the signs, even if you don't feel particularly anxious, and to deal with it the ways that you should deal with any long-term stress (i.e.; by ordering and managing the parts of your life that you actually can control):

1) Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine (they exacerbate stress)

2) Indulge in physical activity (work out, go for a walk around the block, etc.)

3) Get a full night's sleep (because your body needs it -- just don't oversleep)

4) Relax (consciously, actively figure out what chills you out, and then do that)

5) Talk to someone (interact with those you love, share your feelings about things, etc.)

6) Manage your time (keep to a schedule, to a structure)

7) Learn to say ‘No’ (you can't do everything, so simply do what you need to do)

8) Rest (you may think you're not doing anything that needs rest, but you are -- and this includes not only physical rest but mental rest as well)