Weekly Update, November 20, 2020

This Week in Church

This week I am sharing an update on the current status of our congregation’s ministry in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  On Wednesday Nov 18, our Bishop, Robert Farr, shared a message to all United Methodist congregations and clergy in the state of Missouri.  In this letter, Bishop Farr recommended all congregations suspend in-person worship given the current rate of infection across our state.  (You can read Bishop Farr’s letter here.)  In addition to this recommendation, Bishop Farr shared requirements if congregations must continue to gather.  These requirements are:

Masks are to be worn by everyone apart from children 2 years and younger.

Strict physical distancing of 6 feet between family units should be observed.

Gathering spaces are not to exceed 25% occupancy.

The gathering space must be sanitized between services held on the same day. 

In response to these new recommendations and requirements, this Sunday we will add a third worship service in an effort to maintain no more than 25% occupancy in our Sanctuary during any of our services.  We will have services at 8:00, 9:15, and 10:30.  We ask those who typically attend the 8:00 service to continue to do so.  For those who typically attend the 10:20 service, we suggest the following: if you normally attend Sunday School – please attend the 9:15 service this week.  If you do not normally attend Sunday School – please attend the 10:30 service.  We will not have Sunday School for children or adults this week.  Additionally, our nursery will not be open.  These changes are all in an effort to abide by the new requirements established by our Bishop.

Our Church Council is meeting tonight (Nov 20), at 6 pm in our Sanctuary to discuss the recommendation of Bishop Farr to suspend in-person worship.  As with all Church Council meetings, tonight’s meeting will be open to everyone.  However, if any votes are taken, only those elected to Church Council at the Fall Charge Conference in 2019 will have a vote (as per the United Methodist Book of Discipline).  After the meeting this evening, we hope to have a clearer picture as to if we will continue to meet in-person for worship or if we will move to virtual gatherings.  (I apologize in advance for the short notice of this meeting and especially to those who didn’t find out about it in time.  This meeting was called at the last minute.  I notified the Church Council of this meeting Thursday evening at approximately 11 pm and shared a notice on our Facebook page this morning (Friday, 11/20).

I know that these topics are very emotionally charged for all of us and that strong opinions abound.  I and the church leaders ask for your patience, understanding, and grace as we seek to understand God’s will and to live out our Wesleyan virtue of doing no harm. 

These are uncertain and anxious times right now and we are all doing our best.  I conclude this message with more words from John Wesley: “Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike? May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite, notwithstanding these smaller differences.”

Blessings, Chris

Worship This Sunday

This Sunday will be the final week of our “Praying the Psalms” message series.  This week the message will be about “Psalms of Lament.”  Our scripture reading for Sunday comes from Psalm 13:

How long, Lord?  Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?  How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, Lord my God.  Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemies will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. 

We will begin our service with the song Who You Are to Me by Chris Tomlin and Lady A.  Our hymns for Sunday include: Great is Thy Faithfulness and It is Well With My Soul.  Additionally, our video hymn this week is Whom Shall I Fear, by Chris Tomlin.

As the COVID-19 virus continues its presence in our community, we know that many of you are still not ready to come to worship. Please know that even though we don’t get to see you weekly, we still want to minister to you.  Every Sunday afternoon we will post a recording of our 10:20 worship service on our Facebook page and the message on our website.  We hope this helps you feel connected until we are able to gather again without concern. 

Announcements

Roll Up Your Sleeves – With flu season beginning and COVID hanging around, blood and platelet donations continue to be essential to hospital patients.  Donors are needed to come together to help others in this time of need.  We will be hosting a blood drive through the American Red Cross Tuesday, December 1, from 2 – 6 pm in our Fellowship Hall.  Stay tuned for more information about this but please help spread the word.  If you would like to register to donate, please visit the online scheduler (you will have to search by our zip code – 65233). https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time   We are hoping for at least 20-25 donors at this event. 

Christmas Program Rehearsals Have Begun – Practices for the children’s Christmas program will started November 1st. If your child would like to participate, please let Risa Venable, Chelsea Jackson, or Melissa Baker know.

Salvation Army Bell-Ringing  – We are scheduled to “ring the bells” at Walmart on Saturday, December 12, 2020. We will need volunteers for one hour time slots from 10 AM – 6 PM. A sign-up sheet will be in the East wing narthex (where we serve refreshments after worship).

2020 Angel Tree – It is hard to believe Angel Tree is sneaking up on us. Our angels will appear on our tree on Sunday, November 22nd. We will need the children’s gifts back in the sanctuary no later than Sunday, December 6th for the dedication of the gifts. The Angel Tree Party will be held at the church on Saturday, Dec. 12th at 11:00 a.m., beginning with a short message in the sanctuary and soup and sandwiches to follow in Fellowship Hall. Our Education committee will be joining us in this special ministry. All of our church members are invited to join with us in fellowship with our “angels.” As always, we are so grateful for the way in which our church family supports this Matthew 25 ministry to the children of incarcerated parents. If you have any questions please contact Karma Haller or Debra Windsor. Thank you.

Events this week:

Friday, November 20: Church Council Meeting, 6 pm, Sanctuary

Sunday, November 22: Youth Group, 4:00 pm @ the Jackson’s

Monday, November 23: Al-Anon, 8:00 pm, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, November 25: Al-Anon, Noon, Fellowship Hall

Thursday, November 26: Happy Thanksgiving – Church Office Closed

Friday, November 27: Office Closed

Sunday, November 29: First Sunday of Advent

Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.