Covid-19 Advice: Indiana Yearly Meeting generally does not interfere in local meeting decisions if they are following our
Faith & Practice
. However, several churches have sought IYM guidance on whether they should continue to meet. We encourage local congregations to err on the side of caution and comply with the request to avoid public gatherings of over ten people. The IYM website,
www.iym.org
, will soon include some further suggestions.
Planned Youth Gatherings and Functions:
With the cautions being taken due to the Corona Virus, we are currently making decisions as to how to move forward with Youth Invasions, Summer Camps and other activities. More information will be coming soon pertaining to these programs.
The 2020 FUM/QMI/USFWI Triennial:
The question remains about plans for the 2020 Triennial Sessions in Kenya. FUM continues to monitor global news closely, as well as briefings from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization. Since last week’s e-news, the United States has banned foreign travelers arriving from Europe, and Kenya has banned all foreign travelers who come from countries that have confirmed coronavirus cases. This remains a fluid situation. As of March 17, 2020
, FUM has not decided to cancel the Triennial. They anticipate making a firm decision by early April.
The Rummage Sale
scheduled for Saturday, March 28 at Jericho Friends has been cancelled.
Wabash Friends
will host a one-night marriage retreat, March 28. It will be a time to laugh and learn with their spouse as they hear from marriage experts and discover how to honor God in their marriages.
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Danville Friends
has called Drew Drage (Nikki) to serve as their next pastor. He will begin his service there on July 1. Drew had previously served as youth pastor at Lynn Friends. Also, Danville Friends has now been severing others through their clothing ministry, New Beginnings, for a year. They are excited to have made many new friends, and are being asked to join other churches to serve their community needs.
IYM Sunday
is April 26! We greatly appreciate congregations who use this opportunity to take a special offering or in some way provide additional financial support for IYM on this day.
From the Advancement Committee:
“Of all spiritual disciplines, prayer is the most central because it ushers us into perpetual communion with the Father.” —Richard J. Foster,
Celebration of Discipline
IYM needs to be on our knees and serving folks like crazy in these incredibly bizarre times. Our tradition is rich in rising to the occasion to battle evil and champion our Savior Jesus Christ. Let's get at it!Thank you for help in getting the 2021 budget to where it needs to be. So far, we’ve raised $20,065.30 (cash received) and $10,993.00 (in pledges). Glory to God! —
Damon Seacott
Thank You
for supporting the work of IYM with your prayers and financial support. A “Thank You” event is still being planned for our many donors on Sunday, April 19, beginning at 3 pm. It will be held at the Indiana Wesleyan National and Global Campus located just west of where state roads 9 and 37 join at the south edge of Marion (not on IWU’s main campus). The afternoon will include some food, some fellowship, some delightful music, and a few words about how God is at work through IYM
. Please RSVP to Damon Seacott at
dseacott@gmail.com
or call him at 517-204-5348.
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Little Blue River Friends
has called
Shane Arthur (Nicole) to serve as their
pastor. The plan is for him to begin his
ministry there on Easter Sunday. Shane
has previously served at Lynn Friends
and Walnut Ridge Friends.
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Have you mailed in a contribution for IYM’s
annual fundraising effort?
Lots of people have, but we still need your help!
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Tom Hamm
has sent this message:
Earlham College and ESR are closing their campuses and moving to on-line instruction for the rest of the semester. That means that the library is closed to the public. If anyone absolutely needs access to material in the IYM archives, tell them to contact me at
tomh@earlham.edu
. I'll be happy to see what I can do.
FUM Summer Fundraiser
focus this year will be the Turkana Friends Mission. If you are thinking ahead to Vacation Bible School, please consider making this your missions project. Turkana Friends Mission is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year. Be watching for materials on the history of the mission and how God has used it to bring hope and peace to the Turkana region.
Indiana USFW is planning the 2020 Spring Gathering
. It will be hosted at Jericho Friends on April 18, 10 am. A free-will lunch will be provided. More details will be published on their blog and e-mail soon. Want forms or the Quakeress e-mailed to you? Send a request to indianausfw@gmail.com.
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IYM Upcoming Calendar
03/31 Trustees, IYM office, 6:30 pm
04/18 Representative Council, Bethel Friends, 9:30 am
04/19 Thank You Event, IWU, National & Global Campus, Marion
04/26 IYM Sunday at your church!
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A Note from Doug Shoemaker
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Good Morning!
“Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before.” – Joshua 3:4
On Monday, President Trump urged the public to avoid gathering in groups of ten or more. Nearly all churches in Indiana Yearly Meeting have ten or more regular attenders, so honoring this request will impact us greatly, creating both hardships and opportunities. This week finds us scrambling to discern how we can be the church instead of simply going to church.
Already churches are finding creative ways to use technology to stay in touch, and healthy conversations are taking place among pastors, leaders, and Ministry & Oversight regarding how to meet the needs of congregations and communities. The economic impact of these days will likely create long-term hardships and opportunities for the church as well. Like Joshua, we need the Lord to show us which way to go since we’ve never been this way before.
Martin Luther’s reflections concerning the bubonic plague are timely for Christians today: “I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person, but will go freely."
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Doug Shoemaker
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