ACC Weekly Announcements
April 29, 2020
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Pastors, Church Administrators and Secretaries, Bulletin Editors:
These weekly announcements are meant to be a helpful resource, especially for those of you who put your congregations' bulletins together on a weekly basis. If there are ways we could present this information more effectively please don't hesitate to pass on your ideas or give feedback.
Some churches forward the following information and community life announcements to their members using email while others post various events in their weekly bulletin, on their church website, or Facebook page. This and past columns are available on the ACC webpage at
atlanticcoastconference.net/ba.
Please let us know if there are additional ways we can assist you as we serve together.
Brook Musselman
Conference Coordinator, Atlantic Coast Conference
(717) 394-8107
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ACC staff is planning a worship service and inviting all ACC congregations to use the prerecorded service on May 17. Our hope is to give a break to congregational pastors and worship leaders. The video will include times of traditional and contemporary worship, a scripture reflection and short sermon. Congregations will be encouraged to continue any practices of meeting together virtually after viewing this service. This prerecorded service will be available for congregational use on May 17 or on a later date. More information will be sent to pastors in the coming days.
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Participate in ACC's Virtual Choir
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Join a virtual choir with others from Atlantic Coast Conference congregations in singing Praise God from Whom. Up to four choir members from each ACC congregation may sing and record themselves singing their part in their own home. Their submitted video will be combined with others' to create the virtual choir. Video submissions should be received by May 10. If interested, email
choir@foresthillschurch.org
to receive instructions.
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Contribute to Coronavirus Mennonite History Project
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As researchers look at the past, we often ask questions about what life was like for our ancestors. Beyond names and dates, what were they like? What made them happy or afraid? Why did our ancestors make the choices that they made? How are we similar or different? Sometimes we can find historical records to help answer those questions, and sometimes we cannot. We have an opportunity to record what is going on right now. The project is collecting stories about how individuals and congregations are experiencing life during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those interested in participating can fill an online survey to share a snippet of their life and our lives together as a Church. The compiled information will be archived with the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. To participate, complete the form at
atlanticcoastconference.net/history.
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New Resources for Congregations
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Secretary of Health and Church Leaders Call: Join us as we host another call with the Secretary of Health, Dr. Levine, on Tuesday, May 5th at 12:30pm to hear an update about the crisis in PA and answer questions from church leaders all over the state. Many pastors and church leaders are wondering where things stand now and what does the foreseeable future look like in regards to the COVID-19 crisis. How should churches, pastors, and faith leaders be preparing and planning for the coming months? Click
here to register.
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Corinthian Plan 'Premium Holiday' - HEADS UP'.
Churches participating in the Corinthian Plan should have recently received a mail packet with the offer of a 'Premium Holiday' for the month of May. Please make sure the appropriate person in your congregation gives it careful attention. This is especially true if your church made any recent staffing changes, reduction of hours, and etc. Churches not needing a 'Premium Holiday' are invited to pay their premium anyway which will be placed into an emergency fund available to member churches who might continue to struggle with their monthly premiums due to the due to the current situation. If you have questions, please contact the Corinthian Plan Director Duncan Smith, (316-281-4255) or the East Coast Advocate, James Miller (941-400-9937)
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Planting Peace in New York City - Webinar
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When: May 11, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. EDT/ 6:30 p.m. CDT
Where: ZOOM webinar
What: Planting Peace in New York City
What does church planting look like in a pandemic? Want to learn more about how to use your gifts to engage with your community? Join me to hear from Brooklyn Peace Church, a new church plant in New York City. Together, we will hear their story of exploration, transition, and new vision.
Visit our website for more information and instructions about how to join!
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Landis Communities Announcements
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The No Longer Alone Family Support Group, now supported by Landis Communities, will continue to meet the fourth Sunday of every month. The guest speaker for May will be Ed Longenecker, MSW, retired. His presentation on “Caring for Family Members with Mental Illness: Challenges and Joys” will be followed by a time of sharing. The public meeting is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 from 3:00- 5:00 p.m. by Zoom. Meetings will be held via Zoom until further notice and will return to Landis Communities as soon as possible. The monthly meetings provide a place for those who have a loved one living with mental illness to learn and share their experiences. For information on joining the Zoom meeting or to receive a monthly meeting reminder, call 717-381-3500 or email
JAlbright@landiscommunities.org.
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Landis Adult Day Services 29th Annual Benefit Golf Outing. RESCHEDULED: Friday, July 24, 2020. Out of the utmost concern for clients, residents, staff, and a community of incredible supporters, the golf committee has proactively postponed our golf outing to Friday, July 24, 2020.
The needs of Landis Adult Day Services clients and their families have not decreased during this mandatory closure. Although our ADS clients are staying safe by staying home, this puts tremendous pressure on their caregivers, especially those who are caring for loved ones with memory loss. It is more important than ever to be prepared for their return when Landis ADS is permitted to open. For more information, visit here
https://landisadultday.org/golf/
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Although the PA Relief Sale has been cancelled, My Coins Count has been extended. This is an opportunity to continue to provide much needed support for MCC this year and have your contribution doubled through $70,000 of available matching funds.
Donate directly to the PA Relief Sale via check (payable to PA Relief Sale and sent to PA Relief Sale, PO Box 416, Leola, PA 17540) or by online donation at
https://pareliefsale.org/donate
. Please reference My Coins Count and your church or group. If you have questions, please contact Emanuel Gingerich at 484-684-6675.
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#BringThePeace
Learn, Pray, Join
Interested in serving God through creation care? Discover how a small congregation strengthened its ties with each other and its community through earth-friendly spiritual practices in “Taftsville Chapel: A sustainable model for creation care.”
http://mennoniteusa.org/news/taftsville/
Menno Snapshots
Struggling with the “new normal” of working from home? Michael Danner, associate executive director of Mennonite Church USA, offers helpful advice and scheduling techniques in his blog, “Tips on working from home.”
http://mennoniteusa.org/work-from-home
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