Dear Friends,
I hope that you are doing well. I want to give you some updates regarding our church services and ministries. As was stated in a previous email, for the safety and protection of all, we have made the decision to cancel worship services through April 12th. At that time we will evaluate whether it is safe to re-open or whether it is best to extend the closure. Please know that the most important factor in this decision will be the health and safety of our church and community.
In the meantime, we have been offering livestream worship services on Facebook every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. These services continue to be on the church's Facebook page and can be accessed at any time. We have also uploaded them onto the church website which can be accessed at www.fumccolumbus.org. You can also find printed versions of the sermons there. As we learn new techniques and opportunities, we will continue to enhance the service offerings. This Sunday we hope to incorporate music into the livestream service.
We continue to maintain a prayer wall in the chapel, adding new names as they are shared with us. While most of those are not related to the coronavirus, we understand that this pandemic has a significant impact upon all aspects of life. We continue to pray for all these needs and invite you to email or call if you have concerns you would like to have added.
I am grateful for the dedication of those who have sustained the Hot Meals dinners. Last Monday, we served 70 meals. All were served in a to-go fashion to maintain social distancing. One man who received a meal shared that he had just been let go from his work. He asked for four meals to take to his family. This ministry has always been an important asset in our community and the needs continue to grow.
In my devotions this morning, I came across a quote by John Ruskin. He said, "Great deeds have very remote consequences." My friends, we are all in this together. This is new territory for us all. But do not doubt that God is working through you and that your deeds, no matter how large or small, have a deep impact.
Be encouraged, my friends,
Howard
