Dear members and friends of First Presbyterian Church,
In our last letter to you we announced that worship would be suspended through the end of March. In light of recent reports from the state health department and the Presbytery of Milwaukee, we voted at a special meeting last night to suspend worship and all meetings at the church through May 10. The Easter flower order has been cancelled and those who have sent checks for Easter flowers will have their checks returned. We also voted to cancel Music & More for the summer, but keep the option of having a special post Coronavirus celebratory concert.
That’s the bad news. The good news is there are many ways we can continue supporting and encouraging one another and our communities as a church family.
First, we Presbyterians are guided by science as well as scripture so when medical personnel tell us to stay home, we will.
Second, we can reach out to one another via phone calls, texts, emails, video chats, etc. We have learned that some of our members in senior care facilities have been confined to their rooms. A phone call from any of us would be welcome. Even if we don’t know the person very well, we can call if only to commiserate with one another. And what a great opportunity to get to know another member of our church. If you are a brave soul, try closing your eyes, flipping open your church directory and placing your finger on the page and whatever name you land on, call that person. Additionally, each of our Deacons has taken 2 or 3 names on our prayer list to contact regularly.
Third there are ways we can still participate in the worship, fellowship, and classes of our church, including the following:
Mark, Alejandro, and Pastor Mark will record a worship service each week to be available on our church website, YouTube, and Facebook. Both video and audio recording will be available. The virtual worship services will include most or all of the following: a poem, prelude, call to worship, prayer of confession, assurance of forgiveness, special music, scripture, sermon, music for reflection, prayer, offering, benediction, and postlude. If you have a prayer request you would like to have included in the prayers, please call or email the church with your request. And if you have a song request for Mark and/or Alejandro, send that in as well.
Pastor Mark is working with Steve Comeau, our videographer, to develop devotional podcasts that will be available beginning next week. We are calling our podcasts, FirstPresHolyPost. And several of us on the Session asked Pastor Mark to develop an online bible study. Pastor Mark is also continuing the Confirmation Class online.
We are also looking into hosting virtual Dinners for Eight. Eight people or households sign onto a zoom video or audio conference and share answers to the conversation questions we were using in our Lenten Series. We cannot eat together but we can still meet together and enjoy good conversation.
Hand of Hope will go on. The agencies that serve the most vulnerable in our community need our support now more than ever. Letters will be sent asking for donations and listing the recipients with a donation envelope included. You can mail your donation or use a credit card and pay directly.
Speaking of donations and pledges, now is an excellent time to set up online giving. Theresa, our Financial Secretary can send you a detailed list of instructions. You may also call Theresa and she will be happy to help you set up online giving.
Church staff will be staggering hours to cover the office and to practice social distancing. Shelley will work MWF; Theresa T and Th; Tina is working evenings; and Pr. Mark will be in mornings to early afternoon M-Th.
The Food Pantry will continue as long as we can keep going.
We are exploring the possibility of providing pickup/delivery service to people who cannot and should not go out.
These are the ideas we came up with at our online meeting last night. What ideas do you have for deepening our faith and encouraging and supporting one another in our church family and beyond?
From the Exodus to being exiles in Babylon to persecution by the Romans and through wars, famines, and plagues, people of faith have persevered and given witness to the love of God in Christ. We too, with faith and compassion and generosity (and staying home) will get through this and emerge a more resilient and, we hope, more neighborly community and world.
Grace and peace to all,
Your Session
