Greetings Church family in Jesus’ name,

This has been an amazingly difficult summer on many, many levels. Families, businesses and churches everywhere are struggling. A recent study predicts that 1in 5 church will close within 18 months as a result of the coronavirus. But I pray that God continues to bless our church family to each other, show up in our worship services and aid us in proclaiming the Gospel in Murphysboro and beyond! I pray that you have each seen God’s hand at work in your lives and in the lives of your families and have been encouraged by your fellowship with the people of God through our Church!

Through the worst of this crisis I have been emailing you all each week with updates, but as we are beginning our fall schedule, this will be the last weekly pastor’s email. Our Compass Newsletter will be our main communication point at the start of each month, and I will send out a mid-month update as well. From now on you may continue to find the link for online giving on our Facebook page and church website. The services will continue to stream on Facebook live each week and can be viewed anytime afterward. To watch our worship on YouTube, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel at Murphysborumc. And of course, should there be any urgent news to communicate, we email, post and share it with you all.

Remember, Back to Church Sunday is coming soon: Sept 20 th at 9AM. There will be a special Live stream of this event at 9AM! This special event will be a fuller outdoor service, with lots of special music, an invitation to join our new WesGroups, and safe, carefully prepared and individually packaged breakfast ahead of time! Please invite friends, family and anyone God puts on your heart to join us either online, or in person for this Special worship event!

We will celebrate Holy Communion this Sunday. For those in person, will use the individually prepackaged cup & wafers we have been using in person this summer. For safety, they will be laid out days in advance and picked up upon dismissal at the end of the service. For those joining us online, as we have done all summer, please secure your elements ahead of time and have them ready when you log on.

We will bless and consecrate your elements when you join us. Our choir will also be back this Sunday! For safety, the choir anthem will be videoed ahead of time and shown on screen Sunday morning!

Please be in prayer for our Children’s and Youth ministries as we plan to resume September 16 th ! Please register your kids or grandkids now through the link in our Children’s ministry Facebook Group!

It is a joy to be worshipping indoors again! Please know we have plenty of room at both our 9AM service (for seniors and those with underlying health conditions) and 10:30AM service (for anyone, with nursery ministry and live streaming on Facebook). Please don’t hesitate to RSVP by calling or emailing the office. [You only need to RSVP one time!]

What should you expect when you return indoors? Watch this:

Basic Instructions for Coming Back Inside:

If you didn’t get to worship with us online or in person last Sunday, or if you don’t have Facebook, here’s Aug 30 th ’s worship YouTube link:

Reminders and Encouragements:

God be with you till we meet again, in Jesus’ Name, amen!

Many blessings in Jesus’ name,

Pastor Danny