Greetings Church family in Jesus’ name,
We will be back indoors this Sunday, August 16th! Our awesome MUMC Church Council has voted to move back indoors, given that the summer is at its hottest, and that the daily numbers of new cases of the coronavirus have been markedly lower for the last two weeks. We will have two services: 9AM (for senior Citizens and folks with underlying health conditions only) & 10:30AM (for anyone and with nursery) plus the live stream will continue on Facebook at 10:30AM! If you have not yet done so, please call or email the office to RSVP for the service you plan to attend. [You only need to RSVP one time!]
I am very saddened to tell you that our denominational leadership have made it very clear that there must be no congregational singing or group recitation if we are indoors (e.g. invocation, Lord’s Prayer, etc.). This will be difficult for many of us, as we believe fully that the praise of Jesus Christ is absolutely essential! Indoors, we will need to praise God in our hearts during the hymns and the readings, for the time being. We will revisit whether we continue to worship indoors, or move back outside so that we can sing together as the weather begins to cool.
Basic Instructions for Coming Back Inside:
1. Wear your mask! (we’ll have extra if you forget)
2. Arrive at the service you RSVP’d for 5-20 minutes before service.
3. Maintain 6ft apart on your way in and out (the host team will help)
4. Use the touchless sanitizer on your way in!
5. Please remember: no congregational singing or reciting during worship (in obedience to our denominational leaders)
Additional Reminders for Indoor Worship:
- If you don’t feel well stay home!
- Your temperature will be taken at the door.
- If you find that you have come in contact with someone who has tested positive, please contact the church office and stay home for 1 week.
- Restrooms will be available if necessary (upstairs only)
- Only touch the pew that you sit in!
- Please follow all host team instructions for seating and exiting.
- You may worship with your tithes and offerings in the red wall-mounted boxes, online, or through the mail.
- Exit promptly so that the host team will have time to sanitize for the next service.
- If you need to use the elevator, let a host team member know.
- The basement and education wing are closed to all on Sunday morning.
Please extend extra grace to each other (and to your Pastor) remembering that things are very difficult for everyone right now. We’re all out of our comfort zones and navigating challenges that no one has ever had to face. As you may have heard, even our beloved Apple Festival has just been completely called off for this year. The adjustments that are needing to be made during this season to our regular activities extend far beyond our church, but also touch our families, our whole community, our economy, our school districts and more.
God still has great plans for us and He is on the move through all that we are experiencing! I pray that He gives you each a sense of excitement as we prayerfully endure the worst of this season and a sense of anticipation as we lean in to what He may have for us next…
for example…
“Back to Church Sunday” is September 20th! Who all are you going to invite back to Church? We understand that many will choose to remain home during the pandemic until the all clear is given, so we are inviting people back to church online or in person! Whichever folks feel more comfortable with. Also, this fall we will be launching our new Wes Groups! This will be a safe, flexible, high-level discipleship platform that we are putting together which we trust will be a faithful, spirit-filled response to the discipleship needs of our time. We also anticipate this being an effective, easy way to invite visitors to get connected to the life of our church! More details to follow in the September Compass!
Reminders and Encouragements:
- Weekly worship
- Thursday Prayer & Praise at 5:15PM online
- Sunday worship 9AM [seniors/folks w underlying conditions] 10:30AM [for all with nursery & streaming online]
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Last Sunday’s Worship Aug 9th) on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCCdscCs-qI
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Please continue to give! https://app.sharefaith.com/app/giving/Murp9999918
- If you’re in need and cannot get assistance, don’t hesitate to call or email the church office and we’ll do what we can to help out!
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Three more days to participate in our Rural King Fundraiser! By going to the following link after you shop, until Aug 15th, 10% of what you spend will go to our church! Shop, then click here: https://www.ruralking.com/churchweek
God be with you till we meet again, in Jesus’ Name, amen!
Many blessings in Jesus’ name,
Pastor Danny
Please note in a effort to get this to as many members as possible we are using all of our contact list so you may receive it more than once. If you think some isn't getting this please forward or share it with them.
