03/15/2020
Brothers and Sisters,
Our situation regarding the important part each of us CAN have in stemming the spread of the COVID-19 is calling for us to stay well-informed and flexible.
On Friday, I emailed you a list of the precautions we hoped to take tomorrow during Worship together. One of the practices that our health professionals are asking us to all observe is the distance of 6 feet from each other. Friends, I know us; and I really doubt our ability to do that: we just too happy to see one another when we're together!
Earlier this evening, I received an urgent message from our District Superintendent. It included the following sentence:
Because it is extremely difficult for our churches to ensure this level of safety for our members, I am encouraging the churches in the Bay District to suspend in person worship throughout March. In April, we can prayerfully discern if it wise to begin worshipping in person again.
I will follow her guidance and abide by this request. Therefore, we will NOT be in Worship together at church tomorrow. I need your help to get this word out, so please pass it along liberally (or call folks you know who may not have email). I have asked a couple folks to get the word out to those without email, to the best of our ability. I will be at the church in the morning to let anyone know who may not have received this message.
In the meantime, I will be meeting with Roger Doering in the morning to explore what some of our options may be electronically for the remainder of the month. My hope is that I'll be able to offer some sort of "On-line Worship Experience" for at least March 22 and 29. I've been eager to get us on-board with this, as many of you know. So, I hope we'll seize this opportunity to get something along these lines going. Furthermore, our DS is guiding us by calling our clergy together next week to discuss what creative options others are trying.
Although corporate Worship is where The Body of Christ is uniquely present, the FORM of that Worship might take many forms -- some of which we may not even know. I believe that God delights in calling us into new ways of Being Church; and this may be one of those times. The Body of Christ is also as strong as each of its members. Therefore, as I did yesterday, I encourage you to reach out to each other -- perhaps the same folks you'd be happy to see if you were together in-person on Sunday, or someone you haven't seen in a while. I encourage you to read the lesson for tomorrow: Luke 12:22-34. It is unbelievably timely precisely for this moment. The irony is that it was the scheduled lesson for our Lenten Study, which Judy Bulman and I chose back in January! God does, indeed, move in mysterious ways. Again, if you'd like my message/sermon, let me know. I'll send it tomorrow.
Regarding our Offering... Please, mail your Offering. Our utilities and budgetary needs are still with us; and we must meet those obligations, like faithful disciples do. Thank you. We will also be exploring on-line giving options, for those of you who are comfortable with this way of giving.
We're responding not out of fear, but out of an abundance of caution in response to a virus that has targeted the most vulnerable among us. We can do this. I offer you the following, from Ps. 46:
1God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
May the peace of Christ that passes all understanding be with us all, now and always.
With Faith,
Pastor Myrna
First United Methodist Church Office
1600 Bancroft Ave.
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510)483-0606
