March 22, 2020
Dear Church,
I pray that you are all well, practicing social distancing while staying connected, and are frequently washing your hands. I have heard again and again over the past week that seminary did not teach us how to pastor a church during a pandemic. That is true, so pastors across the global are learning how to be creative in leading worship services, teaching Bible study and offering pastoral care. Here at Lynnhurst, we are doing several creative things during this crisis. Sarah is sending out a ‘Daily Dose’ email to keep us connected. We will be worshiping together through a Zoom video conference call and hopefully Facebook Live) on Sunday mornings at 10 am. You will receive an email with an invitation to this service (which you can forward to family and friends), instructions on how to connect, and a bulletin for the service. I have a list of people I am calling every week to check-in and remind them their faith community is thinking of them.
Many of us feel disconnected from our faith community while practicing social distancing and engaging in virtual worship. I am inviting each of us to connect every day with two people in our congregation. Send a text message, send an email, make a phone call, send a card. If you are part of a group already - including the Joy Sunday School class, the Christian Builders Sunday School class, the Choir, the Consistory, the Confirmation class, the WISE for Mental Health Team – contact two people from your group every day. Who is not connected to any of these groups? We need to connect these people as a group and invite them to contact two people every day.
Our church building is closed through Sunday, March 29. If public worship services are discouraged in April, we will celebrate Passion Sunday and Easter through virtual worship. Then we will celebrate Easter by bringing our cross alive with flowers when we are permitted to be together in person.
If you need to talk or share information with me call or text my cell phone: 814-571-6542. Stay safe, wash your hands and stay connected.
Blessings on the journey,