'COVID' Tagged Posts (Page 2)
June Message
First Church Family, Over the past week, it has felt like we have jumped right into summer, with daily highs near 90°. That is after a long, cold, dark, and wet winter and early spring. Over the past fourteen months, we at First Methodist have been the most cautious and safety conscious church of which I am aware. We have sought to follow governmental guidelines as closely as possible. And I am proud of and thankful for our decision making…
Diversity and Freedom
First Church Family, I pray that you are in good health and spirits. Much has happened over the past week. The COVID-19 Pfizer vaccination was approved for ages 12 up, and thankfully, several of our youth have already been able to get it. I pray that you pursue that option in your families. Over the past fourteen months, we at First Methodist have been the most cautious and safety conscious church of which I am aware. We have sought to follow governmental…
Youth Sunday
First Church Family, One of the treasures in every community and church is its youth. And 2020-21 has been a very challenging, difficult time for them. Last school year was shortened by massive restrictions due to the COVID pandemic. And though this year has been a bit less restrictive, much teaching was done online, masks were required, even for athletes during their events, bands and choruses weren’t allowed to function. The list goes on and on. Actually, to their credit, it…
May Message
First Church Family, The sunny weather has been wonderful! After a cold, dark, wet winter, spring has actually sprung. But what about the saying: “April showers bring May flowers?” One of the things our congregation is known for in our region is our commitment to food ministry for the poor. Though the COVID pandemic has been a challenge for us, and prevented us from reaching out to the community through our Thanksgiving Day provision of “ready to cook” meals for…
Spring Worship
April 28, 2021 First Church Family, I pray you are enjoying the wonderful Spring weather with which we’ve been blessed the last days. A couple of weeks ago I spent several days at the beach, and while it was fun and restful, the water temperature was still in the mid-fifties! Evidently, winter was cold, dark and wet there too… But now things are changing. I actually set out annual vegetables on my Sabbath yesterday. And so far, there is not a predicted frost/freeze in…
In-Person Worship
First Church Family, What a glorious Easter season we enjoyed at FUMC! Easter Sunday was the first Sunday we didn’t rigidly limit the number of people in our Sanctuary, but we were well under our maximum of people limited by COVID protocols. And what a great feeling it was to be together! Our total worship attendance (including those worshiping with us online) was well over 400 persons. Many thanks to staff and volunteers who worked together to ensure our safety as they encouraged COVID-19…
Welcome Back
First Church Family, I pray you are enjoying some of the signals that spring is coming: blooming daffodils and jonquils (what we used to call “March flowers”), budding and flowering trees, Hostas breaking the surface of the ground, and the like. Spring will officially arrive before we worship together for the first time in a year this coming Sunday. And after a cold, dark, wet winter it couldn’t be a more anticipated arrival. As we announced last week, we are giving in-person worship a…
Re-Opening: March 21
First Church Family: Much has changed in regard to COVID 19 in the past months. Infection rates are down; vaccines are being given to a much larger number of persons across our community; and it is being reported that all three of the vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson) will prevent 100% of possible hospitalizations from the virus. Our leadership has sought to move wisely and cautiously over the many months that we have dealt with the pandemic. And we have been blessed that there…
Ash Wednesday Preparations
First Church Family: A number of persons in our church family have received the second COVID vaccine, which is wonderful. After receiving a call from the hospital weeks ago, asking whether I would want to get one if I could, I said “yes,” and set up an appointment. I was able to get my second shot Monday and did have some reaction to it. I pray you are doing well and that you will have the opportunity to be vaccinated soon. Next Wednesday, February 17, is…
Psalm 27
First Church Family: I pray you are well and are staying warm in the winter cold. My devotions this morning led me to Psalm 27. The psalm is a psalm written by David, just like Psalm 23, around which we are worshipping. David begins Psalm 27 in similar fashion to his message to God in Psalm 23: The LORD is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid?The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger,so why should I tremble? (vs. 1) There is a…
February Message
First Church Family, I pray you are continuing to manage the challenges of safely dealing with COVID-19. Our medical community is doing an exemplary job of caring for us and offering the vaccine to those who qualify. And there is some “buzz” in the community about the difference the vaccine will make in the next couple of months, in terms of lowering the number of new cases and slowing the transmission of the virus. I have often noticed that difficulties…
Serving the Community
JANUARY 20, 2021 Dear First Church Family, My prayers remain with you during this time, and I covet yours as well. Though our world still reels from the COVID onslaught and seems divided to a magnitude I haven’t experienced before; every day I am reminded of the powerful presence of Almighty God and the hope brought to us through the gift of our Savior. Last week, I was honored to be a part of a number of people gathered in-front of our hospital to encourage our health…