Staying Connected - March 2020
“This feels hard because it is hard.”
This sentence has stuck with me this week as we go
about trying to navigate the world from our homes and in front of our
computers. I was doing well last week keeping
up with a lot of you through Facebook, texting, and email. We used the Zoom platform to hold Bible study
and youth group. But then Sunday rolled around and we were not physically
together. I had taken a week off the earlier in the month so it was the third
Sunday for me to not travel into the city for church. Throughout the morning I kept looking at the
clock and thinking, “We would be in Sunday school right now” or “it’s time for
coffee hour.” So, like probably all of you, I am missing our church family and
wishing we could be together.
“This feels hard because it is hard,” wrote a pastor in
a blog post on the Building Faith website. Technology is wonderful but it’s still not the same as being with our church community to
worship, learn, and play together. I’ve been thinking about all the things that
we would be preparing for in the usual way in the coming
week like Palm Sunday, Easter worship, our Easter hunt in Sunday school, and
the family retreat that is scheduled for May 9-10. The planning for these things is in a holding
pattern for now as we, well, wait and see.
As I write this, I am communicating with Camp Crestfield to find out what
our options for the family retreat and I will keep you posted. Tom Petty wasn’t joking when we wrote the
song lyrics “The waiting is the hardest part.”
But what is giving me hope? It’s all of you! I love
seeing and hearing about all the ways you have been finding to be creative at
home and connect with each other in these frustrating times. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as we are
taking things week by week.
I know that as we all adjust into
new routines, managing working from home, school closures, and social
distancing and staying at home, you are most likely bombarded and overwhelmed
with information and resources. I want to keep it simple and don't want
to add to the abundance of online/virtual stuff out there.
Here are the ways that we can
continue to "do church” together in the coming weeks:
You can participate in worship by
visiting our church website. We will be posting the Sunday bulletin which will
include liturgy, scripture readings, hymns, audio recordings of the sermon and
various parts of the liturgy, and a video of our Time for Children. www.sixthchurch.org.
Some ideas for worshiping at home
with your young people:
· Sing! – the online worship includes the hymns for the week. Or just gather together and sing your favorites.
· Read the scriptures. Grab a Bible and read the scriptures out loud together. For younger kids use a story Bible is you have one. If you don’t have a story Bible, some of my favorite story Bibles are available on Kindle to download. Here are a few suggestions:
Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible Kindle Edition by Elizabeth F. Caldwell and
Carol A Wehrheim
Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name Kindle Edition by Sally LloydJones
365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories by Daniel Partner and Kathy Arbuckle
I will be using this blog as a place to post and
share information. Weekly Sunday school lessons for grades 1-6 will be posted
each week if you would like to do them at home with your family. The lesson
plans contain a narrative version of the weekly passages, background on the
passages, and activities and questions for responding to the story. I will
also be posting other resources, information, and ideas on how we can stay
connected as a church family.
Youth Fellowship will continue to happen at our usual time, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Thursdays, virtually through Zoom. I will be sending out the meeting link
weekly via email.
The weekly Wednesday Adult Bible
study will be held through the video conferencing app/site called Zoom. If you
would like to participate please send an email to the church office
office@sixthchurch.org and we will
send you the link to the scheduled zoom meeting.
Stay in touch! I am always available
and want to hear from you! If you are a Facebook user join the Friends of Sixth
Presbyterian Church group for more info as well. Please share! If you
have resources, games or activities that have been helping you get through this
time please pass your ideas along and I will share them with others.
Let me know what I can do to support
you in the coming weeks. I am available for via email, phone calls or texting, Face
Time and online chats! Want me to read a story to your kids? Or to say hello! I’d love to hear from you.
How to reach me:
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