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March 15, 2020
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March 12, 2020
Dear Seaside Family,
Because of the concern over the COVID19 pandemic, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, the episcopal leader of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church has asked the churches in our Annual Conference to “Cease Public Worship for the next two weeks.” This means that all services for March 15 & 22 will be cancelled as well as any other activities that are planned at the church over the next two weeks. As a caring Christian Community, we share concern for both the spiritual and the physical well-being of our congregation. Please be in prayer for those who are already affected by this virus and for the way in which we as God’s people may respond to human suffering.
There are certain things that I want to ask you to do during this unique time.
- Even though we cannot worship together, we are able to commune together through the Bible readings from the Gospel of Mark. Continue to faithfully observe your readings as well as your devotional and prayer disciplines.
- As soon as it is possible, we will post a video on-line for each of the services that we miss. We will notify you of the link for this video so that you and your family may be able to continue the discipline of worship. This may even be a good time to invite a friend who is currently not churched to tune in as well.
- As we adjust to this time in our community, we will no longer be making personal visits to the hospital or nursing homes in the unlikely event that we may bring germs in with us. However, this does not apply to “life and death” situations. If you need us, you may call the emergency number (910-269-1923) at the church and we will respond. Our visits will be by phone or email, depending on the situation.
- Please remember that even though we are not worshiping for two Sundays, we still have obligations that the church must meet. Therefore, we are asking you to continue supporting the church financially by either on-line giving or mailing your gift to the church.
- During this time the church offices will remain closed, but the staff will still be on the job. We will be focusing on keeping our facilities clean and having them ready when we all return.
Thank you for understanding in this Season of Germs. We all look forward to the day in which life returns to normal and we feast at the banquet table of God very well.
Blessings,
Francis
Are you still doing food pantry? It can be done in outside parking lot(I think) and have folks remain in cars and our volunteers can place bags in cars. I think this will be a lot longer than through March 22 and I believe many more people will be in need at this time.
Is anyone at church setting up some emergency community fund run by monetary obligations that can solely give some sort of financial assistance to congregation members only during this most difficult time when many people are out of work and cannot afford to pay rent utilities and other necessary bills. Whatever each church member can afford to donate, even $10 can probably assist quite a number of families during this crisis. Fortunately I believe the Sunset Beach area residents can really give a helping hand to those less fortunate in our congregation. The church can also use the funds donated for flowers weekly towards helping these folks and these donations can be used as “in memory” funds to help our community. BEMC does have a program, “warm hearts, warm hearts” program whereby they match donations to help those in need pay their electric bill and perhaps they can coorindate something with the church whereby they will match church donations towards this program specifically for members who are in need of such assistance. I also think, not sure if these food stores do anymore but who are giving a free gift certicate for every 10 gift certificates purchased. If this still is case, if church purchased 10 $25 gift cards for $250, they would receive $275 in gift cards.
I am 67 years old, and not in best of health so physically can do little to help, but I am willing to donate some funds to help my neighbors in need during this trying time. Of course, you would need a small staff of. Volunters, who probably can set up something on line for our members to see that these donations truly go to those who are most needy during this time. This would need to a special fund to temporarily help those directly and financially affected from this crisis. These are just some suggestions that may offer our local communities some help.