Churches encouraged to join state-wide vaccination campaign

By Joyce M. Davis, SUSUMC Conference Lay Leader, PA UM Advocacy Coordinator

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is launching an intensive state-wide campaign to try to fight COVID-19, save lives and get more people vaccinated. And the office is seeking faith leaders and community organizations to help encourage people to get vaccinated throughout the state. 

Secretary of Health Alison Beam is even touting a new grant program to provide financial assistance to organizations – including churches – that will assist in this program aimed at saving lives from COVID-19.

The Department of Health is using its new LIVE PA Grants, which will open the week of Aug. 9, 2021, to invite local, grassroots organizations, as well as faith-based organizations, to apply for grants that will be administered through the United Way of Pennsylvania. The aim is to reach as many people as possible, especially in rural and minority communities and to use trusted voices to help promote COVID vaccinations.

Information is available local United Way chapters or the United Way of Pennsylvania at uwp.org.

The agency also has started an aggressive ad campaign to get out factual information about COVID-19 and about the vaccines. And it seems the campaign is working. Vaccinations are significantly increasing, with thousands more people getting vaccinated daily in Pennsylvania. The advertising campaign is directing people to the PA Unites Against COVID webpage where they can find information to learn about how to prevent COVID and get vaccinated: www.pa.gov/covid/

And, information about where to get vaccinated is now available on-line at www.vaccines.gov/search/

In addition, the Pennsylvania Council of Churches has launched a “Get Vaccinated” campaign urging faith leaders to tape short videos that are being distributed widely through social media sites. Here is a link to a story about the campaign that PennLive published last week:

Kudos to the Pennsylvania Council of Churches for its “Get Vaccinated!” campaign | PennLive Editorial

And here is a link to the Pennsylvania Council of Churches’ YouTube page with the videos.

Rev. Sandy Strauss, advocacy director of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, is eager to get more faith leaders to add their voices to those encouraging people to get vaccinated. If you’d like to provide a video, email Rev. Straus at s.strauss@pachurches.org; or feel free to email me at jdavis@susumc.org for assistance.

Health officials are particularly eager to reach young people who have not been vaccinated, and they are reminding people who are vaccinated that they can still carry the virus to vulnerable, unvaccinated people. They are warning hospitals throughout the country are filling up with COVID-19 patients who have contracted the Delta strain. And doctors say this time the patients are younger and frequently sicker. 

The Department of Health says more than 90 percent of people being hospitalized from the Delta strain are unvaccinated.

They are imploring pastors and lay leaders join the effort to save lives and to provide factual information from reliable sources to their congregations. 

Volunteers in Mission updated guidelines during COVID-19

John Wesley summarized God’s teaching into three rules, “Do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.” In this time of a global pandemic, we focus on “Do no harm.” What does that mean for those of us in mission? UMVIM has created and updated Guidelines for US Project Sites and Team Leaders during COVID-19. Please read through the guidelines for the full information. Updates include encouraging all in mission to be vaccinated and this may be required by the site. It recommends outside work, but there are new strategies if projects can’t avoid inside work. Proper mask wearing, hand washing (sanitizing), and social distancing are a must for all service. 

This is an instance that we must show love of our neighbor by taking this seriously and doing all we can to protect others.

Find out more about Volunteers in Mission at www.susmb.org - click on the “Volunteers in Mission” tab. Or you may reach out to me with questions or concerns at vim@susumc.org or 717-766-7441 ext. 3105

Peace to you,

Michelle Schwartzman, Volunteers in Missions Coordinator

The College of Bishops Northeastern Jurisdiction

To the United Methodists of the Northeastern Jurisdiction from the College of Bishops of the Northeastern Jurisdiction

Grace and Peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

We thank God for you and commend the clergy and congregational leaders for your leadership. These have been difficult and isolating times for many and yet you are leading our most vital ministry, congregations and community ministries with conviction and determination. You have demonstrated the gifts of courage, leadership, innovation and grace. Thank you.

On March 29, 2021, we announced the coverage of Episcopal Areas in the Northeastern Jurisdiction effective September 1, 2021.

The pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges in the life of the church. One area of challenge has been our ability to conference together in the General and Jurisdictional Conferences. General Conference sets the policies for the church, elects new general agency leadership and sets the global direction and budget for the church. The Jurisdictional Conference elects new bishops and assigns bishops to episcopal areas.

Due to the 2020 General Conference being postponed a second time, it has meant the continual postponement of the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference. Two of the Northeastern Jurisdiction bishops, Bishops Peggy Johnson and Jeremiah Park have requested and been granted voluntarily retirement starting September 1, 2021 under paragraph 408.2 (b) of The Book of Discipline.

Bishop Johnson will move to Virginia in August of 2021 to employ her gifts and experience to serve in ministry with congregations and provide consultation with deaf and disability ministry in the NEJ and across the connection.

Bishop Park will move to New Jersey in August of 2021 to employ his gifts and experience to serve in ministry as the Presiding Bishop with both the Northeastern Jurisdiction Korean Mission and the United Methodist Mission in Mongolia.

The 2020 postponed General Conference will gather in person August 29 through September 6, 2022 in Minneapolis, MN followed by U.S. Jurisdictional Conferences to be held in October of 2022 for the election and assignment of bishops.

Because two bishops will retire this year, effective September 1, 2021, The Book of Discipline authorizes the College of Bishops to provide coverage of open episcopal areas until new bishops are elected and assigned by the Jurisdictional Conference. This coverage will be for 16 months from September 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022.

The College of Bishops after consulting with the Northeastern Jurisdiction Episcopacy Committee and individual bishops, and after prayer and meeting several times about coverage during this interim period, announces the following bishops will provide episcopal leadership and coverage within the Northeastern Jurisdiction.

Bishop Moore-Koikoi

Bishop Steiner Ball

Episcopal Areas: West Virginia Area (West Virginia Conference), Pittsburgh Area (Western Pennsylvania Conference) and
Harrisburg Area (Susquehanna Conference), Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi and Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball.

Episcopal Areas: Washington Area (Baltimore-Washington Conference) and Philadelphia Area (Peninsula Delaware Conference) – Bishop LaTrelle Easterling.

Episcopal Areas: New Jersey Area (Greater New Jersey Conference) and Philadelphia Area (Eastern Pennsylvania Conference) – Bishop John Schol.

Upper New York Area (Upper New York Conference), Bishop Mark Webb.

Boston Area (New England Conference), Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar.

New York Area (New York Conference), Bishop Thomas Bickerton.

These are temporary arrangements and configurations to provide coverage. The next in-person Jurisdictional Conference will set the episcopal areas and assignments of bishops for the next quadrennium.

We thank you for your continued ministry and service within The United Methodist Church and the world. We invite you to pray for the church and our leadership as bishops as we serve together to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

In Christ,

Boston Area
Sudarshana Devadhar

Harrisburg Area
Jeremiah J. Park

New Jersey Area
John R. Schol

New York Area
Thomas J. Bickerton

Philadelphia Area
Peggy A. Johnson

Pittsburgh Area
Cynthia Moore Koikoi

Upper New York Area
Mark Webb

Washington Area
LaTrelle Easterling

West Virginia Area
Sandra Steiner Ball

Retired
George W. Bashore, Violet L. Fisher, William Boyd Grove, Susan W. Hassinger, Neil L. Irons, Clifton S. Ives, Alfred Johnson, Ernest S. Lyght, Marcus Matthews, Jane Allen Middleton, Susan M. Morrison, Forrest C. Stith, Peter D. Weaver, Joseph H. Yeakel

Connecting Ministries: Blown Away by Pentecost

Rev. Victoria Rebeck (left) and her friend Jerioth Gichigi, a United Methodist Deacon from Kenya.

Rev. Victoria Rebeck, Director of Connecting Ministries

Now that Easter has revived our gratitude for new life, what do we do with this great gift?

Pentecost tells us. We take the power of the Holy Spirit and follow God’s lead—even if we do not know where she leads us.

Looking back on it, from the perspective of 2,000 years later, the church’s first Pentecost seems exciting. Tongues of flame landing on everyone! They can preach in languages they never learned! What a glorious sending of Christ’s followers into the world.

When I think about this story, however, I imagine that the incident could have been  scary. We’re sitting indoors and a violent wind blows through the room? Close the windows! Flames on the top of our heads? Get a bucket of water! I just hope the doors open outward so we can make a run for it.

As frightening as this may have been, we’ve learned from the Bible that God does some of God’s best work when our world is shaken up.

We’ve been in a year of disruption together. We’ve had to quickly change to a more constricted life. The end is not actually in sight. Yet God still gives us the power of the Holy Spirit and expects us to reach the world.

It’s a holy disruption, however. It’s opened up new spaces for the wind of the Holy Spirit pass through.

As difficult as this time has been for us, it’s been more challenging for others.

Last month I received a text from my friend the Rev. Jerioth Gichigi, who is  a United Methodist deacon from Kenya. (Texting is one of their affordable forms of communication.) Though Kenya’s economy is one of the most developed in eastern and central Africa, about a third of Kenyans live below the poverty line. The internet is not universally accessible. COVID-19 seemed to be easing at the beginning of this year, but now infections are rising again, and people are limited to their homes. Church buildings are closed, and no one knows when they might reopen.

While we begrudgingly rough it with online worship, that luxury is not available to them.

“But we are trusting,” Jerioth says. And they are.

Before this, however, a great windstorm had come through their town and demolished the building of her congregation, the First United Methodist Church of Moheto.

A wind that destroys church buildings is but a puff compared to the Holy Spirit. Drawing on donations from United Methodists from other parts of the world, she and the church members are buying stones to reconstruct their church building. They have faith that God continues to work with and through them. Neither pandemics nor storms can separate them from the love of God in Jesus Christ.

Their lives are severely upended, though they were already precarious. But they have the Holy Spirit, and that gives them the power to spread Christ’s love, in any situation.

Pentecost reminds us that God often uses disruption to clear the way for something new. That is what it takes sometimes: the familiar to which we cling is swept away, making us available for something else. God was starting something new.

Our Kenyan United Methodist brothers and sisters know that God is empowering them to do something new. Let’s welcome the Spirit to blow away the old so that we can share God’s love in ways we never imagined.

Discovery Place: Assurance of God’s power, presence, and provision

Discovery Place is open and we would love to help you find a resource to study, either in a group as churches re-open, or for your own personal use. As the pandemic continues, there is much uncertainty and anxiety about the future. Consider the following resources which provide assurance of God’s power, presence, and provision.

Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World, by Max Lucado. Do you feel weighed down with worry? Does the uncertainty of life keep you up at night? Is fear your constant companion? Could you use some peace? Anxious for Nothing explores God’s promises in Philippians 4:4-8 and shows that while anxiety is part of life, it does not have to dominate life.  You can stop letting anxiety rule your day and find true calm and contentment in Christ. (5 sessions. Includes DVD, study guide, and hardcover book.)

Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times, by Adam Hamilton. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid.”  For anyone struggling with fear, worry, or anxiety, Unafraid offers an inspiring message full of practical solutions. You can learn to identify fears and discover practical steps for overcoming them, all in the light of Scripture. (5 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, and hardcover book.)

Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear, by Max Lucado. Each sunrise seems to bring fresh reasons for fear: layoffs at work, slowdowns in the economy, uncertainty in the housing market, upswings in global warming, and a multitude of other troublesome issues. Imagine your life, wholly untouched by angst. What if faith, not fear, was your default reaction to threats? Envision a day, just one day, where you could trust more and fear less. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, discussion guide, leader guide, and CD-ROM.)

Goliath Must Fall: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants, by Louie Giglio. It is likely you have a giant in your life. It is holding you captive, intimidating you, and stealing your joy. Adversaries such as fear, anger, and addiction can stake a claim and gain a foothold in your heart. How can you live as if these giants are dead and silenced forever? In Goliath Must Fall Louie Giglio examines the David and Goliath story to show you how: by focusing on the size of our God, not the height of your giants. As they go down, you gain freedom to walk in the victory Christ has already won. (6 sessions. Includes DVD and study guide.)

Unshakable Hope: Building Our Lives on the Promises of God, by Max Lucado. In this study we learn that when we belong to God, we can filter our problems through the promises of God. The stories of the men and women in Scripture were different, but the theme was the same: they were People of the Promise. Like them, we can also build our lives on God’s promises, and trust Him to keep them. (12 sessions. Includes DVD, study guide, and hardcover book.)

You Are Never Alone, by Max Lucado.  Each of us longs for Someone who will meet us amidst life’s messes. We want to believe in a living, loving, miracle-working God who does not hesitate to step into the thorny thickets of our world and lift us out. In You Are Never Alone, Max Lucado reminds us that we only need to look at the miracles of Jesus in the Gospel of John to know this is true. As we do, we will find Jesus is right there with us, caring about every aspect of our lives. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, study guide, and hardcover book.)

If You Want to Walk on Water You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat, by John Ortberg. Peter may have been the first one out of the boat, but Jesus’s invitation to walk on water is for us all. But what does it mean? Walking on water means facing our fears and choosing not to let fear have the last word, discovering and embracing the unique calling of God on our lives, and experiencing the power of God to accomplish what we would not be capable of doing on our own. (6 sessions. Includes DVD, leader guide, participant guide, and book.)

Ordering a resource is easy! Visit our website, www.discovery-place.org and place an order through our online catalog, email discovery@susumc.org, or call 717.766.7968. While we remain closed to walk-in visitors, Discovery Place is open on a limited basis with no set office hours. Your phone call will send me an email and I will respond as soon as possible. I look forward to hearing from you!

Serving Christ with you,

Joni Robison

Wandering Through a Pandemic

By Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator

As we approach the one year mark since the pandemic forced us all to change the way we go about daily living, I am reminded of the challenges faced by the Israelites in Egypt. While enslaved there, God protected them and provided for their needs. He sent Moses to demand their release. Each time, when Pharaoh refused, God inflicted plagues on Egypt. He turned the Nile into blood, covered the land with frogs, turned dust to gnats, brought flies into the houses of Pharaoh, and sent disease and disaster to kill Egyptian livestock and people and destroy crops. Exodus 12 reveals to us that God then brought about plague to kill all firstborn Egyptian males. Before doing so, He instructed Moses to tell the Hebrew people to cover their door in the blood of a lamb, leaving a sign of protection for their families. After spending more than 400 years suffering in slavery, God, through Moses, led them to freedom.

As they made their way to the “land of milk and honey,” the people began to question if they would survive or die in the desert. Their fear grew as the armies of Egypt pursued them. God provided a miracle by allowing Moses to part the Red Sea. After crossing the sea to safety, the people praised God but soon began to question their supply of food and water. Again, God provided, sending manna from heaven. The Israelites faced war during the exodus, and God provided them with victory. For months, God provided safe passage, eventually bringing them to Mount Sinai. And, during this time, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and covenanted with the people.

Of course, there is much more that occurred during the Israelite’s trip to the “promised land,” a trip that eventually lasted 40 years. But, each step of the way, God met them where they were. He provided for them in his own time. And, He did not keep them in the desert forever. It wasn’t easy. But, in the end, it was worth it.

As we continue to face the challenges presented by the pandemic, consider looking back over the last year. Think about the trials you faced? Did God meet you there? If you are like me, you certainly had questions. Did you take them to Him? And, did He provide you with answers? What miracles have you experienced during the pandemic?

I pray we do not have to wander through this pandemic for 40 years. The days and months ahead may be difficult at times. And, we will become frustrated and have questions. But, we must rejoice in difficult times “…knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Romans 5:3–4). Remember your covenant and find hope and reassurance that God is with you, just as He was with Moses. He promised “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). Commit to trusting Him every day. He will answer your prayers, provide for your needs, and give you rest. It will be worth it.

***

Contact Doug at drc@susumc.org. Check out the Disaster Response Weekly updates at tinyurl.com/DRweekly

VIM Journeys to McCurdy Ministries Community Center

By Linda Gilgore, York, PA

It has been 14 years since my first of many trips to McCurdy Ministries Community Center in the beautiful Española Valley of Northern New Mexico. At the time, I was a senior high youth leader at a United Methodist church in York, PA. 

That first trip turned out to be much more than I expected. It took very little time for me to decide that McCurdy would always be in my heart and that the staff at McCurdy were the best examples I had ever seen of walking in faith, being Christ-like humble servants, and truly being a light in a community. It was both heartbreaking and refreshing. Their struggle was real and their commitment to making their corner of the world a better place was inspiring. 

Each summer we return to McCurdy for a one-week trip. We love the relationships we have built with the staff at McCurdy, we love the variety of projects that we work on, we love the gratitude shown us for literally the smallest of tasks completed, and we love the traditions and history of Northern New Mexico. Each night at devotions we would hear from the team members about their experience. We love to have youth on our trips because it is a rare opportunity to see how other youth live and how they can survive and even thrive with very little “stuff”. I would venture to say that most nights on most trips there are tears of being overwhelm at the magnitude of the struggles in the area and tears of joy being the hands and feet of Jesus for a moment in time. 

Every year the dynamics of the team going to McCurdy are different, but the mission of each team is the same. The variety of the projects needing completion is different, but the purpose of each project is the same. Having the opportunity to lend a hand to the important ministries of McCurdy to their community has been and continues to be incredibly challenging, as well as incredibly rewarding and often life-changing. When realizing that cleaning, stripping, cleaning, and waxing floors in a building will make an impact on the school year for the kids, it makes the task so much more relevant and enjoyable. 

Not being able to go to McCurdy in 2020 for our annual trip was disappointing for us but even more disappointing for McCurdy, who were left with a lot of projects to complete during a pandemic without the much-needed help that comes from VIM teams. As a result, we decided to lead a Zoom virtual mission trip to McCurdy. By participating in a virtual mission trip, we were able to promote VIM trips in general and McCurdy specifically. We have been able to share our love for McCurdy and the importance of connecting as a team for a common purpose and to connect with some of the beloved McCurdy staff.

Each year at the end of our week at McCurdy it is bittersweet. We have laughed and cried, worked hard, and enjoyed the beauty and majesty of Northern New Mexico with some side trips. And we are always reminded that there are “McCurdy’s” in every community. Even though we will keep returning to McCurdy, we can also find ways in our own communities to be the hands and feet of Jesus. The same underlying issues are in lots of communities such as, poverty, mental illness, addiction, etc. 

Over 100 years ago, one person made one decision that changed the trajectory of Española, New Mexico. You, too, can choose to be the light in your valley. 

 

 

Equipping Vital Congregations - Becoming a Vital and Thriving Post-Pandemic Church

Rev. Gary Alan Shockley, Director of Equipping Vital Congregations

There’s quite a bit of speculation going on right now about what the church should look like post-pandemic. For sure, it will look different. The idea of going back to normal is a fantasy because “normal” has changed. 

Like many of you, I’ve been reading blogs of popular authors and church experts and have read books seeking to describe what a post-pandemic church might look like. This is my attempt to summarize.

My goal here is to give you the broad categories and encourage you to have conversation, in your own context, about what this means for the future of your church. Please know that the offices of Grow, Equip and Connect are available to resource, coach and consult your congregation in this time of transition. 

Churches that will thrive post-pandemic…

#1 Get clear about and stay focused on WHY. “Why do we exist?” This doesn’t require a lengthy process a developing a finely crafted mission or vision statement but simply to go back to the beginning of what Jesus intended the church to BE and Do. I would invite you to read the following scriptures, preferably with a group, and then write in your own words a Why Statement of less than 15 words that begins with, “Our church exists so that…” Once you have agreement on the WHY, everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING) your church does should align with that WHY. (Matthew 22:34-40; Matthew 25:31-46 and Matthew 28:16-20)

#2 Focus on formation rather than information. Discipleship is less about knowing who Jesus is and more about doing the things that Jesus did. Being formed in the image of Jesus is vastly more important than being informed about Jesus. We already know more about Jesus than we need to do be about his WHY for us! What are you doing, or will you do, to help your people become formed in the image and likeness of Jesus? 

#3 Recapture a sense of being a neighborhood church. Your church exists in the community for a reason. Do you know what that is? When we begin to see our community as part of our church parish (and vice versa) we will begin to treat those who live around us as though they already belong to us. We will learn their names. We will hear their stories. We will feel their pain. We will recognize their needs. And we will become their friends. Together, we will be on the journey as God’s beloved people transforming the neighborhood and the wider community for good. Is your church neighborhood friendly? Well, how thick is your policy manual designed to protect your building from outsiders? Do your policies make it easier for the people of your community to use your facilities? Do you understand your buildings as God’s gifts intended for your community?

#4 Move more fully into the digital world. In person worship will continue post-pandemic but will likely be smaller in attendance for some time. Online worship, online small groups, virtual community engagement, are not just temporary things we do until the pandemic is over. Our digital presence will become one of the most essential evangelism tools we have to fulfil our mission. Much like God used the persecution of the early church to move it out of its comfort zone (Jerusalem) God is using this pandemic to move us out of our comfort zones to meet people where they are…online! How wonderful that many of our congregations have experienced a growth in worship attendance through digital means. Maintaining and growing our digital presence will ensure that we stay connected with those whom we have met online (maybe God has sent us) during this pandemic. How will we continue to connect with people we may never see in person and disciple them in the ways of Jesus? Think Both/And when planning worship with a mixture of in-person and virtual experiences. 

#5 Learn how to pivot more quickly as the world around us changes at a dizzying pace. They will learn how to abandon the things that no longer work in fulfilling their mission. They will practice simplicity by letting go of those things that drain away energy and limited resources and may not serve the mission (the WHY). They will encourage families who have found opportunities to spend more time together during the pandemic to continue doing so rather than creating new ministries and programs that will try to pull them back into business. 

#6 Take seriously a call to prayer. May I ask you directly? When was the last time you prayed for your church? Your pastor and staff? Your leaders? Your community? Your people and your newcomers by name? Now, when was the last time you sat and listened for response from God? I’d like to add a simple prayer for your use especially as you move back to in-person gatherings: “Lord, what do you want to do through ME (or US in a corporate setting) to fulfil your WHY for my/our church?” Simple. Powerful. Revitalizing. Take time to sit and listen. “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” (Martin Luther)

Many more books and blogs will likely be written with better lists than mine. But this is enough, I believe, to get us started. I encourage you to print this and use it for conversation with your leadership team.

These are the things we in the church should have been doing all along. We lost our focus (our WHY) became distracted by our own needs and desires and forget to stay focused outward where God is working in the world. 

Isn’t it wonderful how God is using this present crisis to bring us back to center? How exciting to contemplate the marvelous works of God ahead of us and to know that we are still invited to be partners in it!

Connecting Ministries: Future Trends That Will Shape Church Ministry

Rev. Victoria Rebeck, Director of Connecting Ministries

If we’ve learned anything over the past year, it’s that the world can change in what seems like an instant. And the fact that the pandemic continues even after a year proves that we cannot simply hunker down and wait until we can go back to what we were doing. We could do that—but if our aim is to invite, form, and send disciples to help transform the world into the realm of God, our old familiar ways won’t get us there.

We also learned last year how difficult it is to predict the future. But we can observe trends that could help us invite and welcome new people into a relationship with God and God’s people.

Here are a few trends I’ve learned from a variety of sources and some possible implications for churches.

Story and experience

Virtual reality—computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment that allows people to interact with it in a way that seems physically real—will continue to grow, writes Prasenjit Roy in “Marketing in 2025: Five key trends that will drive the future.”

I’m not suggesting we abandon reality in favor of virtual reality. But we can adapt two aspects of this technology: storytelling and customized experiences. The church has something real to offer the world. If virtual reality orients our culture toward story and custom experiences, the church can offer these through engagement with real people.

Story is something that should come naturally to the church. After all, Jesus frequently taught by using stories. Story, unlike simple instruction or direction, draws people into being full participants in their spiritual growth. 

Story also communicates wisdom. While knowledge is information (and that is necessary), wisdom entails deeper virtues of gratitude, wonder, humility, forgiveness, and more. It’s obtained through life experience and transmitted through media such as art, music, drama, and story.

In some ways this also speaks to “customization.” Story communicates on many angles. The hearer brings to her listening her own experiences and concerns. The gathered group listens to the same story, but each person may walk away having learned something different, based on God’s leading.

Furthermore, each person has their own stories from their own lives. When given a safe place in which to tell others of these experiences, people learn from each other. Relationships are strengthened among people and with God.

Moments

Churches habitually turn to events and gatherings to teach or otherwise communicate. In his “6 Disruptive Church Trends that Will Rule 2020,” pastor and author Carey Nieuwhof observes people today have different expectations for gatherings. These still have value; we simply need to use them for different purposes, he says.

Information is much more easily obtained in the age of the internet, so that need not be a significant part of a gathering. People do not have to be in the same room to obtain information, and they are less likely to come to an event—even weekly worship—for that purpose. However, people will still gather for “movements, moments, and missions,” as Nieuwhof calls them.

Worship and sacraments have long been the church’s way to connect people with God and each other. Avoid letting Intentional, reverent, creative, and thoughtfully planned worship get bogged down by information-sharing or announcements. 

Further, don’t use music primarily as a tool to energize worshipers or otherwise influence a group mood. Rather, incorporate art and music to illuminate who God is and how God acts in the world.

This is also true when inviting people to explore Scripture or engage in compassion ministries together. “People don’t just want to know what’s true; they want to know what’s real,” Nieuwhof says. “And what’s real is deeper than just an idea—it’s an experience.”

This suits us as Methodists. After all, Charles and John Wesley, the founders of Methodism, both had “heart-warming” experiences of assurance from God and considered such experiences important. Why not reclaim this?

Mission

Nieuwhof reminds us that our task is to invite people not only to attend worship, but to take part in the church’s mission. Many people, especially young adults, are not looking for ways to fill their calendars with activities and committee meetings. However, they do want to make a positive difference in the world. The church calls this mission, and this passion among young adults is a gift from God that the church can embrace and harness.

How is your church making God’s realm a reality in your community? Providing groceries for school children to bring home to their families who would not otherwise have enough? Organizing visits to legislators to call for public policy that would honor God’s good creation or confront discriminatory housing practices? There are people, including young people, who are eager to take part in this.

Movements

Don’t assume that your church has to invent these opportunities. It is likely other organizations in your community are addressing them. Demonstrate your church’s commitment to the wellbeing of the wider community by collaborating with these efforts, recommends Dr. Penny Edgell, a prominent sociologist of religion. (These are what Nieuwhof calls “movements.”)

These are opportunities not only to follow the prophets’ instructions to love our neighbors, but also provide us a chance to build relationships with our neighbors. Make sure to meet those who are attending, particularly those who are not part of your church. Listen to their interests and concerns. This information will help your church know how to provide meaningful community that introduces others to the unconditional and life-changing love of God.

People are finding out about events largely online, and particularly through social media, Edgehill told me. This winter, I helped welcome visitors to Mount Asbury’s Christmas lights display. When we asked our guests how they found about the event, many said they saw it on a community Facebook page or received a friend’s recommendation. Be sure to use these ways (among others) to invite others.

Ultimately, we hope to help people experience the power of God’s grace that transforms lives. Moments, movements, and mission cannot manufacture life transformation, but they can set a hospitable environment for people to encounter God and find a home with God’s people. 

Our mission is the same as it has been for 2,000 years. Regardless of what the future holds for The United Methodist Church or the world around us, our mission remains. Over the centuries, the church has adapted to change in order to stay faithful to its mission. This is the church’s task in all times. When we have a missionary passion to bring God’s love and grace to their neighbors, though words and actions, we will learn new cultural languages to tell the “old, old story” of God’s love.

History Repeats Itself: The Church and Pandemics

By Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator

As everyone knows, we are going through difficult times as a faith community. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the way we meet and worship. 

In March, Bishop Park strongly encouraged every church in the Conference to refrain from meeting in person. This was done out of an abundance of caution and, at a time when we knew very little about the coronavirus. It seemed as though our sense of community and belonging had been taken from us. The joy of worship and the spiritual enrichment we received was interrupted. And, while this was difficult to accept, we as believers found new ways to worship and do ministry. 

Pandemic History

This isn’t the first time the church has faced a pandemic. This certainly isn’t the first time the church has found itself resorting to different methods of doing ministry.

We know of plague and disease afflicting believers in Biblical times….pestilence in Egypt (Amos 4:10) and plagues during the exodus (Exodus 11:1), just to mention a few. And, we have experienced pandemic in more recent times, including the Spanish Flu in 1918, the Asian Flu in 1957, an avian influenza in 1968, and H1N1 in 2009.

 In 1918, the Spanish Flu spread throughout the world, eventually making its way to the United States lasting from February until April 1920. In the state of Indiana, health officials mandated a statewide quarantine beginning in October 1918. While this occurred over 100 years ago, there are some similarities and differences that should encourage us as we move forward.

Similarities and Differences

In 1918, a much less technologically capable society found ways to maintain individual faith and build community spirituality. Religious leaders worked together with local leaders and businesses to console and unite congregations and communities. In particular, they worked with the press and local newspapers to encourage individuals and families to read and study Scriptures or complete Sunday school lessons. Some churches promoted the time in quarantine as an opportunity to pray for the church and the nation. Pastors suggested their congregations spend the time usually spent attending church on Sunday, praying and meditating on God’s word.

As the pandemic continued, newspapers began to print worship resources in full-page ads, including hymns, scripture lessons, and sermons. And, historians note that one particular pastor collaborated with the telephone company to “facilitate dial in services” for his congregation to ensure that faith remained the focus of people’s lives. Some churches even hosted open air services. Sound familiar?

In November 1918, some faith communities slowly re-opened but, they reduced the length or number of services they held. They mandated the wearing of masks, and a portion of services were dedicated to providing congregations with instructions about dealing with the pandemic, addressing good personal hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting, and the limitations of public gatherings.

Unlike in 1918, there was no vaccine or antibiotics to treat the associated symptoms. Today, we have a well-developed health care system. Today, we attend virtual, live streamed worship services. We connect through apps and use a multitude of social media platforms to communicate. And, we spend countless hours on ZOOM meetings. 

Remembering our Past, Moving Forward

So, as you can see, the church has faced pandemics before. Has it been challenging to maintain our spiritual enrichment, while continuing to experience community worship? Of course! But, as in the past, churches continue to be creative as they address those challenges and bridge the gap.

In his letter to the Conference in November, Bishop Park re-emphasized that we, as a Conference, should continue to continue these practices. And, like their predecessors, our pastors, church staffs, and ministries will persevere, do their best to meet congregational and community needs, and make every attempt to keep them safe and healthy. 

As we look to a future that includes effective treatments and a vaccine, it is important to remember our past. It is also important to do our part and collectively unite with our leaders as they seek to do what is best for our spiritual and physical health and safety. Wear your face coverings…maintain social distances…be creative as you worship and fellowship…and, most importantly, pray for God to intervene and inspire those tasked with moving us forward to a time when we can return to in-person worship with the community of believers who are called Christians and United Methodists.

***

Bibliography

History of 1918 Flu Pandemic. (2018, March 21). Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/1918-commemoration/1918-pandemic-history.htm

Past Pandemics. (2018, August). Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/basics/past-pandemics.html

Rogers, K. (2020, December 3). For churchgoers during the Covid-19 pandemic, a deadly lesson from the 1918 flu. Retrieved from CNN Health: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/03/health/churches-covid-1918-lesson-wellness/index.html

Contact Douglas Hoy, Disaster Response Coordinator, at drc@susumc.org

VIM Guidelines for US Project Sites and Team Leaders During the COVID-19 Pandemic

From www.umvim.org*

Our first General Rule as United Methodists is to “do no harm.” This extends to our mission relationships. We want to “do no harm” to our volunteers or the ones they serve. Our goal as UMVIM is to minimize infections spread by UM activity. 

The UMVIM leadership understands that many project sites rely on teams to assist in serving the community. Each individual situation will be different. One of the worst unintended effects of mission work throughout the ages has been the spread of infectious disease. Remember that we bring other things with us when we bring the Gospel. We must be careful.

The federal disaster declaration includes every state and territory with most states restricting large gatherings and promoting social distancing guidelines. These guidelines are designed to assist teams and hosts in determining when and how to prepare the site for future teams. All sites should adhere to public health and safety protocols to protect employees, homeowners, and missioners. 

All missioners are strongly advised to get a COVID vaccine when it is available. Project sites or annual conferences may require each missioner to get a vaccine.

For the latest COVID-19 updates, please visit https://www.cdc.gov. Pay particular attention to the CDC’s travel guidelines.

Responsibility for adhering to these guidelines is shared by the Team Leader and the Project Site. This requires frequent communication and cooperation between both parties. 

General Guidance for International Service

The State Department issues travel advisories based on health and safety concerns. Travel to countries at a Level 4 travel advisory is prohibited. Team insurance is not available for mission service in these countries. Travelers may be required to quarantine before or after travel to countries with advisories at Level 3 and below.

General Guidance for US Project Service

Suspending teams 

• Make this decision based on the guidance of your governor, bishop, and state, municipal, county, and tribal health authorities. Pay attention to directions about school closure, stay-at-home orders, and the size of gatherings that are allowed.
• Make this decision with the guidance of your board of directors or other governing body.

Hosting teams

• Know the quarantine rules. Some states require travelers to quarantine before or after arrival. Have a plan to ensure compliance. 
• Follow CDC guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your facilities. 
• Post reminders for hand washing, awareness of symptoms, etc.
• Improve air circulation in all common areas. 
• Provide prevention supplies:
• hand sanitizer
• disposable facemasks
• eye protection
• cleaners and disinfectants
• Gloves for food preparation and cleaning
• Other considerations
• Avoid buffet-style meal service. Have kitchen crews prepare dishes. This includes sack lunch preparation.
• If the dishwasher does not meet standards for sanitation, consider asking teams to bring paper products (not Styrofoam) to be discarded after each meal. Provide adequate trash receptacles.
• All touch surfaces should be thoroughly wiped down when the team arrives and as they prepare to leave with approved cleaners. 
• Work should be done on exterior projects only. Make accommodations for port-a-potties so teams do not have to enter a home.
• Consider ways to assure safe distancing on the work sight, in the dorm, dining area, and meeting space.
• If possible, provide washer and dryer facilities for laundering expectations.
• Screening protocol on arrival
• Take temperature 
• Ask about general health
• Ask if missioner has been in contact with anyone who had COVID-19
• Wipe down all surfaces prior to welcoming teams.
• Childrens’ ministry (VBS, etc) should be suspended until more guidance from CDC and the local officials is available.
• Have a plan in place to safely transport a team member who develops symptoms of COVID-19.
• Provide space for isolation if someone reports symptoms.
• The team member exhibiting symptoms should contact their health care provider as soon as possible.

Leading Teams

• Follow the guidelines of the CDC for travel both inside and outside the U.S.
• Follow your local guidelines from your governor, bishop, and state, municipal, county, and tribal health authorities. Also make sure you know the local guidelines in the place where you intend to serve. Where guidance from different authorities conflict, follow the more restrictive protocols.
• If it is determined that it is safe and lawful to serve, continue to plan for proper social distancing and PPE for team members, and sanitize surfaces/equipment wherever you go. 
• Each team member will sign the Medical and Emergency Form. 
• Know the health infrastructure in the area where the team intends to serve and the location of the nearest hospital. 
• Have a plan for canceling the journey or sending team members home if any team members are uncomfortable with the enforcement of safety protocols.
• Consider donations to the partner organization and organizing a virtual mission if it is not appropriate to physically travel to the project site.

Even though vaccines may be available to the public soon, going “back to normal” may be a few months away. We expect to continue taking measures to interrupt transmission of the virus for the protection of our volunteers and those we serve, even if (1) antibodies are proven to protect against re-infection, (2) tests are widely available to the general public and all team members have recently tested negative, or (3) vaccines are widely available, and all team members have been vaccinated.

*Revised November 2020. 

www.umvim.org/blog/guidelines-for-us-project-sites-during-covid-19-revised-1120

Questions? Michelle Schwartzman, VIM Coordinator 
vim@susumc.org     
717-766-7441 ext. 3105

Why vs. What?

By Su Rider

For quite some time, Halifax UMC has dreamed of having a robust adult small group ministry, but for various reasons the timing just hasn’t seemed right. God has worked in unique and wonderful ways in this pandemic season to bring this dream to life.

As the reality of COVID set in, forcing us to move to exclusively online worship and to suspend all church activities, we wrestled with the dilemma of how to create opportunities for people to stay connected. We also experienced a major uptick in the need for pastoral care and counseling specifically related to how the pandemic affected peoples’ jobs, relationships, security, and general mental wellbeing. God made it clear to us that this was our season to launch an adult small group ministry, as these groups had so much potential to address the pressing need in our church family for connection, support, and discipleship even in this valley season of pandemic. Our prayer was that small groups would equip our people not just to go through the valley, but to grow through the valley. On a practical note, the small groups also made a way for people to continue meeting safely and responsibly during periods of “shutdown” due to COVID.

Our attention turned toward the small group curriculum. What would we study? We wanted the common thread of a single study to unite all the various small groups that were forming. God made a way here as well. Ron Reitz, one of our church members, had been working for a few years to write a book about his spiritual journey through tragedy and challenge. The book, Why vs What, challenges readers not to ask “why” they’re facing challenges, as these answers will often never be revealed. Rather, readers are challenged to ask “what” God wants to accomplish through that challenge – in their life, in the lives of others, in the world. What an amazing connection to our prayer that people would not only go through the valley, but to grow through the valley!

Ron, the author, had been encountering many obstacles in the process of getting his book written and published. However, we were reminded that God’s timing is so perfect – Ron’s book was finally published in spring 2020, just as COVID took hold in our country. We realized the subject matter was extremely relevant to our church in its new pandemic context. And just like that, God had provided us with the perfect time to launch a small group ministry, and gave us the perfect study curriculum for it. A team of laypeople collaborated to develop a reading plan and discussion guide for the book, and the pastors recorded video introductions for each study module.

After recruiting and training small group leaders, it came time to recruit participants. We weren’t sure what to expect because of all the COVID related disruption and uncertainty our people were experiencing. But praise God – we now have eight groups with nearly 50 people engaged and growing in the Lord through small groups!

To supplement the small group study, and to draw in people who weren’t able to join a group, we’re also doing a sermon series called “Great Questions”. For many, this pandemic season has raised some deep and serious questions about God and how He relates to us. So many of these questions have come up in pastoral counseling in the past months. For example; why does God sometimes seem distant, or uncooperative? What do we do when God’s timing seems off? What about unanswered prayer? How do I experience God’s presence?

Without a doubt, this season of pandemic has been difficult, even tragic, for all of us. However, even in this valley God has shown Himself to be good and faithful at Halifax UMC. He has brought together people, resources, and dreams in a way only He could, and He is indeed helping us not just go through this valley, but to grow in the valley.

Sharing Sweetness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

By Pastor Hannah Pratt Sledge

Chelsea and Jack Hoover (youth from Aldersgate UMC, Mechanicsburg) responded to the COVID crisis by developing a “Cookie Challenge” outreach project. Chelsea spent most of spring 2020 baking because “there was nothing else to do”, but eventually her baking exceeded the bellies of her family and friends and was in danger of contributing to their “quarantine 15”! With the help of Pastor Jan Hughes and Pastor Hannah Pratt Sledge, Chelsea and Jack created the Cookie Challenge! 

Once a month, Jack films a video to be posted to social media, challenging their friends and family to join them in baking cookies for those in need. Individually bagged cookies are then collected and donated to Community Cares in Carlisle, the Blessing Box program in Mechanicsburg, and an essential food distribution site in Allison Hill.

Aldersgate Church and their Revolution Youth have been partners in collecting cookies along with Jack and Chelsea’s friends from school and other activities. Over the summer, Jack and Chelsea enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the distribution of the cookies in Allison Hill with friends from the Journey Church in Harrisburg. 

For their Christmas Cookie challenge, Jack and Chelsea had a goal of giving all the families at the Allison Hill distribution site a dozen Christmas cookies while continuing to share with the programs in Carlisle and Mechanicsburg. This time, the youth at Calvary UMC in Harrisburg joined in to help and together we were able to give 150 families a beautiful assortment of Christmas cookies.  

 

The total number of cookies donated since the beginning of the cookie challenge in May is 7,015!

Jack and Chelsea have heard amazing stories from bakers as they’ve creatively responded to the challenge. Cookies have been prayed over. Inspirational and kind messages have been written on the bags for the cookie recipients. They have been blown away by dedicated bakers who contribute every month. Their most significant experience has been the opportunity to connect with so many people through this project. The community’s response and enthusiasm to the challenge has been inspiring and the outcome exceptionally sweet.