May 15th Updates

Dear Central Family,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and in the name of Jesus, our Lord.  Never before has our whole community seen such rapid and wide-spread changes in nearly every area of our lives.  Never before have we had such a need as a church to lean into our rock, our unchanging God.  Though trials may arise, nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8).  

Navigating this fluid and contextual situation as a church has meant being aware the road ahead could change.  On May 1, we sent out this email  putting forth our hoped for path given what we knew.  We were aware our ‘headlights’ could reveal a constantly shifting course as we discern the path God has set before us to best make disciples of Jesus in a responsible way for this time.   Please read on for our ‘road map’ adjustments and general announcements for this week. We are in this together even if we must remain physically distant for a few more weeks.

 

Re-opening and Reservations for services until June 14th

We are still hoping to have our 1st in-person worship service on May 31st.  So far, there has not been a new outbreak as states have re-opened (praise God!).  However, we will not be offering an overflow room, nor will we be starting Sunday School back up. Further, to ensure compliance with the 100 person limit, we are asking people to reserve a spot at the 10:00am worship service through OnRealm beginning next Wednesday the 20th. Please be on the look-out for an email with instructions on how to reserve your spot.  If you have not yet logged-in to OnRealm to update your information, profile picture, and email preferences, please visit our Realm resource page for more information.  For those who are not on OnRealm please contact the church office at 765-962-8345 to reserve your spot.

We will be asking all people who come to wear a mask.  If you do not have one, we will provide one for you.  As we are working out how best to reopen our whole building responsibly, we see this as a way to love our neighbor – fellow church goer – by creating an environment where anyone could enter.  If you are uncomfortable with this, we understand and look forward to celebrating in person with you when we can all gather again without masks (please contact Pastor Joseph with any such concerns).  We also encourage anyone who is at-risk or is the least bit uncomfortable with larger gatherings to please stay home.  These first few weeks back are to work out the logistics of in-person worship so more may come soon.  We will still be offering our online services indefinitely. Pentecost will surely be a celebration as we begin our course of gathering as a church again.  Our laments will continue until we can ALL freely gather again.

 

Global 6k Saturday, May 16, 2020
Location: Wherever you are!

We wanted to give people an opportunity to look beyond this moment and beyond this place.  We have a crushing reality here at home which our community has been wonderful about addressing together.  Still, anytime we can turn on the faucet and there is water which can pour out for more than the needed 20 seconds to keep our hands cleaner.  We at Central want to live in a world where all can have access to that reality. 

You do not have to sign-up to run or walk, though you are welcome to share our enthusiasm and join our team.  We look forward to seeing pictures of you at Glen Miller, Hayes, Cope, or on the streets of Richmond.  You do not have to give, though if you are able, please join us in ending hunger and water insecurity around the globe.  We do ask that you pray.  Those already dealing with such insecurities will be feeling the impacts of this moment in ways far different than ourselves.

 

Pray at 7pm

Join with us as we pray and trust in God to provide in this time of great need. take a minute at 7:00pm (19:00 for Covid-19) each night to join the world in prayer for our response to Covid-19. Let us pray for those suffering, those without access to medical care, those who have lost their jobs, those who don’t know how to find resources, the heroes in the medical field, those serving in essential services, families spending more time together than ever before, families divided by quarantine, those feeling alone, those not regarding guidelines, those risking all to serve the least of these, and those on your heart each day. We are together in this fight.

 

Meeting with Central Medical Professionals coming soon!

A time to ask questions of and hear from those we know about the current state of our community’s fight against the Coronavirus while also offering encouragement and prayer for our members in the medical professions. Join us Monday, May 18th at 7:00pm on Zoom!

Join Zoom Meeting​

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87037531807

​Meeting ID: 870 3753 1807​

​Dial by your location​: +1 312 626 6799

 

UMW Antiques

Greetings from Creative Hands. We know that we’ve all been at home sheltering in place and have had time to organize and reorganize and have found antiques and collectibles that you think others would appreciate owning. We will be glad to take your donations of antiques and collectibles for our next Pop-Up for new owners to enjoy while helping UMW support their local charities. When it is safe, bring items to the church office for UMW. Please mark your donations “For UMW Pop-Up.” Thank you and we are wishing you well.

 

The seasons are changing (hello Sun!), yet our God’s steadfast love to you and through you to this community has not.  As we journey together let us always look to the One who guides us, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11

Yours in Christ, Central UMC Staff


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