Greetings in our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is our strength and foundation.
Our church closely monitored the recent updates regarding the response to COVID-19.
According to the directives released by the Government and Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, we will not gather for in-person worship for the next two Sundays. Click here to read the Bishop’s Announcement
Again, worship on March 15th and 22nd will not be held in public.
However, since our church has live stream capacity, will we invite the minimum number of worship leaders to help us lead worship, and broadcast our worship service.
We will have a live blended worship service at 8:30 am with music led by both Mark and Debra.
Rebroadcast of the service will be available immediately following the worship. So you can participate in worship when you are able.
The live stream link will be available on the following platforms.
Website: www.rcumc.org/watch
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rcumc
Youtube: Click here
In the meantime, all other activities will be canceled.
This means that our Annual Church clean up and project day, scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) will be postponed.
Sunday Bible Fellowship, Eat & Greet, youth group (lock-in scheduled on Mar. 20-21), Celebrate Recovery, Mosaic, C, and UMM Breakfast (21st) gathering will be canceled until further notice.
Other outside groups using our facility will be canceled as well.
We will continue to pray, as our society faces this grave challenge, and do our part of not furthering the spread of the virus.
In the meantime, I would like to encourage you to keep in mind the ABCs, till we are able to come together as a community of faith.
Alertness – Be alert and attentive to the situation. Closely monitor the updates and news released by local authorities. Be diligent to maintain your hygiene. Be respectful of others, and maintain a safe social distancing.
Balance – We need to balance our perspective facing this pandemic. We are God’s people and we should not be afraid of the pandemic. Remember that God is our rock and foundation! Remember that we are destined to realize how fragile we are, but because of the blood of Jesus, we are promised the eternal life that starts now.
We are called to be courageous in these times.
At the same time, we need to be careful. Our call to follow the directives is to respect others. We need to share the hope of Jesus with others in these tough times. We need to remember that extreme avoidance also has a risk of debilitating the community. We are here to be a blessing to the community.
Caring – Caring starts with praying. Please keep all who are affected by this virus in your prayers. Pray for the group of people who are vulnerable and high risk. Pray for the medical workers, and people who are fighting this virus at the forefront. Pray for communities and churches that will be affected by this pandemic. I will send another email sharing some thoughts on who we can pray together, by Monday.
Also, show your care and love by keeping each other in constant contact. Keep close contact with your loved ones and family in our church. Especially, with some of our vulnerable populations. We would ask you to contact us if you know someone who is in need. There is serval of our members volunteering to run errands for our seniors. Please hauler and we will connect you with help.
We are a family of Christ, who love God and love others.
We pray that our love will shine in the time of uncertainty.
Be safe and healthy.
I would like to end this email with a prayer, one of our members, shared with me yesterday.
Our church closely monitored the recent updates regarding the response to COVID-19.
According to the directives released by the Government and Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, we will not gather for in-person worship for the next two Sundays. Click here to read the Bishop’s Announcement
Again, worship on March 15th and 22nd will not be held in public.
However, since our church has live stream capacity, will we invite the minimum number of worship leaders to help us lead worship, and broadcast our worship service.
We will have a live blended worship service at 8:30 am with music led by both Mark and Debra.
Rebroadcast of the service will be available immediately following the worship. So you can participate in worship when you are able.
The live stream link will be available on the following platforms.
Website: www.rcumc.org/watch
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rcumc
Youtube: Click here
In the meantime, all other activities will be canceled.
This means that our Annual Church clean up and project day, scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday) will be postponed.
Sunday Bible Fellowship, Eat & Greet, youth group (lock-in scheduled on Mar. 20-21), Celebrate Recovery, Mosaic, C, and UMM Breakfast (21st) gathering will be canceled until further notice.
Other outside groups using our facility will be canceled as well.
We will continue to pray, as our society faces this grave challenge, and do our part of not furthering the spread of the virus.
In the meantime, I would like to encourage you to keep in mind the ABCs, till we are able to come together as a community of faith.
Alertness – Be alert and attentive to the situation. Closely monitor the updates and news released by local authorities. Be diligent to maintain your hygiene. Be respectful of others, and maintain a safe social distancing.
Balance – We need to balance our perspective facing this pandemic. We are God’s people and we should not be afraid of the pandemic. Remember that God is our rock and foundation! Remember that we are destined to realize how fragile we are, but because of the blood of Jesus, we are promised the eternal life that starts now.
We are called to be courageous in these times.
At the same time, we need to be careful. Our call to follow the directives is to respect others. We need to share the hope of Jesus with others in these tough times. We need to remember that extreme avoidance also has a risk of debilitating the community. We are here to be a blessing to the community.
Caring – Caring starts with praying. Please keep all who are affected by this virus in your prayers. Pray for the group of people who are vulnerable and high risk. Pray for the medical workers, and people who are fighting this virus at the forefront. Pray for communities and churches that will be affected by this pandemic. I will send another email sharing some thoughts on who we can pray together, by Monday.
Also, show your care and love by keeping each other in constant contact. Keep close contact with your loved ones and family in our church. Especially, with some of our vulnerable populations. We would ask you to contact us if you know someone who is in need. There is serval of our members volunteering to run errands for our seniors. Please hauler and we will connect you with help.
We are a family of Christ, who love God and love others.
We pray that our love will shine in the time of uncertainty.
Be safe and healthy.
I would like to end this email with a prayer, one of our members, shared with me yesterday.
Prayer for a Pandemic
May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money
in the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.
Amen.
Author Unknown
May we who are merely inconvenienced
Remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors
Remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home
Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close
Remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips
Remember those that have no place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money
in the tumult of the economic market
Remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home
Remember those who have no home.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.
Amen.
Author Unknown
In Christ,
Rev. Seungsoo Jun
Rev. Seungsoo Jun