Update 3-26-2020
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I pray that you all are safe and well, and finding hope and peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. I know many of us have been wondering what impact the coronavirus pandemic will have on our Holy Week and Easter worship. The numbers both of those infected with the disease and those whose lives have been lost to it continue to rise, both worldwide and in the US. In response, our governor here in Michigan has issued an executive “Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives” order, prohibiting gatherings and requiring people to stay at home, with few exceptions, until April 13.
Our Michigan Area Bishop, David Bard, provided clarification yesterday that this means United Methodist churches in Michigan will not gather for worship during Holy Week or on Easter Sunday.
That does not mean, however, that we will not celebrate Easter. There will continue to be online worship videos, for this Sunday, and Palm Sunday, and Good Friday, And Easter. Beyond that, when the time comes that we can gather again in worship, we will celebrate the risen Lord on that Sunday, in our sanctuary, as Easter Sunday.
Below is an excerpt from Bishop Bard’s letter, affirming that very thing.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Carman
From Bishop David Bard:
The coronavirus pandemic has arrived during the church season of Lent, a time for spiritual introspection, a time when we remember Elijah’s forty-day sojourn at the end of which he encountered God in the sound of sheer silence, a time when we remember Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness where he encountered wild beasts and angels. This can feel like wilderness time, and our God is a God who brings the wilderness to blossom. Our God is the God whose raising of Jesus we celebrate at the end of Lent. Easter is coming. Even if Lent is extended, Easter is coming. Whatever day we come together again, no matter when, it will be Easter. I will declare it to be Easter Sunday, and Easter is coming.
Thank you. Be well. Know God is with you.
David Alan Bard
Michigan Area Bishop
Original Posting
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
As part of our United Methodist response to the COVID 19 pandemic, New Hope UMC will be suspending all meetings, studies, programs, meals and worship for the remainder of the month of March.
Just because we cannot gather face to face, however, does not mean that we won't continue to care for one another. In this section of our website, you will find resources to help keep us connected during this time. This page is where you will find updates on the disease and our response to it. The other pages in this section will provide connection information, worship resources, Bible study resources for those in the Revival class, and helpful links to other sites. I hope these resources will be helpful for us as we navigate this unprecedented time, even as I pray for each one of us in the days ahead.
Blessings,
Pastor Carman
Update 2-23-2020
Michigan’s Governor has issued a new executive order requiring Michigan residents and most businesses to stay in their homes. Impact for Michigan United Methodist churches is addressed by Bishop David Bard in today’s letter. Bishop Bard’s full letter can be found on the Michigan Conference web site. Basically, this order means our church building is closed, our worship will continue to be in the form of videos each week, and our staff will be working from home.
While our church building will be closed, we are still the body of Christ. This means:
- We can communicate with each other by email and phone and text (the church answering machine, email, and regular mail will be checked frequently)
- I will have a worship video for us each week
- We can (and really need to) send our regular offerings by mail or electronically
- The central resource for us will be this web site.
My prayers are with us all during this time, and I encourage all of us to be in prayer for each other, for those impacted by this disease, and for all those working in our health care systems. And always remember, our future is in God’s hands, and God is good, all the time.
Blessings,
Pastor Carman
