WORSHIP ON SUNDAYS AT

8:00 AM • 10:00 AM

CHURCH SCHOOL

10:00 am, Age 3 – High School

Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 12 noon

If you would like an appointment with the pastor, please call ahead to set up a time.

Dear Friends,

Lent began in the wilderness. This year, through the wilderness of Lent, we are invited to surrender to the wild leadings of the Spirit. That is our call and that is our challenge this year.  We rarely enter the wilderness willingly, but hopefully through our vulnerability and wandering we remember who we are and whose we are.  And, my friends, we find ourselves in a wilderness unlike anything we have experienced before but we are not alone. God is with us and we journey together.

One of the many reasons I have come to love Plattsburgh United Methodist Church so deeply is because we are so mindful of the impact our actions have on the community around us. The work of our church is strongest when we hold ourselves accountable to this practice, because we recognize that our work is much larger than ourselves.

The rapid spread of coronavirus COVID-19 is a public health crisis that has the potential to overwhelm our healthcare system and community resources, which can disproportionately affect those who are most vulnerable. We know that the virus spreads through person-to-person contact that is facilitated through large public gatherings, and that the best way to combat the spread of the virus is to engage in social distancing.

The health and safety of those who are the most vulnerable in our community is our highest priority during this time. After prayerful consideration, much conversation, and research showing the need to avoid gatherings, PUMC has decided to temporarily suspend all in-person gatherings until it is safe to resume.

SANCTUARY and CHAPEL WORSHIP

Effective immediately, we will suspend worship services at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. until it is safe to resume.  Pastor Phil will prepare a weekly devotional that will be e-mailed out on weekly. There will be scripture, message, lyrics of a hymn, a prayer and suggested children’s time with activity shared in the materials.  Even if we can’t be together, we will find ways to connect.  We will contact the congregation once it is deemed safe to resume worship at PUMC.

ALL ONGOING ACTIVIITES AT PUMC

Small Groups, meetings and other non-essential activities are suspended until it is safe to resume these activities. This will include worship services, church school time, choir rehearsals and all other group activities at PUMC. An exception will be made for Alcoholics Anonymous groups where severe spacing requirements will be in place.

The Interfaith Food Shelf will continue to operate with enhanced safety precautions.

We will contact all groups and ministry leaders once it is safe to resume regularly scheduled meetings and gatherings.

PASTORAL CARE AND CONNECTION

Connecting with and caring for one another is, always, one of our highest priorities. During this difficult time and over these coming weeks, please reach out to each other via text, phone, email or social media. I am ready to connect with you as well. If there’s anything at all that you or your loved ones need during this time, please reach out to me directly by email at pastorphils@gmail.com or my cell phone – 518-791-1123. In addition, you will be hearing from PUMC church caregivers/leaders from time to time. We want you to know we care, and we will serve your needs in every way we possibly can. Let us know how you are doing as we journey through this challenge together. We are making these temporary adjustments to how we conduct life together at PUMC out of an abundance of caution and because we believe this is the responsible choice in the interest of public health. Please be assured that, as soon as it is safe for us to do so, we will be ecstatic to return to our in-person gatherings with one another.

CONTINUE TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE CHURCH

During this time the church will still have bills due and ministry that will happening (just in different ways). Please be mindful of this. We encourage you to send your offering to the church.  You can also sign up for automatic withdrawal by emailing Beth Martin. bmar2me@juno.com or 518-310-0546.

A Scripture that is close to my heart right now is what Paul wrote to the Philippians. “Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.” These efforts we are making now are not made out of fear or anxiety. They are made with the full peace of God that guides our leadership and our community. Though we may be physically distant, we are connected to one another through God’s power, the gifts of technology, and our care for each other that surpasses any limitations. 

We will keep you posted to the best of our ability as we go through this wilderness time together.  We look forward to greeting you with a big hug very soon—but until then, take care of yourselves, take care of one another, and take care of those who are on the margins. If you, or anyone you know, is in need please let the church know and we will try to help to the best of our ability.

Peace,

Rev. Phil Richards

Leadership Board Members:

Bea Parks, Lay Leader

Judy Dobbs, Leadership Board Chair

Kim Dupras, SPR Lead

Bonnie Black, Trustee Lead

Steve Fogle, Finance Lead

Henry Ward, Treasurer

Kate Dermody

Deborah Colver

Randy Martin

Bob Patrick

Carol Lowery

Mary Lou Leavitt, Recording Secretary

Special Notice to the Community Concerning COVID 19 (Coronavirus)