Dear Family and Friends of Christ United Methodist Church,
After our Thursday weekly e-news was sent out, the surrounding circumstances have been rapidly changing. I believe that all our children including the college students will switch to e-learning or virtual classes next week. A state of emergency was declared yesterday, and we hope to get the right medical treatment and support sooner at our local level.
Although we are a small congregation that has a lesser chance of spreading the virus, some of the concerns have been brought up with our elderly members and friends. Church has been taking an important role by opening the door to all God’s people, especially the vulnerable and those who are in need. However, now is a critical time to slow down the infection curve by social distancing as individuals and even as a church.
After prayerful consideration and conversation with our Leadership Team, we are proactively changing our worship starting tomorrow, Sunday, March 15. There will be no congregational gathering in the sanctuary or small group meetings in our church building until March 31. This change is not only for our own congregation but also for our local community neighbors whom we will still encounter and have contacts.
A prerecorded sermon will be posted on our church website www.gocumc.org each Sunday. You can watch from the comfort of your home at 10 a.m., our regular worship hour. For those who prefer a written copy of the sermon, a script will be included in our weekly e-news. For our children, please use this link for home Sunday School lessons: https://sermons4kids.com/
We will continue the cleaning service for the next two weeks. And I will be available to you as your pastor although face-to face contact will be more limited than usual. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the church office (847-669-9009) or email at christumcalgonquin@gmail.com.
Reach out to your church friends and check on your neighbors especially those who can be easily isolated as elderly, single or with health issues. In the midst of ‘distancing’ from one another, our relationship is not canceled. Pray for each other and for our nation and our global community. We are in this together as one human family and will overcome by thoughtful consideration and faithful action. Our worship continues through our daily life wherever we are.
Blessings & Peace,
Pastor Mi-Sook Yoo