A Very Quiet Sunday

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It was very quiet at church this morning.  I've spent plenty of time there when I've been the only person in the building...but I found myself missing all of you very much as worship and fellowship time approached.  I offered prayers for all of you and some impromptu music--not to reassure God that we will eventually come back--but to reassure myself that we will indeed be back together one day soon.  I Invite you to visualize the people who sit near you on Sunday mornings and pray for them.

Today the Church Council met online to discuss a variety of issues facing the church in this weird time.  Here are the highlights:

1.  We currently have 15 pairs of "Phone Buddies" who are calling each other to check in, to see if anything is needed, and most importantly, to share conversation in a time of isolation.  Let Pastor Jean know if you would like to be paired with a phone buddy.

2.  Church Council encouraged the continuation of these messages and updates, and asked me to consider recording a video message for next Sunday.  We are also looking at possibly starting an online Bible Study or prayer group.  Please let me know if you're interested in an online Bible Study class.  We can help you connect via Zoom (an online meeting program).

3.  Hope's Kitchen remains open and is preparing take-away meals on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  We've been serving around 75 people each day.  We still have volunteers willing to come out and we have money in the Hope's Kitchen account to cover any unusual costs that may arise.  Many thanks to Pat Downey who keeps everything going!   Let Pastor Jean know if you'd like to have meals delivered--in town and out in the country.  We'll go to wherever you are!

4.  The Thrift Shop will remain closed.  We feel the risk to staff and volunteers is too high at this time.

5.  We will be working on establishing an active church Facebook page with regular updates.

6.  We are mailing the daily devotion and update emails to those who are not on our email list.

7.  We discussed Church Finances, with the following conclusions:
  • We will continue to pay all church employees (Thrift Shop managers and cashier, Office Manager/Treasurer, Children's Enrichment Program teachers, custodial and maintenance staff, and pastor) for at least the next 2 months--no matter what happens with the COVID-19 situation.  CEP funds will help cover the CEP teachers' salaries.

  • We are reducing our expenditures in every way we can.  Thermostats in the buildings are set low.  No purchases will be made other than supplies for Hope's Kitchen or emergency situations. 
  •  
  • Our income will be considerably LOWER due to the Thrift Shop closure.  We do have some funds in savings and investments.  We are willing to dip into savings--but using the invested funds would be unwise at this time.

  • We are depending on all of us keeping our financial pledges current to support our ongoing ministries and staff members.  Please mail your pledges and gifts to the church office:  P.O. Box 1016, Cortez, CO 81321           
I apologize that this message was heavy on the "update" part and light on the "devotion" part.  Sometimes we just have to communicate about the work of the church.  Thank you for being who you are--people of faith--people of hope--people who are passionate about caring for others.  May God bless us with patience and hope as we enter the second week of our separation.

Romans 5:1, 3-5
By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace[a] with God. 
But not only that! We even take pride in our problems, because we know that trouble produces endurance,  endurance produces character, and character produces hope.  This hope does not disappoint us, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Peace and all good,
Pastor Jean

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