Dear Members and Friends of Old South Haven Church,
I would like to invite you to join us this coming Sunday for worship by Zoom. This is the second Sunday of Advent--The Joy Sunday.
The Advent Wreath: The Candle of Joy Daryl Jordan
The Bulletin is attached. Pastor Glorya's sermon topic will be, "Expressions of Joy from Mary and Isaiah"
The details for joining the service are below.
Please join us this coming Sunday and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you Peace and Joy!
Linda
Pastor Glorya has prepared a list of people who need our prayers. See below.
Also included below is a message from the Presbytery encouraging us to continue our virtual worship services.
Linda
Topic: Sunday Zoom Church Service
Time: Dec 13, 2020 09:45 AM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2425544200?pwd=M3JpbUVPMWplL3FHWjlGR1pmK0c2dz09
Meeting ID: 242 554 4200
Passcode: 092003
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,2425544200#,,,,,,0#,,092003# US (New York)
+13017158592,,2425544200#,,,,,,0#,,092003# US (Washington D.C)
Dial by your location
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
PRAYER CONCERNS:
Losses:
Family and Friends of Robert (Bob) Baum, who entered the Church Triumphant on Sunday, December 6, 2020. Memorial Service to be held later.
Matt Palace who lost his daughter in her late 20's
The Bontempe Family on the lost of their father
The Haug Family who lost grandmother due to COVID-19
Family and friends of Margaret Duffy who entered the Church
Triumphant after battling cancer
Family and friends of Margaret Duffy who entered the Church Triumphant after battling cancer.
The congregation of the Jefferson Temple in Bellport on loss of pastor
and several congregants to COVID-19.
Kim Lipski loss of husband, Ron
Illness and other concerns:
Kevin Barnes and daughter
Lynn Moss
Betty Ulrich
Asif Iqbal-open heart surgery Dec. 3rd
Natasha and Audrey COVID exposure—awaiting test results
Irene- hip fracture-did well with surgery now in Rehab Ctr.
Janice and John Hoffman
Herman Washington
Mary-post op open heart
Future meetings of the "Incarnation" study group will be on Thursdays, December 10 & 17, Tuesday, Dec. 22; and a final wrap-up near Epiphany (date to be determined)
7 pm
Join Study Group
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82958270775?pwd=emx5bFQrU2c2aE51cEF1VTM4bDArQT09
You probably won't need the following additional Zoom information, but I've included it just in case.
Meeting ID: 829 5827 0775
Passcode: 291835
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,82958270775#,,,,,,0#,,291835# US (New York)
+13126266799,,82958270775#,,,,,,0#,,291835# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 829 5827 0775
Passcode: 291835
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbCYIfYLML
News from the Presbytery of Long Island
The Stated Clerk of the PC(USA) urges churches to stay the course on virtual worship
The debate between state governments and churches over in-person worship during a pandemic reached a new level last week when the U.S. Supreme Court sided with religious leaders in New York state. The high court ruled that New York's efforts to control the COVID-19 virus in churches and synagogues by limiting the number of people attending religious services was much harsher than the restrictions imposed on businesses and other locations that draw a number of people.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Brooklyn, along with several congregations of Orthodox Jews, had taken legal action to block Governor Andrew Cuomo's orders.
The Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), says that regardless of where other denominations stand on in-person worship, he's still urging PC(USA) churches to stay the course with online gatherings.
"People are dying. We should choose life and life more abundantly as our Scripture requires. We recognize that church is not a building. It is a place of worship," he said. "We are able to worship remotely, and we've found opportunities to have worship through other venues that do not require us to leave our homes."
Last spring when the virus began infiltrating the U.S., Nelson urged churches to move toward virtual worship to protect members and their communities. In addition, the entire 224th General Assembly (2020) of the PC(USA) was moved to an online format.
"Social media has been a major asset this year. Pastors have been able to sit on their sofas at home week after week and actually preach. They've found a way to make it work," Nelson said. "They've done this because they understand clearly that abundant life is important. It cannot be done if people in a surge are being asked to continue to go to worship when it would be detrimental to their health."
Even as potential vaccines are being shipped across the country for distribution, Nelson says this is not the time for churches to let their guard down.
"Stay the course, however long it takes, so we can safely get back to some sense of normalcy and this pandemic is gone," Nelson said. "I'm not sure we will ever get back to the way it was. I think we will be looking at a new normal in the days ahead."
Nelson's advice: Be creative.
"We've had conversations over the past year around the issue of having communion, we've pulled together hybrid services, combining in-person with virtual," he said. "All of these things have been done virtually. I have personally had the opportunity to preach on many Sundays because we were able to film these in advance."
Nelson says many churches are finding new people tuning in to their services and are gaining members as a result of online opportunities.
"Some church members have indicated they are not planning on going back but will participate virtually. Discussions are being held on how to best utilize their buildings to further help their community," he said. "This is a time of innovation and to really be challenged, looking beyond our boundaries and serving a community, so that when this pandemic has ended, we can determine how we can be most effective in the days to come."
J. Herbert Nelson, II
Stated Clerk
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