Family and friends of Second UMC,

Bishop Taylor and the Holston Conference COVID-19 Task Force have released a plan for reopening in-person worship. As part of this plan, Second UMC has organized our own Healthy Church Team to consider how to prepare for in-person worship service. Please be patient as we continue to work through the logistics and challenges. Thank you church for your continued faithfulness. I will continue to update you on our plan to reopen. In the meantime, join us for online worship. Reach out to someone and be safe.

 

Pastor Charla

Below is a link to the Holston Conference Covid -19 Taskforce Plan

taking+steps+forward+faithfully+and+safely

BELOW IS A LETTER TO THE CHURCH FROM PASTOR CHARLA ON OUR PLANNING RESPONSE TEAM SURVEY RESULTS

6/19/2020

Dear Second UMC Members and Friends,

Thank you for being a part of the planning process to open the church building for in-person worship. I appreciate your responses to the survey. The Healthy Church Team will meet again Monday night to continue the planning process. The team members are Jeff Dowell (team chair), Julie Brannum, Lisa Glover,  Marty Oglesby, Tanja Patterson, and Jennifer Taylor. Next week, I look forward to giving you an update on the church’s plan to reopen.

Many of you are ready to return to in-person worship as soon as possible. Some believe we should have already returned. Since not everyone is ready or is able to return to in-person worship, our online worship services will continue after we resume in-person worship.

From the surveys, I also learned that we share different opinions on the wearing of masks and other safety precautions that we must take. Some are concerned over the length of the time the church has been closed. We are all in this together. Yet, we are in different places. We are growing weary of COVID-19 and the ways our life together has been turned upside down.

Despite the pandemic, you have continued to be the church. Many of you have worshipped online (and invited friends and family to do so too). You provided 19 food buckets to Liberia. You provided approximately  $800 of supplies for JustLead’s summer ministry. You are providing food for about 35 families every week. You provided an appreciation lunch for the teachers at Maynard Elementary. You gave Pastor Leah a loving send off to her new pastoral appointment. You are praying with and for each other. You are faithfully giving your tithes and offering. Thank you for being the church. I am so proud to begin my second year as your pastor.

Church, we need each other to continue to be the church. The community needs us too. Christ says to us, “Go and make disciples… I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age” (Matthew 28:19a, 20b).

I invite you to pray daily these words with me from the song “Spirit of the Living God” by Daniel Iverson.

Spirit of the Living God, move among us all;

Make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love.

Humble, caring, selfless, sharing –

Spirit of the living God, move among us all.

Be safe. Reach out to someone. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Charla