AN UPDATE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

Dear UCCVF Family,

As a church community our primary focus is our spiritual health, but of course we are concerned about your physical health and safety as well! In accordance with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations, in-person gatherings at the church have been suspended for the next four weeks, and we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak as it changes and evolves. While we will not be meeting in-person for corporate worship, we will do our best to maintain the bonds that unite and undergird us. Blessed be the spirit that connects us as we explore new ways of being in community:  

Worship

Each week, pre-recorded sermons and music will be added to the church website. After listening to the materials, we invite you to share reflections and insights via the Facebook group (UCCVF Members) and Instagram page (UCC Valley). In the near term, we will stick with this format, but we will be experimenting with different ways to make the experience even more interactive in the future.

Spiritual Formation Small Groups

Both the Wednesday night and Thursday morning Bible Study groups will begin meeting virtually, using the Zoom® video conferencing service. Communication containing links and instructions that will assist in logging on using video chat or telephone will be sent out each week by Pastor Shippen. The Lenten book study, The Cross and The Lynching Tree, will also begin to meet via Zoom®. For details on that gathering, please contact Beth Eustis.

Congregational Care

The Elders and Rev. Shippen will continue to be in touch with the flocks to be sure that no one is feeling alone or forgotten during this time. Over time, we will establish a way for "Lean on Me" prayer to continue. In the meantime, if you need to chat or just have a funny joke to share, feel free to reach out to one of the elders: Stefan N., Marni S., Susan B., Carl W., and Renee M. Any prayer request can be emailed to church@uccvf.org or shared on the members' Facebook group page.

Teams and Committees

Regular church business will continue as normal, as much as possible, but be handled through phone calls, email and zoom. Email is being continuously monitored and is the best way to reach the church. In order to schedule a zoom meeting, please reach out to Rev. Shippen or Renee and one of them will assist you. We also encourage all teams and committees to utilize Realm as a way of conducting their work.

Ministry and Outreach

While we may not be able to join together physically, our goal is to maintain our ministry presence. Many of the missions we support need our backing now more than ever. Staff will continue in their paid ministry roles and many of our operating costs will remain the same. We invite you to give your tithes and offerings by mailing them to the church, 45 Walker Road, Wayne, PA 19087. Please be sure that your envelope number is written in the memo line of the check or on the envelope. To maintain confidentiality, write Attn: Charlotte Emrich in the address (or just use your collection envelope!). If the contribution is targeted, i.e. One Great Hour of Sharing, please note that as well.

Church Council is meeting more frequently in the short term to continue to discuss different ways we can best respond as a faith community. We will continue to be in touch.

As always, your leadership is available and ready to lend a hand in any way that is needed. Information is changing frequently so please go to www.coronavirus.gov or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus for updates.

A note of inspiration:  Julian of Norwich not only suffered through the Bubonic Plague, but also spent quite a bit of her life in isolation and prayer. While stricken with that horrible plague, and facing many other trials, she was given a vision of Jesus Christ and found the courage to claim, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."

We are in the midst of uncertain times but know that all will be well. God is with us and God's spirit will keep us connected as we are apart one from another.

Be Well. Be Blessed.

Shannon Mudd, Council President

Rev. Sharell Shippen, Interim Pastor