Update on Church Activities

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Dear Church Family,

As the CDC recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 10 people or more throughout the U.S., and we are now under a statewide Stay at Home Order, we are likely looking at navigating a form of online church for several weeks. We will not be meeting in person until further notice. The Bishop has asked us to suspend worship at least through the end of April. Unless essential, people are required to work from home when possible which means we have closed our campus and our staff are working from home. 

As I said before, I believe this gives us a new opportunity to be the church to the world. In this time of uncertainty, we can be a comforting presence to our community. 

We have been working with the new and existing teams of our church for such a time as this, to be able to share the love of Jesus with the world. Maybe it looks different than we thought it would, but the opportunity is here and it is up to us to courageously move forward in our faith.

Thank you to all of you who have navigated Facebook for the first time to be able to see our service live stream and to those who have navigated our online giving page on our church website. I know that it takes courage to do new things and I am very proud of the way our congregation is adapting to these limitations. I believe that God will work in our faithfulness and guide us forward through this time. 

We will continue moving forward as a church. We are adapting to our new situation. As we sang on Sunday, the church is not a building, the church is a people.

Please keep reading for ways that you can be the church.

I am praying for each and every one of you. Please let me know how I can walk with you through this time. 

Blessings,

Heather

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Being the Church

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For many years, Tuskawilla has been a place where people can belong and feel loved, grow in their faith, and serve our community together in the name of Jesus Christ. We serve a God who is faithful. Here are some ways that you can continue being the church during this time of social distancing.

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Prayers

 

Nurture your soul every day in prayer and scripture. It is great to get news updates, but balance your viewing of news with some time in prayer, meditation, and study of scripture. This will reduce your fear and anxiety. This is your armor. One of my favorite Bible verses is Ephesians 6:10-18:

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"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.  As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints."

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You can join our Facebook group TUMC Daily Bible and Prayer Group, which will post a scripture passage every morning. Please feel free to share your insights on this page as we learn how to be a "virtual church." We will also add this section to our weekly newsletter emails.

Presence

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If you belong to a Sunday school class, team, or small group, find a way to be in touch with your group and check in on each other regularly. If you would like to be connected to a group, email a Discipleship Coordinator or the Office:

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Ken Dold:

Barb Biel:

Office:

For worship, find us on Facebook on Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm and Sunday mornings at 11:00 am. Right now many of us are on a steep learning curve to adapt to this technology, but rest assured this transition can be made to better center our hearts on Jesus Christ during this trying time. 

Tuskawilla United Methodist Church Facebook Page:

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Tuskawilla United Methodist Church YouTube Channel:

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Gifts

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The people of our church have been faithful in pledging our resources to do the work of the church. To honor our pledges and to continue growing in our generosity, please take a moment to register for online giving. This can be done as a recurring gift on weekly, bi-monthly, monthly or one time basis. When our church remains strong in our commitments, we can continue serving others. Help us stay strong. 

 

Click here for the online giving:
 

 

 

 

Service 

 

We have to rethink the ways that we are called to serve. It can be tempting to only focus on ourselves in a crisis, but it can be a powerful time for the church to find its true mission in transforming the world. If we have people in our church family who are in need, please let us know, so that we can take care of each other. Email us at: or .
 

Witness

 

Share positive messages with others. Write letters, send emails, make phone calls, and use this time of social distancing to find other ways to share the love of Jesus with the world. We have many in our church who make beautiful cards. Think about people you know and use this time to reach out and share some life-giving and loving thoughts.

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