In response to serious concerns about the spread of coronavirus in our state and around the world, the Session met Wednesday evening and made some important decisions we would like to share with you.
Sunday Worship. Giving priority to the health and safety of our congregation as well as fulfilling our responsibility to others, Session members voted to suspend Sunday morning public worship services through Sunday, April 5, 2020. This was a particularly difficult decision during the Lenten season, but it is vitally important from the standpoint of current public health concerns.
An abbreviated version of our usual worship services will be videotaped and posted on the Internet each week. It will be available online each Sunday morning. The URL (website address) will be sent out in advance by email, and the video will be left online so you can view it at your convenience on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. It will also be posted on our Facebook page.
Church Meetings. All meetings at the church will be suspended through April 12. This includes the new Intergenerational Confirmation Class, which will be rescheduled at a future time.
Use of the Church Building. Arrangements will be made to keep our food pantry open because the need may be greater than ever among those who benefit. The Outreach Committee may move food items to the entrance hallway to reduce access to the main part of the building. During the period when building use is reducd, we will ask our cleaning service to focus more on the sanitizing of high-touch surfaces.
Congregational Care. Our deacons will strive to respond to needs that arise while observing restrictions on face-to-face contact. Increased efforts will be made to maintain contact by telephone, email, written notes, and online media. All members can help by keeping in touch (at a distance) with each other, especially with those who may need assistance, and by keeping our food pantry well stocked. Those leading and working with our young people will explore ways to maintain contact with them.
Financial Support. Our church expenses will continue even though the offering bags cannot be passed. The Finance Committee encourages all members of the congregation to remember these needs and sustain their support. Contributions can be made by mailing checks to the church, dropping them off at the church office, or donating online through the “Give” page of our church website at https://nacoocheepresbyterian.org/give/. Other online giving options are being explored and will be announced when and if they become available.
Staying Informed. Things can change fast in the current situation. To keep our congregation well informed, we will be increasing the frequency of communications through the enhanced use of our Facebook page and weekly updates via email. If you know of people who do not have access to the information sent out, please help keep them informed. If there are those who should be added to the email address list, please send their name and email address to the NPC Communications Committee at npccomm@gmail.com.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the church office or email npccomm@gmail.com.
Tom Knecht
Communications Committee
On behalf of Bob Prim, the Session, and the Deacons