COVID-19 Update

A Message from Rev. Larry Homitsky, Pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Dear Calvary Family,

In the midst of one of the greatest challenges our entire world is now facing; the present COVID-19 Pandemic has already presented devastating effects on so many - not only those who have been diagnosed with the disease but everyone else! Medical personal who are desperately trying to care for those infected as well as officials working to stop the spread of this new virus. We are in “Uncharted Waters” and everything seems to be constantly changing. Therefore, I wanted to share Calvary’s present responses to the situations we are now facing;

1) I am encouraging all of us to increase our contacts via phone, email, facetime, etc. with family and others, and increase our facetime with God. As I said last Sunday, “’Social Distancing’ does not mean ‘Spiritual Distancing’”. Increasing our prayers and our prayer actions is a must! Isolation can quickly lead to depression and other concerns therefore our not-in-person contacts are very powerful and can make a positive difference.

2) Our worship time will continue, but in a different format. We will not be able to have our regular in person worship service for at least the next two weeks. Instead we will be providing a “service” remotely during the same time on Sunday mornings at 11:00am. Please join us on Facebook live streaming or YouTube once the recorded service has been posted. Of course, our financial gifts and offerings are still needed and therefore can be shared through the regular mail or via online giving with PayPal.

3) I am putting a team together that will attempt to call all of our members and friends just to check in and offer times of prayer. We are very blessed here at Calvary to have so many clergy as part of our faith family!

4) All of our regular activities and programs are being suspended until further notice. This includes our Sunday School, Adult Studies, Choir, Children’s Church, Sleeping Bag Ministry and all others.

5) We are attempting to keep our office open but on “Lock Down”. No tours or outside groups are permitted in the building and we are minimalizing any other personal contact; however, phones and emails are active. We are doing our very best to respond to all the requests and concerns that we have received!

6) The Tiffany Concert for this Sunday has been cancelled and we are hoping to reschedule when the current concerns subside.

One of my favorite scriptures was written by Apostle Paul to those called Colossians and it contains the best advice for us even today!

Colossians 3: 12-17

Put on then, as God’s Family holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these things put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual Songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do. In word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through him.

God's Blessings,

Rev. Larry Homitsky