Subject: This Week at Medford UMC -- March 27. 2020

This week at Medford UMC for {today}.

Online Worship Continues

Join us via Facebook live (facebook.com/MedfordUMC) on Sundays at 9:30 am or connect through our app (Media>Live Stream). See you Sunday!

A Word from the Pastor

Friends -

Maybe at this point, your version of the Lord's Prayer goes something like: "Lead me not into annoyance, but deliver me from my family..."

Perfectly understandable. Social distancing is hard. But it's also a good time for getting out in nature, simple things like board games, and having a little more space around the edges of our day to connect with people, even if it has to be virtual. Some high school friends suggested a ZOOM happy hour for this evening. Never done that before, but I figure ok, let's give it a try!

Prayers for deliverance are pretty common in the Bible, as they are in our everyday. I'm pretty sure my most common prayer is, "God, get me out of this!" We specialize in prayers of desperation. Even Jesus prays like this in the Garden: "Lord, take this cup from me!"

We're in one of those desperate moments, waiting for what's next, praying that all this will just pass us by. I pray that happens and that reality doesn't come close to matching projections. I also know that seems an unlikely scenario, based on what we're seeing in places like New York.

We may not be delivered FROM this, but I pray we can be delivered THROUGH this - that we might know God's loving care even as we face these difficult and dark days. I pray that each of us has the strength to be able to do that for the people in our lives. 

Please let us know how we can be in prayer for you right now. Reach out by phone, email, or text. We're stepping up opportunities for virtual community during these coming weeks - see details below. Be sure to download our app to find resources to nurture your spirit. And we'll see you at 9:30 on Sunday!

Peace, Joe

 



 

Limited Church Office Hours

Staff will be working mainly at home and the church office is closed to outside visitors. Should you wish to contact someone from the office, please call 609/654-8111. Our voice mail system alerts us when there are new messages. If you have an emergency, you can call or text Pastor Joe directly on his cell at 908/399-7435.

 

March Madness Easter Food Drive

Our gifts to those experiencing food insecurities is especially important today. So, while there is no basketball to watch on television, our March Madness Easter Food Drive in support of the Turning Point Food Pantry and Christian Caring Center goes on! 

We are making changes to the way we're collecting this year in hopes of keeping all of us healthy. To donate food, please click here. It's just like online grocery shopping, except the food will be delivered to our ministry partners. Monetary donations can be made through the church website, medfordumc.org/give or through our app (Give Now). Simply select "Easter Food Drive" from the list. Those funds will be used to purchase Acme Gift Cards and extra food items. Of course, you may mail a check to the church as well, please indicate "Easter Food Drive" in the memo line.

Please do not bring food items to the church building as no one will be available to pack, sort and deliver the items. Your continued generosity to this food drive is very appreciated.

 

Thank You for Your Financial Support

As always, the people of Medford UMC are coming through.  You all have continued to make our (virtual) ministry possible through your generous gifts. We know that many are experiencing financial disruption as a result of this pandemic. We also know that some will continue working as usual – though perhaps from home. We invite those who are able to consider how you can continue or even step up your support of the church during this time. Make a gift online at medfordumc.org/give or give through our app. And you can always send checks to the office at 2 Hartford Road, Medford NJ 08055.

 

Videoconferencing / ZOOM

ZOOM is a video-chat/virtual meeting service that can be accessed from a PC, tablet or phone (tablets and phones require you to install & download the ZOOM app). Medford UMC has established a paid ZOOM account for the church. This will allow us to use ZOOM’s industry-standard videoconferencing solution for on-line meetings and small groups. If you would like to use ZOOM for your group meeting, please contact either one of the pastors, and we’ll get you set up with instructions on how to use it. Don’t be intimidated – it’s very user-friendly.

The following opportunities have already been set up through ZOOM for our use:

Meeting with the Pastors: Both of your pastors want to connect with you. We are offering weekly Zoom check-in times for informal conversation, devotions, and prayer. Joe will set aside time on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. Kathleen will be gathering folks on Wednesdays at noon. Are you interested? Watch our Facebook page for information or use the following links to connect. If you’d like to get an email invitation, email Kathleen or JoeClick here to join Joe on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm. Click here to join Kathleen on Wednesdays at noon.

Men’s and Women’s Bible Studies: These groups are able to continue their regular meetings through ZOOM formats. Reach out to the pastors for information on how to connect. (Use these easy email links: Kathleen or Joe.)

Men’s Study – 1st & 3rd Saturdays – 8:00 am
Women’s Study – Every Thursday – 10:00 am

Virtual Youth Groups: Youth Groups are continuing to meet on Sunday evenings. Look for the e ZOOM links in the weekly youth e-newsletter, or contact Bethany Carl (bethany@medfordumc.org) to connect! Our Sunday meeting times will be

Elementary (grades 3-5) -- 4:30 pm 
Middle School -- 6:00 pm 
High School -- 7:30 pm 

We’re also beginning a new Facebook group for MUMC parents to build community among our families – look for details in the youth e-newsletter.

 

Online Sunday School Resources

Your Sunday School teachers miss connecting with your kids face to face. But our Superintendents, Karen Maese and Leigh Catapano, have found some resources to help. Check out this link for ideas on how to keep the Sunday School experience going at home:

 

Caring Team Check-Ins

Our caring team has been making calls to our people as a way of maintaining connection during these difficult times. We thank them for their ministry and hope you’ll take the opportunity to share what’s going on for you as we face these challenges.

 



 

Now is a Great Time to Download Our App

As of today, we have 330 downloads of our MUMC app! This is a great resource to stay connected to news about MUMC, access our daily devotionals, catch up on messages you missed, and manage your online giving. For an easy way to download, text “medfordapp” to 779-77.



 

 
 
Medford United Methodist Church
2 Hartford Road, Medford NJ 08055
609/654-8111

 

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