COVID-19 Response Update 6/1/20

   

Coronavirus Response Update:  June 1, 2020

 
Brothers and Sisters,
 
     Welcome to June, to summer, and to a lot of hope that fewer and fewer people, both at home and around the world, will get sick with Covid-19 as we continue to ease back into a sense of normalcy relative to our public gatherings with one another.
 
     We have had public gatherings here at the church for the past three Sundays with no Sunday school or childcare.  By all accounts these services have gone well.  I have been so encouraged by everyone’s flexibility and understanding.  I have been extremely proud of our custodial staff under the leadership of Jim Collett and Robert Donaldson.  They are keeping our building exceptionally clean and sanitized between services in a very intentional attempt to keep all of us safe.  It is a sight to watch them work!
 
     Given that there has been no spike in cases in Midland in May as things have started to open up state wide, we are now ready to take our next steps as we continue to further open our church to public gatherings.  These are our plans that are certainly subject to change if the situation starts to drastically change.          
 

  • Our worship services will continue to be at 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.Our 9:00 a.m. service will now be open to all.

 

  • No childcare will be available for these services.  We hope to reopen childcare on July 5th.

 

  • On June 21st, Father’s Day, we plan to start offering food and drinks between services in the café in a modified way.

 

  • We will continue to focus on our online participation.Both services will be live streamed on our website (www.firstmethodistmidland.com) and on Facebook.  We do not want anyone to feel pressure to come back to our public gatherings until they are ready.

 

  • Adult Sunday school classes may resume on June 7th.  Sunday school leaders, please get in touch with Jim Collett (jimcollett@firstmethodistmidland.com) for more information.  We hope to resume children and youth Sunday school on July 12th.

 

  • Our Wednesday Night Live bible study will continue in person and online at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in the worship center. There will be no meal, or kids and youth activities during that time here at the church.  However, beginning June 10th, will we serve dessert and have a brief time of fellowship following bible study in the atrium.

 

  • Please check Tower Times and/or Facebook for more information about the below June events.To subscribe to the church wide, children, and/or youth email list, please contact the church office at 432-682-3701 or email Gaby Villegas at gabyvillegas@firstmethodistmidland.com.

 

 

June 7th, 14th, 21st – Amos Food Drive
June 8th – Ladies Night Park Hang Out
June 15th – Moms @ First Playdate on the Playground
June 18th – Elementary Kids Hangouts at the church
June 20th – Service Project:  Hanging bird feeders at Manor Park
June 23rd – Virtual Murder Mystery
June 28th – Music Ministry Concert @ 5 p.m. in Sanctuary and online

 
     For more information about children’s events, please contact Mara Dolan (maradolan@firstmethodistmidland.com).  For more information about youth events, please contact Ty Lust (tylust@firstmethodistmidland.com).
 
     Thank you so much for your encouragement and support during these days.  If you have any questions, concerns, thoughts, or needs, please do not hesitate to reach out.  We really want to help!   
 
 
Grace and Peace,
 
Rev. Steve Brooks
(432) 559-0208