April 6, 2020/Volume 19, No. 5
Conference News
Due to COVID-19, news related to the virus is rapidly changing. Below are recent headlines related to this global health crisis.
Alabama-West Florida Conference Releases Updates on In-person Worship and 2020 Annual Conference Session
Important Announcements from the AWF Treasurer
Alabama-West Florida Conference Responds to Financial Needs of Local Churches Due to COVID-19
Cares ACT Information
Zoom Daily Devotional
Zoom Clergy "How is it with your soul?"
COVID-19 Resources
AWF Virtual Easter Worship Service to be Released
A comprehensive online AWF Easter worship service is in production. Many of you will find creative ways to minister to your congregations. However, if social distancing is preventing you from organizing a full service, this will be a wonderful resource to use in place of your regular service or as an additional service. The link will be sent to all clergy on Saturday afternoon, April 11, so that it is not improperly distributed and detract from the efforts of our local churches. The service will have an organized order of worship and will have participants from all eight districts, including a sermon from Bishop David Graves. If your local church will not be live streaming or producing an Easter morning worship service, you are welcome to post this video link on your social media pages or share it with your congregation via email anytime after 9:00am Easter morning. It will be released to the annual conference through email and social media at noon on Easter.
Around the Conference
Being the hands and feet of Christ in a pandemic through curbside delivery
While being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ can be difficult under normal circumstances, consider this challenge with state and national shelter-in-place mandates. When all hands and feet are ordered to stay at home, several Alabama-West Florida Conference United Methodist Churches have found innovative ways to partner with local authorities to provide food to those who need it most. Community Life Church (CLC), Gulf Breeze UMC, Navarre UMC and St. Paul UMC have collectively pooled their resources to supplement what other agencies are doing. “The local school systems are doing an outstanding job of feeding families, but transportation is required to pick up those meals,” stated Rev. Jenn Lusher, CLC director of care ministry. “United Methodists in the Gulf Breeze and Navarre areas are meeting families where they are. Some children are home alone because parents are working and some families do not own cars. By delivering food we can fill in the gaps that other programs do not cover. We are also meeting the needs of families who do not have school-aged students. The power of our connection is phenomenal.” More here.
AWF Foundation Offers Webinars on Game Changing Leadership
Amid the fear and uncertainty that COVID-19 has brought into the world, your church has an even greater opportunity to bring light and hope. The United Methodist Foundation has partnered with Generis and UMC Discipleship Ministries to provide several online workshops that will help you develop digital giving strategies and create a financial plan and budget for your church during these uncertain times. More here.
Mary Ellen’s Hearth at Nellie Burge Community Center Now Affiliated with the United Methodist Children’s Home
(UMCH) - Mary Ellen’s Hearth (MEH) at Nellie Burge Community Center, a ministry focused on serving homeless women and children, is now an affiliate of the United Methodist Children’s Home (UMCH). As a result of the affiliation, the United Methodist Children’s Home will carry out the day-to-day operations at the ministry’s Montgomery-based facility that provides safe living space for ten homeless moms and up to 20 children. While addressing the adversity these mothers face in regaining their independence, they’re provided a safe home along with their children. More here.
Online Giving Portal Available for AWF Churches
The Alabama-West Florida Conference Fiscal Office is providing an online giving platform to local churches who do not have their own as a way for members to give to their churches during the COVID-19 period of isolation. Church members may access the giving form via this online link. Churches who wish to take advantage of this service should please complete an ACH/direct deposit form, print, sign and return to Suzanne Krejcar at suzanne@awfumc.org. The name, email and telephone number of the signer must be included and must be an established financial contact for the church. The fiscal office will contact the pastor as a secondary validation measure before any funds are sent. Once the ACH information is validated by the pastor, the funds will be transmitted electronically every second Tuesday to the local church along with an e-mail confirmation and donor file. This e-mail will be sent both to the financial contact and the pastor.
Connectional News
Join Our Virtual Easter Sunday Choir
(DM) - You have likely seen the videos of choirs and studio singers coming together (digitally) and singing uplifting songs and hymns – creating works of art that in times like these are needed and incredibly inspiring. Now is your chance to be a part of an epic cell phone choir! To participate is easy, just follow the steps here.
Volunteers Needed for Telechaplaincy
(Assoc. of Professional Chaplains) - The need for spiritual care in the unprecedented time is critical. We are beginning to receive calls from healthcare institutions who need additional spiritual care provider assistance. If you are a student who needs hours to complete a CPE unit, a retired professional who is searching for ways to help, a psychotherapist who wants to provide mental health support to affected communities, or a trained lay person or member of the clergy who would like to offer spiritual care through telechaplaincy, please complete the form linked below from ACPE. We are grateful for your support to our colleagues and those they serve during this crisis. More here.
Resources
AWF COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, continues to impact the world. Each day more cases are reported and closings are announced. Click here for resources to help you and your congregation navigate this unprecedented time.
Leading Ideas Talks Podcast - Episode 52: "Pastoral Care in the Coronavirus Crisis" featuring Michael Koppel
(Lewis Center) - How can your church help congregants deal with fears, anxiety, and economic stresses in this unprecedented time? In this episode we speak with Wesley Theological Seminary Professor Michael Koppel about congregational care needs and responses in light of the challenges of the coronavirus crisis. More here.
Events
All in-person worship and meetings are cancelled in the Alabama-West Florida Conference through April 30, 2020. If your group is meeting remotely, please contact the coordinator for link information.
