Updates

3/27, 11:45am

Jubilee Kitchen is still on-going but at this time, no dine-in – TAKE AWAY MEALS ONLY

Jubilee Kitchen is held on Saturdays for guests at 11:30 a.m.

Here is a list from the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank of food pantries that are continuing operations as of March 25th. As noted, this may change as they become known to us. Stay well.

3/24, 12:00pm

3/17, 2:00pm

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. [Psalm 31:24]

Friends:

If it seems like you are getting a lot of emails from me, well, you are.  This pandemic in which we find ourselves is a fluid and ever-changing situation.  Initially, the CDC was asking organizations to not gather for the next two weeks.  Over the weekend, they issued a new recommendation asking organizations not to gather for the next months.

After prayer and thoughtful deliberation and with deep regret but a sense that we are doing the right thing, our elected leadership, the Session has acted to suspend all church activities through May 10 in order to comply with the newest CDC recommendation as well as an act of Christian love towards neighbors.  The goal is to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and not overwhelm our health care system with new infections.  Halting the spread of the coronavirus requires a community effort.  If new information arises that allows us to resume gathering in person, we will rescind this action and resume in-person gatherings.

Over the course of the next two months, we may be separated physically from one another but not spiritually.  We are still the church and will remain the church.  God has yet more for us to be and do.  God is far from finished with us.  Let’s not forget this.  Let’s practice this.

Our staff and session are exploring new and different ways to be and do church – mission, worship, education, pastoral care, service, outreach, stewardship . . . Stay tuned.  This is our first pandemic.  We are all learning.

A worship service will be broadcast each Sunday at 11:00 a.m.  Please tune in and worship with your brothers and sisters, albeit online.  Though online, God will still be worshiped, Christ will still be present, and the Holy Spirit will still come.  You will receive a link to the service in your Friday eNotice.  The link will be posted to the church’s Facebook group and organization pages as well.  Each worship service will remain at the link after the broadcast if 11:00 a.m. on a Sunday doesn’t work for you.

I will reiterate what I shared in a previous post:

— Support our church’s elected leaders and staff.  We have been making some hard decisions on the fly without a roadmap.  We are learning to lean ever more closely on God and one another more and more as we lead in this crisis.  We are humbled by the trust you place in us to lead well and wisely.

— Maintain your giving to the church according to your ability.  Our financial obligations remain as does yours – mission commitments, staff salaries, utilities, insurance, planned maintenance of a sizeable facility.  You can send your offering via USPS [116 S. Loudoun St., Winchester, VA 22601] or you can give electronically using the “Donate” button on our website [https://fpcwinc.org/stewardship/donate/].  Thank you.

— Check on your neighbors.  There are folks who are impacted harshly by the disruptions of this pandemic than others.  They need us and we can help.  Stay tuned to your email and our social media presence for ways to help.

— Pray for your church family.  Make phone calls.  Send emails.  Write and send cards.  Let folks know they are remembered and loved.

— Practice Sabbath.  Set aside time to be with God, to be silent, to listen for the whispers of the Spirit, to release your anxiety and fear, to renew, to rest.

I will to close with a prayer from our PCUSA co-moderators, Vilmarie Cintrón-Olivieri and Cindy Kohlman.  Please pray it as well.

We ask for calm, assurance, and strength.
May we all remember that, in the midst of any crisis,
Your grace reaches us,
Your hope enlightens us,
And Your love surrounds us all. Amen.

Dan and Amanda

The Session

3/16, 2:00pm

Normal Church Office Hours have been suspended until further notice (as outlined in the letter dated on 3/14)

If you need to contact a member of staff, please refer to this page for staff members’ e-mail addresses. If you need further assistance, send an e-mail to info@fpcwinc.org

Stay engaged online with FPC. On this page, we have traditionally posted our worship bulletins and videos-and we will continue to do so-but we are also using this space as our virtual church.

3/14, 3:30pm

Friends:

It’s not an easy thing to suspend church activities, especially worship.  When life is disrupted by something on the order of a pandemic which can foster fear, we want and need to gather to encourage and support one another and sense the Holy Spirit in and among us.  That’s part of what Christian community is all about.  But, with an infectious disease, getting together is the worst thing we can do.  It can harm our neighbors and ourselves.

In the interest of everyone’s health and well-being as well as in the interest of loving our neighbor, our Session has acted to suspend all activities on our campus and in our buildings through March 28 effectively immediately with two exceptions.  One, our 12 Step Groups that meet weekly in Donegal House [we will require them to disinfect the room before and after each use].  And, two, Jubilee Kitchen will operate differently – our guests will not dine-in in the Fellowship Hall, they will be provided with take-away meals.

Our staff will be working from home over the next two weeks.  Our Google Suites applications make this possible.  Also, we will livestream worship elements on March 22 at 11:00 a.m. via our Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/firstpresbyterianchurchwinchester/]

Even though we will not be seeing each other in person, we are still God’s church.  Here are some ways we can be God’s church during this time of the coronavirus pandemic:

— Support our church’s elected leaders and staff.  We have been making some hard decisions on the fly without a roadmap.  We are learning to lean ever more closely on God and one another more and more as we lead in this crisis.  We are humbled by the trust you place in us to lead well and wisely.

— Maintain your giving to the church.  Our financial obligations remain – mission commitments, staff salaries, utilities, insurance, planned maintenance of a sizeable facility.  You can send your offering via USPS [116 S. Loudoun St., Winchester, VA 22601] or you can give electronically using the “Donate” button on our website [https://fpcwinc.org/stewardship/donate/].  Thank you.

— Check on your neighbors.  There are folks who are impacted more harshly by the disruptions of this pandemic than others.  They need us and we can help.  Stay tuned to your email and our social media presence for ways to help.

— Pray for your church family.  Make phone calls.  Send emails.  Write and send cards.  Let folks know they are remembered and loved.

— Practice Sabbath.  Set aside time to be with God, to be silent, to listen for the whispers of the Spirit, to release your anxiety and fear, to renew, to rest.

May this pandemic be mitigated and eventually extinguished sooner rather than later and with a minimal loss of precious human life.  And, never forget, that our God promises to be with us always and bids us not to fear but to instead love.

God’s peace,

Dan and Amanda

The Session

3/13, 4:00pm

Friends: All church activities for Sunday, March 15 have been canceled in the interest of public health and loving our neighbor. Additional activities the week of March 16 and beyond may be canceled as well. We will notify you as soon as any cancellations are made. Please practice the CDC guidelines of hand-washing and social distancing to keep yourself well and to keep your neighbor well.

Peace. Dan McCoig, for the session.

CANCELLATIONS for Sunday, March 15
7:30am Chapel Worship Service
8:30am Contemporary Worship Service
9:45am Sunday School
11am Sanctuary Worship Service
UpNext, Youth Choir, and Youth Group
Ministry or Team meetings

CANCELLATION for Tuesday, March 17
11am Deriters Program: Glenn Galuda

CANCELLATION for Friday March 20-Sunday March 22
Women’s Retreat
Contact Amy Bowman if you have questions. amy@fpcwinc.org

CANCELLATION for Monday, March 16-Friday March 27
Classes not in session for the Weekday School, in following Frederick County Public Schools operation status. Questions or concerns can be directed to Christen Johnson, Director of the Weekday School christen@fpcwinc.org

3/13, 12:45pm The Weekday School’s operation protocol is to follow Frederick County Public Schools’operation status. FCPS are closed through March 27. Therefore, the Weekday School will not be in session through March 27. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Director of the Weekday School, Christen Johnson: christen@fpcwinc.org

• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow
• Stay home when sick
• Older adults and persons with underlying conditions should avoid crowds, everyone else should stay six feet apart from others