“Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” (Psalm 23:4).  Many of us have nothing to compare to the uncertainties that 2020 has brought into our lives.  The Lord is our shepherd, and the Lord God understands 2020 better than any human being or social media advice.  The Lord Jesus Christ must be our focus!  Although we chose to suspend meetings at the building for an undetermined length of time as a result of guidance to stop the spread of COVID 19, you need spiritual sustenance and connectivity to the body of Christ.

While you may be physically distanced, you can very much be spiritually connected.  Please hear the hearts of the elders.  Virtual services are incredible opportunities for you to remain spiritually connected to this community of believers and we ask that you participate in at least one virtual worship service each week. 

We are expanding virtual opportunities to be blessed. We are hosting two virtual seminars by HeartSong Christian Counseling Services: 

These are opportunities to listen to and ask for guidance from Christian professional therapists.  The sessions are 90 minutes with about 60 minutes of guidance from a male and a female therapist, followed by 30 minutes of questions and answers (Q&A).  The seminars will be in English; however, we are working on a translation channel for Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters.

Please use 60 seconds to take this survey on your availability so we can establish final dates for the two HeartSong sessions.  If you need technology assistance in the form of equipment, internet service, or simply need some helping hands to show you how to use ZOOM, then open the survey and provide that feedback so we can address your needs.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!

For the Elders,

Stuart Platt

“Aunque ande en valle de sombras de la muerte, no temeré mal alguno, porque tú estás conmigo; tu vara y tu cayado me infundirán aliento. ” (Salmos 23:4).   Muchos de nosotros no tenemos nada que comparar con las incertidumbres que 2020 ha traído a nuestras vidas. El Señor es nuestro pastor, y El Señor Dios entiende 2020, mejor que cualquier ser humano o consejo en las redes sociales.   ¡El Señor Jesucristo debe ser nuestro enfoque! Aunque elegimos suspender las reuniones en el edificio por un período de tiempo indeterminado como resultado de la guía para detener la propagación de COVID 19, se necesita sustento espiritual y conectividad con el cuerpo de Cristo.

Si bien es cierto que estamos físicamente distanciados, pero podemos estar conectados espiritualmente. Por favor, escuchen los corazones y los buenos deseos de los ancianos.

Servicios virtuales son oportunidades increíbles para que permanezcamos espiritualmente conectados con toda la comunidad de creyentes y le pedimos que participe en al menos en un servicio de adoración virtual cada semana. 

Estamos ampliando oportunidades virtuales para ser bendecidos. Estamos organizando dos seminarios virtuales presentados por HeartSong Christian Counseling Services.

Estas son oportunidades para escuchar y pedir orientación de terapeutas profesionales cristianos. Las son de 90 minutos con unos 60 minutos de guía/consejos de un hombre y una mujer terapeuta, seguidos de 30 minutos de preguntas y respuestas.

Los seminarios serán en inglés; sin embargo, estamos trabajando en un canal de traducción para hermanos y hermanas de habla hispana.

Por favor, tomar 60 segundos para completar esta encuesta sobre su disponibilidad para que podamos establecer fechas finales para las dos sesiones de HeartSong. Si necesita asistencia tecnológica en forma de equipo, servicio de Internet, o simplemente necesita ayuda para mostrarle cómo utilizar ZOOM, abra la encuesta y proporcione esa retroalimentación/información para que podamos abordar sus necesidades. ¡Bendito sea el nombre del Señor!

Para los Ancianos,

Stuart Platt

In its monthly meeting this past Sunday, the elders discussed the final report of the In-Person Church Gatherings Committee with the Committee’s members and several congregants who attended. The July 6 report included important recommendations for conditions under which in-person worship services can resume at the meetinghouse.

The elders then considered the report in executive session and accepted nearly all of recommendations, with two exceptions. First, we concluded that in-person worship should not resume on July 26, as proposed by the committee, and we postponed the reopening date no sooner than mid-August. Second, we concluded that only the auditorium and its balcony should be used for in-person worship, and that at least initially, adult classroom space in the basement should not be used as overflow.

The committee’s recommendations cover the timing and format of resumed in-person services to assure social distancing and adequate time to clean the worship area between services.

The committee’s “What to expect as ACOC re-opens for in-person worship services” document can be found here. In addition, you’ll find a presentation here on the committee’s report here that provides details for the re-gathering plan. To prevent the spread of disease, the times, procedures and content of our face-to-face worship assemblies will change. Please familiarize yourself with these important details.

“We are deeply grateful to the In-Person Church Gatherings Committee for their time and the care they took to get this right,” said Dennis Hlasta, who is the elders’ chairman for July. Members of that committee included: April Barbour, Carmen Hernandez, Linda Hlasta, Marvin Soto, Gomi Otokwala, Devin Smith, Marvin Soto, Meghan Stringer and Matt WIlliams.

The elders also have appointed a committee to help with implementing in-person gatherings. Members of the Implementation Committee include: Beth Barns, Chris and Lynette Beltran, Robert Burgess, Sasha Jarrett, Keith Klemmer, Alex Martinez, Ed Neff, Meghan Stringer, Esther Turner and TJ Wilson.