A MESSAGE REGARDING WORSHIP

Dear Church Family,

One of the greatest treasures of our church is its people. We are strong, resilient, caring, and loving of one another. It is in this spirit that our Re-opening Team re-convened this week to evaluate the current status of our worship services in person and online, review current trends from our state and local health departments, and updated CDC guidance.

As you may already know, the numbers of coronavirus cases have been steadily increasing in the counties from which we draw membership, and health officials are projecting a possible surge around the holidays as people move their events and gatherings indoors. As we seek to find the best way to host our weekly worship services, we have concluded that the safest course of action for our entire community is to switch to online worship beginning Sunday, November 29th, and through the entire Advent/Christmas season.

Our team also discussed ways for our members to keep connected during this time when so many are feeling isolated and longing for social interaction with their beloved church family, and so we are providing a few ways for you to find connection! Our church's worship team is planning a wonderful Advent season to keep traditions we hold so dear, our sermon series entitled, The Promise of Christmas will remind us all of the Hope, Love, Liberation, and Peace of Christ. We invite you to join us for daily devotionals on Facebook Live, to volunteer with our dinner ministry or online worship by reading scripture, prayers, or Children's Time, or sign-up to lead a small group where you're sure to build new friendships and develop a deeper relationship with God. Children are invited to take part in our first-ever virtual Christmas Pageant too! We've also heard you loud and clear - you miss virtual coffee hour! We are working to bring back virtual coffee hour following our Sunday worship online - hosted on YouTube and Facebook Live.

In closing, we want to THANK YOU for being flexible and supportive as our church navigates the challenges of operating during a pandemic. We too, long for the days of warm hugs and singing together, Sunday School, and coffee hour.

Our prayers for your safety and wellbeing this holiday season!

The Re-opening Team
Vivian Nelson-Appiah, Steve & Sue Zahorbenski, Ginger Haithcox, Brad Voorhees, Daphne Williams, Abraham Gulama, Louis Diemer, Jojo Annobil, Pastor Cyndi Stouffer

Self Screening Questionnaire for Re-opening

We ask that everyone attending church take a few minutes to self-screen before coming to worship in person. If you answer “YES” to any of the questions, please plan to stay home and enjoy worship online.

  1. Do you have a NEW uncontrolled cough?

  2. Do you have a sore throat?

  3. Do you have a new onset of severe headache, especially with fever?

  4. Are you experiencing diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain?

  5. Do you have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath?

  6. Do you have a change in or a new loss in sense of taste or smell?

  7. Have you had close contact (within 6 feet for at least 10 minutes) with a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or with a person who is awaiting results of a COVID-

    19 test due to symptoms?

  8. Have you, or anyone you have been in close contact with, been diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in quarantine for possible exposure to COVID-19 within the last two

    weeks?

  9. Have you been asked to self-isolate or quarantine by a medical professional or a local public health official in the last two weeks?

  10. Have you traveled to a state listed on the New Jersey Travel Advisory in the past 14 days?

Easter Holy Communion

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.                    

~Luke 24:31-32

Dear Friends in Christ,
     There is something special that happens in the breaking of bread. Throughout his ministry, we see Jesus breaking bread and sharing in a meal with others. Even the night before his crucifixion he chose to spend time in a meal with his disciples. After his resurrection, he shared in a meal on the beach with Peter and several other disciples and after a journey on the road to Emmaus, Jesus broke bread once again. There is something special that happens in the breaking of bread. In the Methodist tradition, we have two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. Sacraments are described as an outward and tangible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. 
Since we have not been able to gather together in several weeks, we have missed sharing in Holy Communion together. Although we are not able to be physically in the same space, I also believe that God transcends distance and time. I believe that many of us are hungering and thirsting for the grace and deep sacrificial love of Jesus that we find in this meal. Jesus reminds us in Mark's Gospel that when David's men were hungry, he took the consecrated bread from the house of God to feed them. I believe that God is calling us to this meal. 
On Easter Sunday, we will share in the liturgy and breaking of bread at the end of our worship together. This portion of the service will be done live and I will be consecrating the elements and we will be sharing and receiving the sacrament together. You are invited to prepare some bread and a cup of juice or water - enough for all in your family to share. Place them on a plate and cover them in preparation for this meal. My prayer is that through this meal we will be reminded of God’s presence and strengthened in the tangible grace of this sacrament.  It may be that in the breaking of bread, we may see more clearly the very real presence of Christ in our midst. 

In Christ's transcending love, 
Pastor Cyndi
 

Holy Week Letter from Pastor Cyndi

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” ~ John 1:5

Dear Friends in Christ,

This season has been very challenging for our community, our nation and our world. For many of us, this has been a time of darkness, of fear and anxiety. Our tendency is to run away from these times of darkness and to fill our lives with distractions and our time with busyness…but we may be missing the point.  It is these moments that can often lead us closer to God and open our hearts to hear more profoundly God’s voice.

As followers of Jesus, we know that Jesus had his own journey through darkness. He too experienced rejection… moments when his friends betrayed and denied him…trials of great pain and suffering.  And yet, even in this darkness, the light still had the power to shine through. During the trial of his last days, there were moments of light: friends gathered together for a meal, a woman anointing him with oil, a foreigner willing to help carry his cross, and a loving mother keeping vigil at the foot of his cross.  Light continued to break through even in the darkest of challenges. It is the promise of this light that leads us to live as Resurrection people, trusting that God’s light and love will always shine through. It is this promise of Light that will walk us through this time as well. 

There will be several opportunities for reflection, study, worship and yes...celebration through Holy Week. The attached sheet lists the opportunities available. You are invited to be a part of one or all these experiences. On Easter morning we will be sharing together in Holy Communion. Although we are not physically together, I trust that the Spirit of God can transcend even in the midst of our current constraints. I invite you to prepare some bread and juice or water, enough for all in your family to share. Place them on a plate and cover them in preparation for this holy ministry. My prayer is that through this meal we will be reminded of God’s presence and strengthen in  the tangible grace of this sacrament.  

In your envelope you have been given other tangible reminders of the Holy Week journey (palm, cross, butterfly). As you walk through this Holy Week, let these tokens guide your walk from the cross to the hope of resurrection. If you are able, I encourage you to give a special gift of joy and thanksgiving to the church so that we may continue the ministries and outreach to those who are in greatest need at this time. Any gift would be a great blessing!

The Good News of this journey is that we have a God who knows our struggles, who has walked and still walks with us and who leads us into New Life!


In God’s continual Light and Love,

Pastor Cyndi 

Holy Week and Outreach Opportunities

Good Evening Friends,  
     It's hard to believe that next Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. While it will be a very different experience of Holy Week this year, I believe God will help us to see new blessings in the journey to the cross and in the celebration of Resurrection Morning.  We are seeking to put together meaningful worship and prayer experiences in order to make Holy Week powerful for all. 

1. For Palm Sunday - Help Us Create a Virtual Palm Parade.
    - Grab a branch from your yard. Any branch will do. The folks in Jesus' time used what was abundant.
    - Video yourself or your family waving the branches and shouting Hosanna! Or just take a picture and email or WhatsApp it to Pastor Cyndi by April 3rd.  (please hold phone horizontally)

2. Good Friday - Taize Meditative Worship with Pastor Joe at 7:30 PM on Zoom (link will go out in the next newsletter) 

3. 24 Prayer Vigil from Home - We will still be holding our 24 hour Prayer Vigil from 6 am on Holy Saturday to 6 am on Easter morning. You can sign up on the homepage of our website (umcnb.org). 

4. Easter Sunday - We have been given permission from the Bishop to share in Holy Communion via the internet. There will also be special music and dance that Sunday as well as other surprises as we gather to celebrate the Hope of Resurrection. 

5. Thank you to all who have donated to both Elijah's Promise and Shiloh. We will continue to gather clothing, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, jackets, sweaters, baby wipes, latex gloves, toiletries, and socks as well as bulk rice, pasta or canned vegetables. Donations can be dropped off at the parsonage: 371 Wheeler Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902

I continue to give thanks to God for the gifts of our faith family. So many of you have reached out to support one another, to pray with one another and to be a source of God's presence and deep love. God's grace continues to pour out and even in the midst of the unknown, we are given glimmers of hope, grace and God's steadfast love. 

In Christ's amazing love, 
Pastor Cyndi