To our Grace United Church of Christ Family and Friends
In response to the ongoing health crisis facing our community and our nation, our gathering time for worship was not held on March 15. After much prayer and discussion, the Church Council, in an online meeting, has decided to honor the request of the Heartland Association and the Governor to promote social distancing for the health and safety of our church family. Church services will be offered online between this Sunday, March 22 and Sunday, April 19. There will be no gathering for service at the church during this time period. We hope you can join us regularly for an online service at 10:30 AM on Sundays on our Facebook page, Grace Church (a United Church of Christ congregation) These services will be recorded and available on our Facebook page and the website. Pastor Vanessa will lead us in worship with a message, scripture readings and prayer. Any prayer requests you wish addressed during the service should be e-mailed to Pastor Vanessa at pastor@graceucclancaster.org or you may call Pastor Vanessa at 740-206-9724. Please visit our website for updated information – graceucclancaster.org
All face to face board meetings and other group meetings are temporarily suspended. We request that meetings be held using available technology to continue the necessary business of the church. The office will be closed until we can set policy to adequately protect staff from exposure to infection.
We will make every effort to contact all of our members regarding this decision. Jack Patterson, Council President, will open the church each Sunday to meet with any whom we fail to inform. The other affected groups who use our facility for group gatherings will be informed of our decision with our recommendation that they, too, suspend operations until April 26.
These are unusual times. They require some unusual actions. We pray that the decisions we make will honor God by continuing to serve while attempting to protect some of our most vulnerable members. We know that not all of our members are comfortable using some of the technology we will be relying on over the coming weeks. If you know of members and friends who need pastoral care or the support of the church, please let us know by contacting Pastor Vanessa. We are working to identify those who are best contacted by phone and will establish communication links as quickly as possible.
As I stated in my previous message, we will continue to update you as more decisions are made. Pray for wise decisions and God’s help. Even if our building is closed, our church continues. The building is not the church, we…the members of Grace are…our work continues as we touch lives in our community. We are entering a time when our good works may be most needed. Let us be there to fulfill God’s mission.
Jack Patterson,
Council President