[Grace UCC News] Greetings from Grace Church

[Jack Patterson]

Hi Family...the newsletter from church should be arriving any day.  Since
you signed up for the email news, you get a little head start.  There are a
number of items in the newsletter to review.  Here is a copy of the letter
talking about our plans for proceeding through May as we continue to deal
with the virus.  I'll send another email with some special requests.  Hope
you are safe and well.

Greetings from Grace,

As the work continues to control the virus, church council met for our
monthly meeting using Zoom. We agreed to again follow the suggested
guidelines of the Heartland Conference and adhere to the recommendations
coming from the Governor and state health experts. We will not hold
services in the sanctuary during May. We hope to resume regular services in
June with special precautions outlined later in this newsletter.

We will continue to hold online services each Sunday, with a live feed
using Zoom and a recorded feed using Facebook
https://facebook.com/GraceChurchLancaster

Information for accessing our Zoom feed is sent out using our email
newsfeed and our regular Dial My Calls phone messaging system. If you have
not yet signed up for these, contact Jack Patterson at 740-653-5750 or
email jackandterrip at gmail.com

You can access information on our webpage at graceucclancaster.org. Pastor
Vanessa has been posting regularly on our Facebook page. She may be
contacted for pastoral care or with prayer requests by email at
pastor at graceucclancaster.org or call 740-206-9724.

SPECIAL NOTICE!!! We will be holding one special service during May. On May
10, Pastor Keith McDevitt will be leading a live service at Grace. This
service will be held in the parking lot at Grace. For all who can attend,
we ask that you remain in your cars or possibly in close proximity to your
car using lawn chairs. We will set up parking so that vehicles are at least
six feet apart. Social distancing is absolutely necessary for the safety of
our members, and masks are recommended. Pastor McDevitt will use the PA
system we have used at previous outdoor services . The service will be
somewhat shortened, but will include music, scripture reading and most
importantly, Pastor Keith's message.


PLEASE NOTE: Immediately following the service, we will hold a
congregational meeting. We need approximately 30 members in attendance to
conduct official business. The purpose of the meeting will be to vote on
the call of Pastor Keith. Those members in attendance will be provided with
a yes or no ballot to approve the call. A ballot is enclosed in this
newsletter, if you wish to bring your own to the meeting and minimize
contact with materials others have handled. Multiple copies provided for
families. Also, bring a pen or pencil to mark your ballot.

MEET AND GREET: We had hoped to have a meet and greet potluck with Pastor
Keith and his wife Jessica prior to his initial service. We cannot gather
in that fashion, but we are organizing a Zoom meet and greet for May 9 at 6
PM. Information on accessing the Zoom meeting will be sent to all on the
email newslist and the Dial My Calls list. Zoom will allow you to access
the meeting using your phone, so internet access is not required. If you
wish to use this phone-in option, access information will be provided. Just
contact Jack Patterson if you have not signed up previously.

These are unusual times, and we are taking unusual steps to protect our
congregation and continue in our mission to do God's good work. We thank
you for your prayers and your patience as we work through these difficult
times.
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