Pastor’s Weekly Greeting: March 27th

Good afternoon all.

God’s grace be with you through this time of ‘spaces in our togetherness.’ Our hearts remain open, even as our doors must be closed. Thank you for your accommodations during this time. Each Sunday at 10 am (until we can physically meet again), there will be a live-stream facebook worship service. It will be posted on both the church facebook page and website (www.auburnmethodist.org) for two weeks. With each of these Friday ‘Weekly Greetings,’ I will attach a copy of the previous week’s message for any who may not have gained access or wish to share it with another. The church campus and office are currently closed until April 27th.

Virtual Church School is also offered. Mary MacMahon presented a zoom session of Godly Play last Wednesday and will be repeating it on Sunday at 11 am (following worship). If you wish to be sent an invitation for participating, please send the request to: sebisk@outlook.com, and I will forward it to her. The zoom program will also be used for virtual meetings (such as our Church council meeting at 7 pm, Thursday, April 2nd). If you haven’t yet done so, please download the zoom program to your online device so that you may participate. Virtual meetings for youth group and Wesleyan Singers are also being considered.

THANK YOU to all who have mailed in or dropped off pledge/offering contributions! They are needed more than ever right now. Some have prepaid their pledge to help the church ride through the economic ripples of closure. BLESS YOU! Additional giving opportunities at this time include: UMCA Coronavirus Assistance Fund, Lenten mission to support Sophia’s House in Lewiston ($494 raised to date) and UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) Sunday (formerly, One Great Hour of Sharing). The Maple Syrup project, coordinated by Joel and Janet Irish, will be delayed slightly, but is still in process. Proceeds from this year’s project will benefit Sophia’s House.

Due to exposure risk, the High Street Congregational Church has made the difficult decision to close the weekly food cupboard distribution for a (hopefully) short time. Contributions to Trinity Jubilee Center, therefore, are needed more than ever. Trinity has discontinued the daily hot lunch program, but continues to distribute food as able.

I am delighted with the many stories I hear of ‘people helping people.’ In Tennessee earlier this week, a young man (perhaps 19) turned to a fellow shopper at a local convenience store and said, “Ma’am, I believe God would have us help one another during this time, so I would like to buy your milk for you.” He then went to the cashier and purchased every container of milk and eggs in the store with the request that they be freely distributed to patrons. With all the difficult news we absorb, it is good to notice the extraordinary ways many sacrifice to be sure others are cared for.

You are in my prayers and heart,

Pastor Steve Bascom, UMC of Auburn