Please note that we will not be worshiping in person on Sunday mornings, but using zoom.com to gather together online.
Our services can be accessed by signing into this link a few minutes before 10am on Sunday mornings.
Dear Folks,
By a decision of the Moderator, Head of Deacons, Head of Trustees and myself, we will not be worshiping on Sunday mornings at BCC for the foreseeable future. You are too precious to us. Our community’s health and well being are too important to us. In the hopes of being part of the slowing and squashing of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) we are discontinuing any gatherings at BCC.
If you are reading this online, on your computer, tablet, or cellphone, please download the Zoom app at zoom.com. Besides telephone and email, zoom will become an important way for us to stay in touch. Check into a session a few minutes early so you can see “who’s here?”
In addition to zoom, the safety committee has purchased a “robocaller, texter, emailer” thing that will allow us to contact you with any unexpected changes or announcements. We will use this tool sparingly. Try not to get too annoyed. 🙂
Below are the changes to life at BCC that we are aware of at this time:
Sunday School: Each Sunday we are not physically present at BCC the Sunday School will meet online for a short lesson via zoom. The times are being worked out with the teachers, and they will send a link to your email so that you and your child/ren can sign in and participate together. Please note that the Board of Christian Education has decided to cancel this year’s Easter Egg Hunt.
Caring: As many hospitals and nursing homes are discouraging (or prohibiting non family visitors) the Caring Committee, Deacons and I will be offering spiritual care via cards and phone calls. If you are aware of someone who is at risk of contracting the virus, please check on them more regularly. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is characterized by mild symptoms including a runny nose, sore throat, cough, and fever of 100.4 or higher. Illness can be more severe for some people and can lead to pneumonia or breathing difficulties.
More rarely, the disease can be fatal. Older people, and people with other medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), may be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill.–World Health Organization
Please contact the pastor if you know anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If you are not on the Caring Committee or Deacons, please join with them in praying for our faith family, community and world.
Fellowship: The Flame and, Game Night have been postponed. Please keep your stories and Rummikub tiles polished and await a new date in the future!
Women’s Society: By a vote of the Women’s Society the Rummage Sale has been postponed. Hang on to your treasures…they’ll be back…after the virus has settled down.
Flowers: As we will still be holding a modified worship service each week online, flowers are a welcome reminder of God continuing to bring forth new life and beauty into the world.
Office: The church office will maintain regular hours (Tues-Fri, 9-2) unless we become ill. Feel free to contact us by email or phone with questions and concerns…or celebrations!
Lenten Study: We will use the Zoom app for those who wish to participate in the weekly discussion of the Book of Joy. Those needing to discuss joy are welcome to attend without having read the book.
You can attend the Monday morning meetings at 10:30am by clicking here.
You can attend the Monday evening meetings at 7:30pm by clicking here.
Thursday Tapping Prayer: We will use the Zoom app for those wishing to participate in the weekly tapping prayer on Thursday mornings at 11am. You can join the Thursday morning meeting by clicking here.
We are certainly in a wilderness. All things are new, and yet, we can count on Jesus’ love being steady as he takes our hand (after using some sanitizer) and leads us compassionately toward the Promised Land.
COVID-19 presents us with some new challenges as people of faith. Whether we are gathered together or ministering apart, praying for one another, checking on one another,
I trust the words from Paul’s letter to the Romans, Chapter 8.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Be safe. Be well.
Rev. Todd Farnsworth
Briarcliffchurchpastor@gmail.com
