Covid-19 Updates
As information is rapidly changing, we will try to keep you updated as best as we can. When in doubt, please follow the advice of the CDC and local governments.
Letter to the Congregation-27 March 2020
The following email was sent out to the congregation on Friday, March 20, 2020 with updates, information, and worship access. If you did not receive it, please check your spam. If you still did not receive it please contact the church office to be added onto the email list so you get information being sent out in the future. Thank you.
Good Day, Good Shepherd UMC Family!
Once again, I pray you are doing well, staying home, washing your hands, and following all other precautions and guidelines set forth by those with more knowledge of this disease. I wanted to provide you with a few updates and information. New information is highlighted in purple.
General Information
First, it pains and grieves me that we are not gathered together. I want to be with you, but know that this is only temporary. I am on a conference call this twice a week with Johns Hopkins Religious and Community Health Partners, and the experts there were saying that we should expect the peak of cases to hit our area in the next week or so. A lot of information was shared, and I'm happy to share more with you one-on-one. Social distancing is the only tool we have right now. Hospitals are the last line of defense. Staying home (and not going to the grocery store every day) is our best tool to prevent the spread and resulting deaths from this pandemic. The longer people keep going out--even to the grocery store more than necessary--the longer we will need to isolate ourselves.
At this time, our building, and all related ministries, are cancelled through the end of April, per the direction of our Bishop, Governor, Mayor, and the CDC.
Pastoral Care
This week, we continued our outreach to the entire congregation. You should have received either a phone call, email, or text message from a member of our Leadership Team, as well as Pastor Bonnie. If you did not receive them, please respond to this email so that we can update your contact information. Several numbers were disconnected; and many people did not answer their phones.
If you have a pastoral need, please email me at this email address and I will reply as quickly as possible. Sometimes I am unable to answer my phone as I am on a conference call with it. Please be patient, and email if possible so that I can respond faster.
Worship Opportunities
While we are apart, we do have spaces for us to connect to one another. On Sunday mornings at 10am, we have a conference call worship service. To access this, At 9:50-9:55am, please call 712-775-7031. When asked for the access code, please type: 638-979-741# Some people have had difficulty getting connected. This is because the system is often overloaded with so many people trying to use the same platforms at the same time. Try calling in earlier. If you get a busy signal, keep trying. If you are using a smart phone, download the "Free Conference Call" app, and use that to call in--it automatically reroutes your call to a network that is less busy. If you still can't get through, text the phone number provided, and you will be sent an alternative number to call and get connected. If you have further questions, please contact Pastor Bonnie.
Additionally, we offer a home worship service on our blog on the church website. You can access the service directly here: http://www.goodshepherdhampden.com/blog/march-27th-2020
On the home worship service, there are links to a sermon, Scripture, and even a bunch of kids' activities--some are available as a digital download (worksheets, coloring, etc), and there is a video of Pastor Bonnie reading a story book too! (If you are curious, there are few more on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfBcbD3vXUK8dL6Hyi4fO2g?view_as=subscriber and more will be added in the coming week(s).)
On Sunday, April 5, and Sunday, April 12 (Palm Sunday and Easter), the Baltimore-Washington Conference will be providing a service for us, with the District Superintendents and Bishop leading/preaching. When we have links to that information, we will send it out. Stay tuned to our website, Facebook page, and emails. Our conference call times may need to be adjusted accordingly.
All in-person Holy Week worship services have been cancelled. Stay tuned for more information about online and home worship opportunities that will be out next week.
The first Sunday back will be the day we celebrate Easter in person! We have already talked with our musicians, florist, and leaders, who are all on board for this change. If you ordered Easter flowers, we will do our best to honor the flowers requested. However, depending on how long we are out of the building, those flowers may be out of season and unavailable. You will receive flowers of a comparable value and size on our "Easter" Sunday.
If you have ordered Sunday flower arrangements, your order will be transferred to a date in the future that is open, once we know when we are returning.
Giving
As a means of justice, we are committed to paying our staff throughout this crisis. So that we can do this, especially since church employees do not qualify for unemployment, and so that we are still here when this crisis ends, please consider giving generously. We know this is a tough time for everyone, but every little bit helps. Our preferred method of giving is by utilizing our online giving platform available with any of the green "Give" buttons located throughout our website, www.goodshepherdhampden.com. This is safe, secure, and gets the funds to us nearly instantly. Alternatively, you may mail your offerings to the church (3800 Roland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21211)--but there may be a delay in depositing. Lastly, please consider bringing your offerings when we resume meeting to "make up" the weeks missed. We appreciate your generosity as we seek to continue our mission and ministry throughout the community and world during this difficult time.
Miscellaneous
Please stay home, wash your hands, and help to flatten the curve. Lives depend on it. If you have questions, faith concerns, or aren't sure where to find accurate information, please reach out to me directly. I am here for you. Our Facebook page and website are being updated with information (although there is a ton out there, we are trying to give you the most pertinent information possible). You are loved.
Blessings,
Pastor Bonnie
Good Day, Good Shepherd UMC Family!
Once again, I pray you are doing well, staying home, washing your hands, and following all other precautions and guidelines set forth by those with more knowledge of this disease. I wanted to provide you with a few updates and information. New information is highlighted in purple.
General Information
First, it pains and grieves me that we are not gathered together. I want to be with you, but know that this is only temporary. I am on a conference call this twice a week with Johns Hopkins Religious and Community Health Partners, and the experts there were saying that we should expect the peak of cases to hit our area in the next week or so. A lot of information was shared, and I'm happy to share more with you one-on-one. Social distancing is the only tool we have right now. Hospitals are the last line of defense. Staying home (and not going to the grocery store every day) is our best tool to prevent the spread and resulting deaths from this pandemic. The longer people keep going out--even to the grocery store more than necessary--the longer we will need to isolate ourselves.
At this time, our building, and all related ministries, are cancelled through the end of April, per the direction of our Bishop, Governor, Mayor, and the CDC.
Pastoral Care
This week, we continued our outreach to the entire congregation. You should have received either a phone call, email, or text message from a member of our Leadership Team, as well as Pastor Bonnie. If you did not receive them, please respond to this email so that we can update your contact information. Several numbers were disconnected; and many people did not answer their phones.
If you have a pastoral need, please email me at this email address and I will reply as quickly as possible. Sometimes I am unable to answer my phone as I am on a conference call with it. Please be patient, and email if possible so that I can respond faster.
Worship Opportunities
While we are apart, we do have spaces for us to connect to one another. On Sunday mornings at 10am, we have a conference call worship service. To access this, At 9:50-9:55am, please call 712-775-7031. When asked for the access code, please type: 638-979-741# Some people have had difficulty getting connected. This is because the system is often overloaded with so many people trying to use the same platforms at the same time. Try calling in earlier. If you get a busy signal, keep trying. If you are using a smart phone, download the "Free Conference Call" app, and use that to call in--it automatically reroutes your call to a network that is less busy. If you still can't get through, text the phone number provided, and you will be sent an alternative number to call and get connected. If you have further questions, please contact Pastor Bonnie.
Additionally, we offer a home worship service on our blog on the church website. You can access the service directly here: http://www.goodshepherdhampden.com/blog/march-27th-2020
On the home worship service, there are links to a sermon, Scripture, and even a bunch of kids' activities--some are available as a digital download (worksheets, coloring, etc), and there is a video of Pastor Bonnie reading a story book too! (If you are curious, there are few more on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfBcbD3vXUK8dL6Hyi4fO2g?view_as=subscriber and more will be added in the coming week(s).)
On Sunday, April 5, and Sunday, April 12 (Palm Sunday and Easter), the Baltimore-Washington Conference will be providing a service for us, with the District Superintendents and Bishop leading/preaching. When we have links to that information, we will send it out. Stay tuned to our website, Facebook page, and emails. Our conference call times may need to be adjusted accordingly.
All in-person Holy Week worship services have been cancelled. Stay tuned for more information about online and home worship opportunities that will be out next week.
The first Sunday back will be the day we celebrate Easter in person! We have already talked with our musicians, florist, and leaders, who are all on board for this change. If you ordered Easter flowers, we will do our best to honor the flowers requested. However, depending on how long we are out of the building, those flowers may be out of season and unavailable. You will receive flowers of a comparable value and size on our "Easter" Sunday.
If you have ordered Sunday flower arrangements, your order will be transferred to a date in the future that is open, once we know when we are returning.
Giving
As a means of justice, we are committed to paying our staff throughout this crisis. So that we can do this, especially since church employees do not qualify for unemployment, and so that we are still here when this crisis ends, please consider giving generously. We know this is a tough time for everyone, but every little bit helps. Our preferred method of giving is by utilizing our online giving platform available with any of the green "Give" buttons located throughout our website, www.goodshepherdhampden.com. This is safe, secure, and gets the funds to us nearly instantly. Alternatively, you may mail your offerings to the church (3800 Roland Ave, Baltimore, MD 21211)--but there may be a delay in depositing. Lastly, please consider bringing your offerings when we resume meeting to "make up" the weeks missed. We appreciate your generosity as we seek to continue our mission and ministry throughout the community and world during this difficult time.
Miscellaneous
Please stay home, wash your hands, and help to flatten the curve. Lives depend on it. If you have questions, faith concerns, or aren't sure where to find accurate information, please reach out to me directly. I am here for you. Our Facebook page and website are being updated with information (although there is a ton out there, we are trying to give you the most pertinent information possible). You are loved.
Blessings,
Pastor Bonnie
Letter to the Congregation-20 March 2020
The following email was sent out to the congregation on Friday, March 20, 2020 with updates, information, and worship access. If you did not receive it, please check your spam. If you still did not receive it please contact the church office to be added onto the email list so you get information being sent out in the future. Thank you.
Good Day, Good Shepherd UMC Family!
I pray that you are doing well, staying home, and following all precautions put forth by our government officials, the CDC, and other persons in authority. I wanted to provide you with a few updates.
General Information
First, it pains and grieves me that we are not gathered together. I want to be with you, but know that this is only temporary. I was on a conference call this morning with Johns Hopkins Religious and Community Health Partners, and the experts there were saying that we should expect the peak of cases to hit our area in the next 1-2 weeks. A lot of information was shared, and I'm happy to share more with you one-on-one. Social distancing is the only tool we have right now.
At this time, our building, and all related ministries, are cancelled through at least the end of the month, per the direction of our Bishop, Governor, Mayor, and the CDC. My guess is that we will be closed longer, but how long is anyone's guess at this point. If everyone follows social distancing, we may be wrapping up this wave in the next month or so. However, the longer people go out and about, the longer we will be in this phase.
Pastoral Care
This week, you should have received either a phone call, email, or text message from a member of our Leadership Team, as well as Pastor Bonnie. If you did not receive them, please respond to this email so that we can update your contact information. Several numbers were disconnected; and many people did not answer their phones.
If you have a pastoral need, please email me at this email address and I will reply as quickly as possible. I am working from home, although I am juggling parenting an active toddler with no child care, conference calls and video meetings, and my regular work load. Please be patient with me as we all live into this "new normal."
Worship Opportunities
While we are apart, we do have spaces for us to connect to one another. On Sunday mornings at 10am, we have a conference call worship service. To access this, At 9:55-10am, please call 712-775-7031. When asked for the access code, please type: 638-979-741#
Additionally, we offer a home worship service on our blog on the church website. You can access the service directly here: http://www.goodshepherdhampden.com/blog (Last week's service was accidentally copied over if you are looking for that). We are working on re-creating it, but it might take another day or two to get it back.
On the home worship service, there are links to a sermon, Scripture, and even a bunch of kids' activities--some are available as a digital download (worksheets, coloring, etc), and there is a video of Pastor Bonnie reading a story book too! (If you are curious, there are few more on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfBcbD3vXUK8dL6Hyi4fO2g?view_as=subscriber and more will be added in the coming week(s).)
Giving
Our Trustees and staff are checking our building regularly. We have fixed costs of staff, utilities, and other missions to support during this time, even though we are closed. Our Church Council has elected to continue paying our staff their full salaries during this pandemic as a justice issue. So, please consider mailing your offerings to the church, bringing them to worship to “make up” the lost weeks when we do return, or, preferably, utilizing our online giving platform, tithe.ly. You can find a link to this platform for one-time or recurring donations from our website, www.goodshepherdhampden.com.
Miscellaneous
Please stay home, wash your hands, and help to flatten the curve. Lives depend on it. If you have questions, faith concerns, or aren't sure where to find accurate information, please reach out to me directly. I am here for you. Our Facebook page and website are being updated with information (although there is a ton out there, we are trying to give you the most pertinent information possible). You are loved.
Blessings,
Pastor Bonnie
Good Day, Good Shepherd UMC Family!
I pray that you are doing well, staying home, and following all precautions put forth by our government officials, the CDC, and other persons in authority. I wanted to provide you with a few updates.
General Information
First, it pains and grieves me that we are not gathered together. I want to be with you, but know that this is only temporary. I was on a conference call this morning with Johns Hopkins Religious and Community Health Partners, and the experts there were saying that we should expect the peak of cases to hit our area in the next 1-2 weeks. A lot of information was shared, and I'm happy to share more with you one-on-one. Social distancing is the only tool we have right now.
At this time, our building, and all related ministries, are cancelled through at least the end of the month, per the direction of our Bishop, Governor, Mayor, and the CDC. My guess is that we will be closed longer, but how long is anyone's guess at this point. If everyone follows social distancing, we may be wrapping up this wave in the next month or so. However, the longer people go out and about, the longer we will be in this phase.
Pastoral Care
This week, you should have received either a phone call, email, or text message from a member of our Leadership Team, as well as Pastor Bonnie. If you did not receive them, please respond to this email so that we can update your contact information. Several numbers were disconnected; and many people did not answer their phones.
If you have a pastoral need, please email me at this email address and I will reply as quickly as possible. I am working from home, although I am juggling parenting an active toddler with no child care, conference calls and video meetings, and my regular work load. Please be patient with me as we all live into this "new normal."
Worship Opportunities
While we are apart, we do have spaces for us to connect to one another. On Sunday mornings at 10am, we have a conference call worship service. To access this, At 9:55-10am, please call 712-775-7031. When asked for the access code, please type: 638-979-741#
Additionally, we offer a home worship service on our blog on the church website. You can access the service directly here: http://www.goodshepherdhampden.com/blog (Last week's service was accidentally copied over if you are looking for that). We are working on re-creating it, but it might take another day or two to get it back.
On the home worship service, there are links to a sermon, Scripture, and even a bunch of kids' activities--some are available as a digital download (worksheets, coloring, etc), and there is a video of Pastor Bonnie reading a story book too! (If you are curious, there are few more on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfBcbD3vXUK8dL6Hyi4fO2g?view_as=subscriber and more will be added in the coming week(s).)
Giving
Our Trustees and staff are checking our building regularly. We have fixed costs of staff, utilities, and other missions to support during this time, even though we are closed. Our Church Council has elected to continue paying our staff their full salaries during this pandemic as a justice issue. So, please consider mailing your offerings to the church, bringing them to worship to “make up” the lost weeks when we do return, or, preferably, utilizing our online giving platform, tithe.ly. You can find a link to this platform for one-time or recurring donations from our website, www.goodshepherdhampden.com.
Miscellaneous
Please stay home, wash your hands, and help to flatten the curve. Lives depend on it. If you have questions, faith concerns, or aren't sure where to find accurate information, please reach out to me directly. I am here for you. Our Facebook page and website are being updated with information (although there is a ton out there, we are trying to give you the most pertinent information possible). You are loved.
Blessings,
Pastor Bonnie
Sunday, March 15, 2020 Alternative Worship
While we will not be gathering in person on Sunday, March 15, we offer you a home worship experience. Please head over to our blog to access this resource.
We will also be hosting a prayer call. At 9:55-10am, please call 712-775-7031. When asked for the access code, please type: 638-979-741#
We will also be hosting a prayer call. At 9:55-10am, please call 712-775-7031. When asked for the access code, please type: 638-979-741#
Letter to the Congregation-12 March 2020
The following email was distributed to our email list on Thursday, March 20, 2020. If you did not receive it, please check your spam. If you still did not receive it please contact the church office to be added onto the email list so you get information being sent out in the future. Thank you.
Dear Good Shepherd UMC Family,
A classic and powerful hymn has the refrain, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand” (My Hope is Built, UMH 368). This week, as Covid-19 cases around the country and in our own state have risen, it is easy to panic and fear. And yet, this hymn reminds us that Christ is in control, and we can place our trust in our Savior.
Today has been a busy day for your pastor and leadership. We have been reading, researching, and staying up to date on all of the area press conferences. We have also been in communication with the District Office and our annual conference. After much prayerful discernment, and following the guide of Governor Hogan and Maryland Public Schools, we have come to the conclusion that in order to protect the most vulnerable persons in our midst, we must close our doors for at least 2 weeks, starting immediately, and as recommended by our Bishop. This means, at least for Sundays March 15 and 22, we will not worship together in person. All church activities and programs are cancelled during this timeframe, including, but not limited to Bible Study, Church Council, choir, and After School Programing. We will re-evaluate continuously. During this time, our cleaning team will be ensuring that our building gets a good scrub, including all doorknobs, light switches and surfaces.
There will be an opportunity to worship on Sunday morning, and more details will be sent out by Saturday night for either a video worship experience, a conference call, and/or home worship packets. If you have ordered flowers for these weeks, we will be working with you to switch your dates to an available open date in the future. Pastor Bonnie will be working with church leadership to ensure our members and attendees are called and cared for during this time. However, if you have pastoral needs, please reach out to Pastor Bonnie via email. While messages at church will be checked, they will not be checked regularly. Pastor Randy will be reaching out to our After School families to provide any needed pastoral care to them.
If you find yourself unable to get out, there are community resources available. Mary Pat Clarke has been disseminating information about neighbors willing to help neighbors. 211 is always a resource. Please practice good hand hygiene, washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water multiple times per day. Remember, The Lord’s Prayer, 1 verse of Jesus Loves Me, This Little Light of Mine, or I’ve Got Peace Like a River are all about 20 seconds long. We also encourage you to practice “social distancing” and staying away from other people by at least 3-6 feet. So even though you aren’t coming to worship, please stay home and check on neighbors and others you know might need some extra care.
Our Trustees and staff will be checking our building regularly. And we do have fixed costs of staff, utilities, and other missions to support during this time, even though we are closed. So, please consider mailing your offerings to the church, bringing them to worship to “make up” the lost weeks when we do return, or utilizing our online giving platform, tithe.ly. You can find a link to this platform for one-time or recurring donations from our website, www.goodshepherdhampden.com. Our website and social media presence will be updated shortly, however, we wanted to get this information out to you as soon as possible. If there are those you know in our church who do not have email capabilities, please call them directly to let them know what is going on.
If you have ways that I, as your pastor, or your church leadership could support you, please let us know. Bible Study participants will be emailed on Tuesday with links to the study so they can watch the video from home and participate that way. We may also set up a conference call. Worship information will be sent on Saturday.
As situations are constantly changing, please stay tuned to local media, the CDC, and other authoritative sources for reliable information. In the event we are closed longer than 2 weeks, we will communicate that clearly to you. Please keep us all in your prayers. As we venture into this uncharted territory, we rest assured that it is on Christ the solid rock we stand.
Peace & Blessings,
Rev. Bonnie McCubbin
Good Shepherd UMC, Pastor
A classic and powerful hymn has the refrain, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand” (My Hope is Built, UMH 368). This week, as Covid-19 cases around the country and in our own state have risen, it is easy to panic and fear. And yet, this hymn reminds us that Christ is in control, and we can place our trust in our Savior.
Today has been a busy day for your pastor and leadership. We have been reading, researching, and staying up to date on all of the area press conferences. We have also been in communication with the District Office and our annual conference. After much prayerful discernment, and following the guide of Governor Hogan and Maryland Public Schools, we have come to the conclusion that in order to protect the most vulnerable persons in our midst, we must close our doors for at least 2 weeks, starting immediately, and as recommended by our Bishop. This means, at least for Sundays March 15 and 22, we will not worship together in person. All church activities and programs are cancelled during this timeframe, including, but not limited to Bible Study, Church Council, choir, and After School Programing. We will re-evaluate continuously. During this time, our cleaning team will be ensuring that our building gets a good scrub, including all doorknobs, light switches and surfaces.
There will be an opportunity to worship on Sunday morning, and more details will be sent out by Saturday night for either a video worship experience, a conference call, and/or home worship packets. If you have ordered flowers for these weeks, we will be working with you to switch your dates to an available open date in the future. Pastor Bonnie will be working with church leadership to ensure our members and attendees are called and cared for during this time. However, if you have pastoral needs, please reach out to Pastor Bonnie via email. While messages at church will be checked, they will not be checked regularly. Pastor Randy will be reaching out to our After School families to provide any needed pastoral care to them.
If you find yourself unable to get out, there are community resources available. Mary Pat Clarke has been disseminating information about neighbors willing to help neighbors. 211 is always a resource. Please practice good hand hygiene, washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water multiple times per day. Remember, The Lord’s Prayer, 1 verse of Jesus Loves Me, This Little Light of Mine, or I’ve Got Peace Like a River are all about 20 seconds long. We also encourage you to practice “social distancing” and staying away from other people by at least 3-6 feet. So even though you aren’t coming to worship, please stay home and check on neighbors and others you know might need some extra care.
Our Trustees and staff will be checking our building regularly. And we do have fixed costs of staff, utilities, and other missions to support during this time, even though we are closed. So, please consider mailing your offerings to the church, bringing them to worship to “make up” the lost weeks when we do return, or utilizing our online giving platform, tithe.ly. You can find a link to this platform for one-time or recurring donations from our website, www.goodshepherdhampden.com. Our website and social media presence will be updated shortly, however, we wanted to get this information out to you as soon as possible. If there are those you know in our church who do not have email capabilities, please call them directly to let them know what is going on.
If you have ways that I, as your pastor, or your church leadership could support you, please let us know. Bible Study participants will be emailed on Tuesday with links to the study so they can watch the video from home and participate that way. We may also set up a conference call. Worship information will be sent on Saturday.
As situations are constantly changing, please stay tuned to local media, the CDC, and other authoritative sources for reliable information. In the event we are closed longer than 2 weeks, we will communicate that clearly to you. Please keep us all in your prayers. As we venture into this uncharted territory, we rest assured that it is on Christ the solid rock we stand.
Peace & Blessings,
Rev. Bonnie McCubbin
Good Shepherd UMC, Pastor