Bishop’s COVID-19 notice no. 3,
March 24, 2020
“Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He answered, “ You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:25b, 27
In the midst of a crisis beyond our imagination, it’s good to go back to basics:
Love God | Love your neighbor | You will live
Jesus doesn’t say that if you do this you will not get the Coronavirus or that if you get it you will not die. Jesus says that, no matter what happens, if you live your life in love with God and neighbor, you will experience the blessing of living life in all its fullness. I pray this for all of us who try to walk in Jesus’ footsteps.
LOVING GOD WHILE PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH
Suspension of In-person Worship and Other Gatherings through April
As your bishop, I am charged to lead and oversee the spiritual and temporal affairs of The United Methodist Church. For the love of God and of our neighbors in every place, today I am directing continued suspension of in-person worship through April 30, 2020. This directive is in effect for United Methodist Churches across the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington and anywhere in the Greater Northwest Area served by United Methodist clergy under my supervision. This suspension of worship includes Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter. It applies to both indoor and outdoor worship, weddings and funerals and to all days of the week. Please continue to conduct worship, bible study, prayer groups, and fellowship groups if you can do so remotely.
The virus is spreading in every state in the country in an invisible, vicious cycle. When a person becomes infected, symptoms don’t appear for up to two weeks. If they don’t follow hygiene and social distancing guidelines, they will expose others, who won’t show symptoms for two weeks, while they, in turn, expose others. In order to slow the spread of the virus, and to protect health care systems from being overwhelmed, each of us must take precautions to protect ourselves and others as if we are carrying the virus ourselves and as if the people around us are infected. This is what loving ourselves and our neighbors looks like for the foreseeable future, no matter where you live or whether you know anyone who has been diagnosed with the Coronavirus.
May God bless you and take care of you;
May the GOD be kind and gracious to you;
May God look on you with favor and give you peace.
Bishop Elaine JW Stanovsky
Church Calendar &
Up Coming Events!
Important Notice! For Meridian United Methodist Church Members & visitors:
Revised Online Schedule for Worship Services through April 12th:
All LIVE streamed or recorded Worship Services will be available online on the church Website:
and on the church’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Meridian-United-Methodist-Church-153717387462/
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Sunday Worship Service, March 29th - we will rebroadcast online our church service recorded from March 22, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.
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Sunday Worship Service, April 5th - Pastor John will deliver his LIVE online sermon at 11:15 a.m. on the Meridian UMC church Website and our Facebook page.
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Good Friday Service, April 10th - we will rebroadcast our church service recorded from last year’s 2019 service at 7 p.m. This recording will be available on the church Website and on the Facebook page.
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Easter Sunday Service, April 12th at 9:30 a.m. UMC Bishop Elaine Stanovsky will broadcast a LIVE Easter service online. This service will be linked through our Meridian UMC Website and our Facebook page.
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Easter Sunday Service, April 12th – at 11:15 a.m. Meridian United Methodist Church will rebroadcast the 2019 Easter Sunday service at 11:15 a.m.
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Both Easter Services will be available on the church Website and on the church’s Facebook page.