We invite you to join us online for worship this coming Sunday! For March, we share in the Lenten study “The Walk” by Adam Hamilton. Please keep in mind the CDC guidelines and join us online.
Rev. Kim Gladding
Message: Life is Better With You: At the Crossroads…
Passage: Matthew 26: 36-39; Philippians 2:5-8
March 18, 2020
Dear Church Family,
As we continue to receive updated developments of the spread of COVID-19, I want to keep you informed of how the staff of First United Methodist Church of Glendale is doing our part to keep you and our community safe.
All United Methodist Pastors of the Desert Southwest Conference have received directives from our Bishop, Robert Hoshibata on March 17, 2020:
Grace and peace to you in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ!
The Desert Southwest Conference office is closely tracking and following the recommendations from the CDC and state officials. In consultation with the Extended Cabinet, I strongly recommend Desert Southwest Conference churches suspend all in-person gatherings through April 6, 2020.
Today, March 16, 2020, Arizona Governor Ducey’s report included avoiding gatherings of 10 or more people and avoiding unnecessary trips to the grocery store and restaurants. Hospitals and care centers have also instituted a “no-visitors” protocol…I urge you to heed the CDC’s and local government’s requests to help limit the spread of COVID-19…
Your Extended Cabinet is monitoring the news and will continue to update you. (We are invited to check the DSC website for updated information https://dscumc.org/disaster-response-resources/.
Please continue to be in prayer for all who suffer from the Coronavirus, for the medical community, and for God’s guidance as we navigate through these changes. As followers of Jesus, let’s keep reflecting on our many blessings and our call to be in ministry in Christ’s name.
As your Pastor and friend, I continue to be concerned for your safety and doing our part to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in our community, state, country and world! For this reason, we will be implementing the following changes:
- All worship services (Sunday 8 am, 9 am, 11:11 am, and WOW) will be on hold through April 6, 2020. (Maybe longer depending on the spread of COVID-19). One service will be recorded each week and posted for viewing by Sunday 9 am.
- All meetings, small groups, studies, circles, and every gathering of people will be postponed through April 6, 2020. (longer if the threat of COVID-19 continues). I encourage groups to use the phone or email for any business.
- A few individuals will continue food distribution Mon, Tues and Wed, to ensure the hungry are fed. But there will be no gathering of people within or outside our buildings.
Though we do not gather in person, we continue praying for each other and we can step up our efforts to call, send cards or email, use Facebook or Facetime to stay in touch. We pray these precautions will slow and stop the spread of the Coronavirus, and we will have done our part to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Yours in the ministry of Christ,
Pastor Kim
