Together During this Separation

Dear Blainsport Church family,
To protect the health of our church and community, our church building is closed until further notice. That means no Sunday morning worship gatherings, Sunday School classes, or other weekly activities. Remember that our church is a family, not a building, so church life is never canceled.
 
Technology cooperating and Lord willing, I will continue posting online videos and articles on Facebook, YouTube, and our website. We are not as technologically advanced as other churches, but we can utilize what we have at our disposal. There are ways you can help with this. First, let others know that we have an online presence and want to remain connected, albeit limited. Second, please send short video greetings to the church family that I can attach to video messages. We still want to see each other through this time of separation. Simply record a 1-2 minute greeting with your smartphone or laptop, attach the file to an email and send it to the church at [email protected]. Lastly, you can reach out to others in the congregation by calling at least one other person each week just to say, “Hello.”
 
Though our church building is closed during this time of separation and social distancing, Jon and I are still available to serve and care for you. If you need anything, from prayers to running errands, please reach out to me to let us know how we can help. Other folks in the church family are willing to help out during this time, too, so please know you are not alone.
 
Regarding offerings during this closure, we will soon have a link that you can give online—keep looking for it on our website. There will be close to a 3% fee for each transaction, but it provides an easy way to continue giving. You can also send checks to the church post office box: Blainsport Mennonite Church, PO Box 231, Denver, PA 17517. Please indicate the offering/account you are giving to with your check. If you are currently using the envelope system, please include your envelope with clear instructions as to where the funds should be applied. Checks sent to our PO box will not be subject to any transaction fees. For security reasons, please use this new address instead of sending your checks to Ada or the physical church address.
 
Of course, during this world crisis, as followers of Jesus, we do not want to give in to fear. That said, we still want to show caution in the way we conduct our daily activities. Please follow state and national guidelines as they work to mitigate the coronavirus and protect the public. What is being asked of us may be inconvenient, but it is not unreasonable. Let us love our neighbors and each other well by keeping our distance, serving the needs of our immediate neighbors in appropriate ways, and praying for God’s grace and love for all. We can be, we must be “the light of the world” (Matt 5:14) during these dark days.
 
One last thought. I know that many folks in the congregation will experience some financial hardship. Some of us might even contract the coronavirus. We want to pray for each other’s needs. Beyond our prayers, we want to walk with each other through these difficult times. You are not alone; we will navigate these rough waters together. Please call me if you are out of work, experiencing financial difficulty, or if your health changes. One member’s burdens are the burdens of the entire body. We will be the church both in this time of trouble and afterward. Don’t try to go it alone; we need each other now more than ever!
 
In His grip,
Eric

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