|
Included in this mailing are:
- Covid Protocol Updates
- Praying for Ukraine
- Denominational Updates
Beloved in Christ,
I am sure that you remember vividly the event or date which marked the beginning of the pandemic for you. For me, it was March 12, 2020 the day Governor Dewine closed schools for what we thought then would be an extended spring break. It is hard to believe that the calendar now reads March 2022, and that we are still making decisions related to the pandemic.
As I am confident you are aware, mask mandates are being changed and lifted around the state, nation, and world. As a church which is committed to being a welcoming place for all people to worship God in a loving community of faith, we have been conservative in our response to the pandemic, requiring masks in the building for church related functions. While we understand that as a religious organization, local mandates are not mandates for us, we have chosen to comply with the mandates of our city. Though our address is in Columbus, we know that many of our community of faith reside in Worthington, Dublin, and other municipalities as well.
With Covid19 cases declining and with the changing requirements regarding masks, beginning today (March 8, 2022), we will move from “Masks Required” to “Masks Encouraged and Affirmed.” We recognize that there are some who are longing for the days when we can see each other’s whole faces, and there are some who will still be most comfortable and safe wearing a mask. We affirm the decisions that keep you, yourself, and our community first safe and second comfortable.
We also understand that there are those who may, for the first time, now choose to come back to church. We can’t wait to see you! We also know that this change may mean that you now choose to worship via our live-stream. We affirm your decisions, too. As always, if you or a family member are feeling unwell, we ask that you stay home and utilize our live-stream technology for worship, gatherings, and meetings.
We are thankful for not only your patience over the last two years, but also for your faithfulness and generosity. While many organizations, businesses, and faith communities are shutting their doors, Linworth United Methodist Church remains a vital center for faith and community. We also ask that you continue with that patience, faithfulness, and generosity you have gifted the staff and volunteers with over the last two years. While changes are not coming at us quite as hard or as fast as those early days of the pandemic, I do suspect that we will still face the need to change, adapt, and pivot.
|
|
Like you, when the events of the world cause me to be speechless, I look to my own spiritual leaders. Thankfully, Bishop Gregory V. Palmer provided a powerful email and prayer. He wrote on February 25, 2022:
Our deepest fears have come to reality with the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. The actions of Russia are completely unwarranted, and they endanger not only the people of Ukraine and Russia but Europe and the world. This crisis brings with it the potential of harm in this region not seen since World War II. I say this not because such widespread harm is inevitable but because it is possible. When all is said and done there really are no small wars and insignificant amounts of harm in war. At least not to those who lose their lives, livelihood, land, and freedom. For them it is a tragedy. Further in our flat world war and its effects touch us all eventually. We cannot and should not be untouched by the cruelty of war.
I want to invite you to continue your fervent prayers for peace in Ukraine. You already know that prayer is not a substitute for anything. It has a life, power, and veracity of its own. It does not substitute for participation in advocating for thoughtful and sound public policy in domestic or foreign affairs. But as people yoked to Jesus Christ, we cannot ever neglect the ministry of prayer in all things and at all times. I offer the following prayer for your use this coming Sunday and on Ash Wednesday or whenever you see fit to use it:
Gracious, merciful, and loving God. We ought to look to you in every condition of life. But we most certainly seek your heart, your direction, and your will in this hour of crisis. Once again, we your children find ourselves shaken by our fears, insecurities, and anxieties as we watch war unfolding in Ukraine. Receive our prayers for the people of Ukraine and Russia. We pray for the leaders of state in those countries, Europe, and the world that they will give themselves whole heartedly to negotiation and diplomacy as the best path to peace. We confess that all too often we give in to the impulses of aggression, violence, greed, and hatred rather than pursuing the work of peace making, peace building and peace keeping. Quicken all of our hearts to the truth of the Gospel that we are loved by you with an everlasting love and that there is enough for all people to flourish. Abiding in that love may we find the peace that “surpasses knowledge.” We pray in the name of Jesus, Prince of Peace. Amen.
We continue to be in conversation with leaders and partners, and many of you have asked what we can do to tangibly support the people of Ukraine. Right now, the simplest answer is to donate through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). You can donate online or by check to Linworth UMC with “UMCOR – Ukraine” in the designation/memo.
|
|
You may have heard me mention in my sermon on Sunday that the state of our denomination, the United Methodist Church, is precarious. That descriptor is not because we worry that we will crumble or cease to exist, it is because we are unsure of what our configuration will become or the timeline on which we will reconfigure. I had the great privilege of being elected to serve as a General Conference delegate for the 2020 General Conference, and I have kept a close eye on the happenings of the denomination. That said, at this point it seems a Sisyphean task to summarize myself what is happening. Instead, here is a compilation of commentaries in response to another delay in the General Conference:
Official Notice of Postponement - https://www.umc.org/en/content/general-conference-further-postponed-to-2024
Hacking Christianity - https://hackingchristianity.net/2022/03/relief-or-ruin-general-conference-postponed-to-2024.html
This blog post is written by a local church, United Methodist elder. The writer is explicitly progressive.
Reconciling Ministries Network - https://rmnetwork.org/2022/03/03/regarding-postponement-of-general-conference-to-2024/
Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) is a progressive caucus organization committed to equipping and mobilizing United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.
Global Methodist Church Launch - https://globalmethodist.org/global-methodist-church-sets-official-launch-date/
Committed to providing you diverse information, this is the press release from the Global Methodist Church (GMC), the conservative faction who will leave the United Methodist Church.
There are far more commentaries and opinions on what is happening in the denomination, but these are the main points. As with all of your information gathering, please pay attention to the authorship, funding, and dates of any news you consume. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any additional questions or need clarity. We are planning on a few information sessions in the weeks before and after the West Ohio Annual Conference.
While the happenings of the denomination in which we reside are important, what remains clear and unchanging is who we are at Linworth United Methodist Church. We remain committed to being a welcoming place for all people to worship God in a loving community of faith. We affirm that we are all created in God’s image and named as children of God, each one of us in our uniqueness and diversity reflecting the unconditional love of God and God’s creative sovereignty.
Draw the Circle Wide,
~ Rev. Anna Guillozet ~
Pronouns: she/her/hers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Senior Pastor
www.linworthumc.org
|
|
|
|
