My beloved Mt. Tam Church,
“For such a time as this…” These words from the Book of Esther come to mind as we move through this uncharted territory of the COVOID-19 pandemic and what is asked of us right now. We’ve never had to do this—no wonder we are uncertain, bewildered, or frightened! After a full week, I feel like I’m getting my feet back on the ground just a bit. Last week was all about getting a worship service online; you know how this Luddite pastor has been reluctant to do so. And now, there’s no choice! I’m grateful beyond words to Tricia Wiig, Jeff Brown, Liz Westsmith, and others who did the heavy lifting to get us ready. We did okay… and each Sunday will help us grow in confidence and faith. Thank you for your understanding, encouragement, support, and patience. Thank God for a congregation that is able to be nimble and grace-filled, “in such a time as this.”
And with this time, we have changes in the immediate life of our congregation:
–We are pausing. The Church Council and Vision 2020 Capital Campaign Team have made the decision to put the Vision 2020 campaign on pause for right now. With the downturn of the market and everything up in the air, it’s not a good time to move forward. We had a final meeting last week to set up the structure of the campaign, so when the times are better, we are ready to move forward for our great project of the revitalization of Fellowship Hall.
–We are praying! We need to change the ways we“do church,” from going online to worship and using Zoom for meetings to the ways we donate, give, and budget. Please continue to provide your gift through the website’s DONATE page and button (easy and secured). You can also join Lindy and me by putting your gift on auto-pay. This way makes it so much simpler OR you can send a check to the church office. I go into the office regularly to gather mail, check the property, etc. With the shelter-in-place order, the regular renters are not in the buildings so our rental income for April and even May, may not be coming in. We have to be prepared for a reduction in rental income, making congregational regular giving even more critical. Consider going online to donate!
–We are protecting. Many of you have been asking me how you can help others through the church. We are regularly checking in with our elderly and vulnerable-at-home members and as needs arise, will seek that help. Like you, we are deeply concerned by the economically vulnerable people who have lost their jobs for the time being and may have trouble getting food or paying April’s rent. The way we usually route such giving is through the pastor’s discretionary fund, which allows me the freedom to help people in need quickly, on a case-by-case request. If you wish to donate to the pastor’s discretionary fund for the purpose of helping people who need financial assistance, please do so through the website or by check, which should be noted as “pastor’s discretionary fund.” I anticipate a greater demand for these funds in the weeks to come.
I know you join me in earnest and constant prayer in this remarkable time. We are pausing so much of our lives as we move through staying home and practicing all the precautions so we may protect others, as well as ourselves from the coronavirus. I don’t know about you, but this has been a time of both great upheaval that has brought certain opportunities—the upheaval of going online for worship brought to me the joy of connecting in new ways; the turmoil of the times “out there” has brought to me a greater sense of sanctity in our home; the uncertainty of what’s next has brought me closer to the God who is never uncertain and is always there. God is always “what’s next!” Thanks be to God!
Pastor Kim
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