 Pastor's message Happy Monday to the good people of Wash Park UMC! As we get closer to the start of the school year, I know that those of you with school-aged children or otherwise connected with schools have very difficult decisions you are dealing with. Some of you have school districts that are making decisions for you; for others you're having to make decisions yourselves. Each decision holds the weight of hours of thought, deliberation, and anxiety. Different families will choose what it most "right" for their family - and every right decision also seems wrong somehow. We have had the same agonizing over opening the WPUMC Preschool. Our plan is to continue to move ahead with opening the preschool in September. We know that our preschool staff relies on the preschool for their livelihood. Families rely on our preschool for their livelihood. Opening with extreme caution and appropriate precautions seems the right thing for our community. This year will look remarkably different than in year's past - with staggered kiss & go drop off times, classrooms and teachers limited to their room only, no special visitors or activities permitted in the school, lots of extra cleaning, and masks, masks, masks. Your prayers are coveted for the whole of the preschool, their staff, and students. At the same time, we are keeping those of you making similar decisions for your own homes in our prayers. We are all in this together, and even if we arrive at different choices in the end, we are all affected in profound ways. Rev. Cody Anderson, a colleague of mine who serves at Parker UMC, recently shared a prayer she wrote for her church's preschool staff. With her permission, I share this portion: May the God of Peace fill you as your anxiety and fear creep in, that you would know that in the midst of the chaos, in the midst of the storm, in the midst of all that might come your way, all you need to do is to be still and know that God is God. May you feel the loving and gracious arms of God surround you, calling you to remember that you are not alone, and may others speak words of love and peace into your life, being the arms and feet of Jesus to you, as you also will be to others. May this year, with all that is to come, with all of the knowns and the unknowns, with all of the familiar and the new, with all of the joys and the struggles, may this year be a blessing to all who you touch and may it truly be a blessing to you. Amen. Worship service and scripture reading from August 9:  Anti-Racism Conversations I'm grateful for all of you who committed to reading White Fragility by Robin Diangelo with me, and look to the beginning of some anti-racism work within our faith community. Even if you haven't read it yet, it's not too late! Read it and join in one of our scheduled conversations. If these times don't work for you, please email Rev. Sandi to find an alternative. Wednesday August 12th, 5:30-7pm OR Tuesday August 18th, 5:30-7pm. Sign up HERE.  #adventureswithjesus2020 If you'd like to participate in #adventureswithjesus, email Rev. Sandi (pastor@washparkumc.org) to send you an inflatable Jesus, and then send pictures or short videos to the same address with you/your family including Jesus in your summer adventures.  Volunteer Opportunities Exciting News: Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Opportunities for August and September! Habitat is opening opportunities to volunteer in August and September. These opportunities are open to a limited number of volunteers and on limited days to make it as safe as possible for everyone. Click HERE for more information. Thank you for supporting Habitat for Humanity and so many deserving families! Giving and ministry quick links
Track your acts of service Make sure you report your acts of service (hours spent, dollars given, items donated) by using this simple form HERE. Our Goal - 2,020 Acts of Service in 2020! Comments are closed.
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