March 29th, 2020

HUNKER DOWN, Week 2


Greetings everyone!

We are "hunkering down" on a massive scale due to COVID-19. It is not showing any signs of abating at this point, so we will be following the advice from the CDC and the Trump administration for the time being regarding group size, social distancing, and narrowing the social circle. As the number of positive cases increase in Missouri, including counties bordering Dekalb Countty, it will only be a matter of time before we have confirmed cases among friends and family. Please follow all the necessary precautions in order to avoid the virus, especially the "do not touch your face" rule. This is apparently the primary way the virus gets to your system, through touch. Not the only way, but the primary one.

With that said, ministry goes on. And more than that, we are exploring more opportunities for ministry. We are consistently learning new ways of doing things online, including worship services, Bible study, prayer, and discipleship. Here are a few things that are taking place:

• PHONE CALLS: We want to stay connected with you, and one of the best ways to do that during these days of self-isolation is the old-fashioned phone call. Call someone the Lord brings to your mind. Send a text for encouragement to those who text. And if you have a need this week for someone to help with errands, shopping, etc., please give the church a call. We have folks on stand-by just waiting to help you. Phone 816-449-2731 (church office) or 479-238-3772 (my cell), or you can always send an e-mail or Facebook message to us. We check these items multiple times in a day.
• WORSHIP SERVICE ONLINE: Last week we had our first ever "online only" worship service. We pre-recorded the service and posted it to Facebook Premier at 10:40 am Sunday, linking to it on Youtube from our website www.fbcmaysvillemo.org. Things worked pretty well thanks to our amazingly versatile and tech savvy Minister of Music and Education Kyle Bridgman. (I'm thinking of just changing his title to "minister of everything else" because that is generally how he operates!). This week, we recorded the majority of the service from our makeshift KFBM studios (a.k.a. the youth room) in an effort to dampen reverb and echo and just make the recording crisper and clearer for you to understand. I'm still preaching from my study because that seemed to work just fine last week. Join us at 10:40 this morning from your device of preference. laptop, desktop, tablet, smartphone, or casting on your smart TV. I recommend gathering the whole household around one device if possible (probably a computer or TV screen), but smartphones and tablets may work just as well for singles and couples.
• PRAYER MEETING: We met for prayer meeting on Wednesday evening at 6:30 via the ZOOM App. This allows groups of up to 100 in attendance to meet in a video conference call format. Everyone can see, hear, and share. Lord willing, we will do this again on Wednesday, April 1. I will send out an invitation to this e-mail list, so look for the invite in your inbox next Wednesday morning. You can download and install the app to your device of choice by visiting www.zoom.us or choosing the ZOOM Cloud Meetings from your device's app store. (This app has a blue icon with a white video camera profile inside). 
• SUNDAY SCHOOL: Speaking of ZOOM, some of our adult Sunday School classes are planning to meet via ZOOM this morning at 9:30. Check with your Sunday School teacher to confirm what your class is doing.
• SUNDAY PM BIBLE STUDY: We have been journeying through Hebrews on Sunday evenings over the past year. I hope to post some video content via Facebook or YouTube that you can access to keep up that study.
• FAMILY DISCIPLESHIP: This week, I will be giving some tips on family worship and reviewing some resources for family discipleship that I think you will find helpful for all ages. Stay tuned for more on this in the coming weeks as we talk about...
  • A Children's Catechism and How To Use It
  • Helping Children to Understand the Gospel
  • How to "Do" Family Worship and Family Discipleship
  • Using Hymns to Teach and Reinforce the Faith
  • Resources for Teaching Theology to Children
• STEWARDSHIP AND GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: Since we are not meeting for in-person services, you may wonder how to continue regular financial giving to the church. The methods we mentioned in last week's e-mail still apply:
  • Mail offerings to FBC, PO Box 427, Maysville, MO 64469
  • Bring offerings in person to church office during regular hours (8 am-5 pm), Monday through Friday. If no one is in the office, you may slide offering envelopes under my office door in the church library, the door marked "PRIVATE." 
  • Set up ACH withdrawal with your bank for deposit directly to the church. If you bank at Independent Farmers, they can tell you how to do this simply. Other banks should be able to do the same. 
  • We are still working on online giving options. Please bear with us.

IN THE NEWS: SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION ANNUAL MEETING has been canceled for the first time in 75 years. Please pray for the SBC as much is at stake in the future as we seek to stand for the inerrancy, reliability, and sufficiency of Scripture, sound doctrine, and vibrant support for worldwide and home missions.

BONUS: One of the casualties of COVID-19 was the Ligonier Conference in Orlando, FL. But the good news is, the conference organizers posted all the conference content in one 8 1/2 hour video available on YouTube here. The conference theme is "Made in the Image of God." Excellent material, highly recommended.

Grace and peace to you from the Lord Jesus Christ who has fully paid for all our sins,

Pastor Greg
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