Russ would like to have a meeting with the Trustees this Thursday, April 15, at 7:00 PM at the church.
News from the Pews
Hospitality Committee
The Hospitality Committee met today and are planning on a couple of upcoming service projects. They will meet at 5:30 on Wednesday, April 7th & Tuesday April 20th. These are two separate projects, so if you can’t attend one, don’t be afraid of coming to the other one!
For more information contact Janet Blaize or a member of the Hospitality Committee.
Wabash Women's Retreat
We are a little behind in getting this information out, but the Wabash Women’s Retreat is coming! It will be held April 23-24 at the Gasthoff in Montgomery and registration is due next Sunday!
For more information and to access online registration, go to the WWM website:
Youth Group Has Resumed!
Our Youth Group has begun meeting on Sunday evenings at 5:00 PM. They are under the combined leadership of Pastor Mark Schlechty, Jeremy Ross, and Blake Henson. The first Sunday they met was March 7 and they took care of some service projects at two of the homes of our church family. They are alternating these service Sundays with meetings for devotion & discussion.
Our teens would welcome any to come and join them in their Youth Group meetings.
Also, if you are aware of any projects they could take part in around the area, please contact one of the above leaders or send us a note through the website and it will be passed along to the leadership.
Sunday School Has Resumed!
Sunday School classes are now meeting again as of the first Sunday of March. We have made a few adaptations to help with the safety of our church family. We have combined some of the classes together so that we can use fewer meeting areas and have shifted classes around based on their anticipated sizes.
1) The two adult classes (D.O.R and Bible Basics) have combined and are led by Betty Newton. Due to this generally being our largest class they are meeting in the Old Fellowship Hall.
2) A new adult Discipleship Class has formed and is under the leadership of Jodi Correll. As the second-largest class they are meeting in the Teen Room of the garage across the street.
3) The teens (6th-12th) are combined and are meeting with David Blaize in the large classroom at the rear of the Sanctuary.
4) All children (5th & under) are being taught by Shirley Graham in the C.E. Wing.
We are not holding any classes in the Sanctuary itself in order so that we do not have to take time between Sunday School & Morning Worship for sanitizing the Sanctuary.
Come and join us at 9:30 on Sunday mornings!
Online Services for Next Three Sundays
AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF OUR CONFERENCE SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR OFFICIAL BOARD AND IN LIGHT OF OUR COUNTY’S “RED STATUS”, WE HAVE DECIDED IT WOULD NOT BE RESPONISBLE OF US TO HOLD IN-PERSON SERVICES UNTIL SUNDAY, JANUARY 10.
You will be able to watch the services from Facebook Live at 10:30 on Sunday mornings, or follow the link on our homepage to watch without Facebook. You can also find giving information available there as well. We hope to meet together again soon!
Online Service for December 13
Hello,
We will not be having in person services this Sunday, December 13. We will have virtual online service. Go to Petersburg Free Methodist Church Facebook page for more information and the message. https://www.facebook.com/petersburgfmc There is a link to our web page, and a way to give your tithe or offering online also. http://www.petersburgfmc.org/
Our Board has made this decision based on love, not fear. Pike County has been classified "red," meaning we have an outbreak of COVID that is severe enough to set stronger restrictions on gatherings. Gatherings are limited to 25 people. Worship services are exempt from this limit, and we do practice a very strict policy to avoid exposing people to unnecessary risk that other places may not follow. But, we have chosen not to take advantage of our exemption. The Scriptures are full of guidance for us when we consider using our exemption:
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV2011) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
1 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV2011) Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
We need to take whatever steps we can to protect those who are most at risk. We also have to consider if our exemption or liberty is seen as a lack of concern by others.
We don't know how long this outbreak will last, but with Christmas gatherings, I would imagine we will see another spike at the first of the year.
Stay connected and take advantage of the resources we have to grow closer to Jesus.
Pastor Mark
Sunday School & Faith Builders
A group of Sunday School teachers and students met together last Sunday evening to discuss the viability of starting our Sunday School program back up. After much discussion it was agreed upon that it would not be responsible of us to begin at this time. We will wait a few more weeks and keep an eye on the situation before revisiting this.
On the other hand, Shirley Graham is continuing to record (with the help of Kathy Mathias) a video Sunday School lesson which is posted weekly on our Facebook page! Shirley has taught generations of our church family and the lessons are enjoyed by more than just her current little ones.
If you would like to try your hand at online teaching - whether that is a recorded video or a live streaming study group - let David B. know and he will be happy to help you get started.
Our Faith Builders program was scheduled to restart on Wednesday, October 28. This program is also going to be postponed at this time. We are eager to get the children & teens back with us, but not at the risk of their health. Keep checking back for a potential future start date.
New Materials Available!
The new issues of the Upper Room are now available on the Welcome Center. The new September-November Sunday School materials are also in. We are not currently holding classes, but if you would like to study on your own, feel free to let me know.
If you are not comfortable coming into the building yet, send me a message through the CONTACT link at the top of the page and I will get your devotional delivered to you.
-DJB
Family Camp
The official announcement was made at Annual Conference that we will not be holding Family Camp this year. The Wabash Park Camp & Retreat Center, however, is still open and available for camping and have cabins available for rent. For more information go to www.wabashparkcamp.org or call 812-230-3944.