St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Friday, September 18, 2020

Worship

 

 
We invite you to worship with us each Sunday!
You will be warmly welcomed as you experience
the love and the grace of God through our
Sunday worship services and teaching.

   

 

 
 
SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
ON-LINE LIVE SERVICE - 8:30 AM
ON-LINE LIVE ADULT STUDIES - 10:00 AM
 
 
 
 
The folks of St. Paul’s offer worship in which we honor tradition, are challenged with the Christian journey, celebrate the Word and share our stories in the intimate setting that is St. Paul's Church. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to worship for the Children’s Celebration at each service. If you and your family are searching for meaningful worship and discipleship, join us for these opportunities to explore your faith. St. Paul’s is a spiritual home for people of all ages and backgrounds and for families, traditional and non-traditional, where creativity and passion for the Gospel flourish and we are bound by the love of God that draws us together.
 
Saturday Morning Service
Walk & Social Distance Gathering

 

Saturday mornings at 9:00 am, I am extending an invitation for St. Paul’s family to join me in a 30-minute walk throughout the historical district of Odessa. At 9:30 am, we will meet on the church lawn for a 15-minute social distancing gathering that will include worship, communion, fellowship and a grab and go breakfast. Masks are strongly recommended and social distancing is to be observed. Weather permitting, I plan to meet there every Saturday from now until the end of September. Pastor Kevin
 
Pastor's Letter
July 16, 2020

Greetings St. Paul’s UMC family! I pray this letter finds you well. We are making history together as you embrace a new pastoral appointment during a national pandemic. During the initial appointment announcement, we had no idea that we would be living during an era of social distancing. But God knew and God continues to be our refuge and strength during this difficult time. On top of that, you’ve also embraced a cross-cultural appointment. Therefore, making history by receiving your first Pastor of color. This is not by accident. During this time of social unrest, I believe God is using St. Paul’s UMC to lead the MOT community in fully embracing diversity and inclusion. We together are fully living out God’s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. This not only speaks volumes of your Christ centered love, acceptance and character but it also means that you are living out Jesus’ greatest commandment to love the lord God with your whole mind, heart and soul and your neighbor as yourself. This Sunday, I am inviting you to join me for a church ice cream drive by after our virtual worship service between 11-11:30 am, as we observe National Ice Cream Day. This will also give us another opportunity to come together.
 
During Saturday mornings at 9:00 am, I am extending an invitation for St. Paul’s family to join me in a 30-minute walk throughout the historical district of Odessa. At 9:30 am, we will meet on the church lawn for a 15-minute social distancing gathering that will include worship, communion, fellowship and a grab and go breakfast. Masks are strongly recommended and social distancing is to be observed. Weather permitting, I plan to meet there every Saturday from now until the end of September.
 
The Ministry at St. Paul’s UMC is known for being a team effort. Alice Mullins continues to go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that every aspect of ministry shines. With Alice, no rock is left unturned. Musicians Amy Brown and Duane Dillard continue to develop creative means of providing each virtual worship experience and prayer service with God’s gift of music. Courtney Martin and Josh have taken our virtual Sunday worship to a new level as they’ve partnered together to provide St. Paul’s with professional live streamed worship. Trustee Charlii Miller works behind the scenes donating his time, money, and talent to ensure that the church has what it needs in the area of advanced technology. Vicki Spence has not allowed the pandemic to hinder the VBS schedule. She has collaborated with Sarah Pulling and Courtney Martin to provide a spectacular virtual VBS experience. Vicki along with Gail Garner have enriched the Wednesday prayer time by providing mediation and sign language. Our parish nurse, Ann Newswanger has resumed pastoral visitations as well as accompanied me during recent visits to our home bounded parishioners. And at the invitation of Paul Loder, I’ve enjoyed two United Methodist Men luncheon Gatherings at Odessa National Golf Course. Our church leadership team, under the direction of Steve Johnson and Cathy Blanco, are working tirelessly to create plans for us to return safety back to church. We will continue to keep you in tune to any updated developments. And during my time here, my interactions with the SPRC, Finance and Trustees Committees have been extremely helpful as we navigate through ministry during these perilous times. In the meantime, stay safe and continue wearing masks, washing hands and by social distancing. This too will pass.
 
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Kevin
 

 

SPUMC Guidelines - March 18, 2020

  

It is now clear this quarantine will remain in effect for several weeks at least. CDC guidelines recommend eight weeks, which would end on Mother’s Day, May 10. Bearing these things in mind, the following priorities guide our response:

1.    Replace the cancellation/isolation mindset with a strategy of meeting and gathering in different ways (using new and old technology - and creatively adapting/leveraging new skill sets, technology and opportunities).

a.   Beginning Sunday, March 29, we will Worship Sundays on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsOdessa/) at 8:30 am, followed by Adult Study Group at 10:00 (you can use the link without a Facebook account).

b.    Meetings and Study Groups will continue meeting online using tools like Zoom  (https://zoom.us/ which is free for up to 40 minutes for 100 people or less – and costs $15 monthly for longer meetings), by phone calls or conferencing, or other innovative, online methods.

c.    Vicki Spence, our Family Life Coordinator, is checking in on our Sunday School teachers and asking them to check-in on the kids in their class. Our goal is to call, text, email and/or send mail weekly to each child and their family. The first packet with Lent activities will be mailed this week.

d.    We encourage everyone to explore and experiment with other online gathering opportunities, using our creativity to connect with each other (online book groups, prayer gatherings, virtual dinner parties and game nights).

e.    Although all meetings and gatherings at our building (both church-sponsored and outside group partners) have been cancelled, our church office remains open Mon-Thu from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2.    Intentionally connect with every member of the congregation at least weekly (and perhaps more often for our more vulnerable members), so that our necessary practices of social distancing do not also mean social and spiritual isolation.

a.    Ellie Leuliette has organized a team of 14 caring callers who are checking in on our members and friends at least once a week! Thank you all so much!

b.   We will continue to distribute our weekly bulletin and newsletter via email, mail, and through our website (http://www.stpaulsodessa.org/) and Facebook site (St. Paul’s UMC Odessa - https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsOdessa/).

Adjust to electronic (http://www.stpaulsodessa.org/VANCOOnlineGiving) and mail-in financial giving, as well as a broad range of financial strategies, including budget cuts and use of our reserves, in order to maintain staff and facilities through the end of this quarantine period.

 

 

Delaware Declaration of State of Emergency

 

World Health Organization (WHO): https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Delaware Division of Public Health: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/epi/2019novelcoronavirus.html