“What Is this Sunday?”

Ask the question above and you are likely to get one predominant answer, but there are actually multiple correct answers. Most people in our congregation will rightly note that this Sunday is the day before Memorial Day. As we do every year on Memorial Day weekend, we will take time to remember the lives of those that gave their lives in the line of duty to our country. We are thankful for their sacrifices, and how it provides us the opportunity to gather for worship each week (under normal circumstances that is).

This Sunday also represents three other key functions: 1) the seventh Sunday of the Easter Season, and our last week of reflecting on the themes of the Easter before it culminates on the Day of Pentecost; 2) Ascension Sunday, the Sunday that we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus forty days after the resurrection (Ascension Day is Thursday, May 21st this year); 3) it is also Aldersgate Day, an unofficial holiday for United Methodists in recognition of our founder John Wesley having a conversion-like experience where his heart was “strangely warmed” at a prayer meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. That is a lot of themes to weave into a Sunday worship service, especially on a holiday weekend when people want to get out and enjoy the sunshine! We are up for the challenge, and we’ll even finish a little early!

I am excited to share this Sunday’s service with you all, and I hope that you will join us Sunday during our online only gathering on Sunday via “Facebook Live” at 10:30am! Remember that you do not have to be a Facebook user to access the Facebook Live videos, just simply go to www.facebook.com/CentervilleUMCGAon your computer, tablet or smartphone and you will be able to follow along either at the assigned time or watching later.

Here is a recap of our big announcement from last Sunday about our plans to reopen:

· As long as there is not a resurgence of COVID-19 in our area, we plan to reopen on Sunday, June 21st. This date is subject to change, but we are taking the necessary steps right now to prepare for this possibility.

· Worship will not look exactly the same as it did in early March when we last gathered in person. We will have spacing criteria in place to promote social distancing, the services will be shortened to limit the amount of time people are in the building, and we will incorporate all of the required CDC guidelines while promoting their recommendations. 

· We will not open everything up at once. Sunday School, Choir, events and children’s activities will reopen down the road. This approach is known as a rolling restart where you begin engaging in one activity to make sure the congregation handles it well, and then slowly add on additional activities. 

· While we will not have nursery or children’s church at first, the shortened services are partially designed with parents having their children in the services in mind. Additionally, we are discussing plans to make one service more geared towards families with children and modifying it to keep everyone engaged. Stay tuned for more information on that!

· We will continue to offer online worship as long as there are concerns about COVID-19, and we are making necessary investments to improve our streaming capabilities from the Sanctuary.

· As the plans come together, we will have an extensive communication plan in place to make sure you know exactly what to expect when we return to worship! In the meantime, keep joining us each week online.  Anthony

Essentials 360 Bible Reading Plan

Week of May 24th

Sunday ............. 1 Corinth 12

Monday ............ 1 Corinth 13

Tuesday ............ 1 Corinth 14

Wednesday ...... 1 Corinth 15

Thursday .......... 1 Corinth 16

Friday ............... 2 Corinth 1

Saturday ........... 2 Corinth 2