Reflecting Upon the Events at the Capitol

Dear Church Family,

I want to write to you all about the events that happened at the US Capitol this past Wednesday. It has taken me some time to process what we all saw that day. 

I generally avoid wading into political events because of the divisive nature of our political culture. As followers of Jesus, our political allegiances come second to our allegiance to Christ our King. So, whether we are a Republican, Democrat, Independent, or hold some other political view, we are all bound together as sisters and brothers through the common grace we have received in Christ. However, because of the Christian symbolism used by some at the Capitol, I feel compelled to address the events.

Like you all, I found myself in shock and sadness at the violence. Regardless of how we feel about the election, as followers of Jesus, we must condemn and reject the violence of this past Wednesday. We mourn the loss of life. We must pray for our country to heal.

It grieved my heart to see images of rioters wearing shirts promoting anti-Semitism and carry images of white supremacy alongside the cross and Christian flag. Let me be very clear: hate, division, and violence are never the values of Jesus. The cross should never serve as a symbol of division nor as a political symbol. Instead, the cross serves as a symbol of reconciliation, reminding us of Christ’s sacrificial love of all people.

This past Wednesday's events have caused me to examine my heart, and I pray that you all would join me in this. I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 4 that say,

            Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all. (Ephesians 4:2-6)

Included in tomorrow’s service will be a time of prayer for the healing of our nation. Let us all join in prayer together.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Tom

Advent Updates

Dear Church Family,

I hope that you all are staying warm and safe this Advent season. This year has challenged us in so many different ways as we have dealt with the COVID pandemic. As a church family, we have experienced the fullness of the impact of COVID. As a church, we have risen to the task of finding new, exciting, and creative ways to gather together, whether it has been outside or online. We have also felt the intense pain of losing a beloved member of our church family to this terrible disease. We have now arrived into this season of Advent, celebrating the arrival of Christ, who came into this world to conquer sin and death. Advent also reminds us that Christ will come again in final victory, ushering in a reign free of pandemics and all of the other pains of this world.

So as a church, we continue to answer our call to love God and love others. We have been in prayer about how we may honor this call God has placed upon us, even with the challenges presented by COVID. We have also spent time in prayer, discerning how and where to worship in these next few weeks.

With all of that in mind, I would like to list some updates about moving forward.

·         For now, we will continue our pause with in-person worship on Sundays. Our Bishop has asked all United Methodist churches in our state to pause indoor and in-person worship through the first of the year. At Good Shepherd, we have chosen to honor our Bishop's request out of an abundance of care for everyone's safety.

·         We have decided to have an outdoor candlelight service of carols and reflections in our church parking lot for Christmas Eve. It will be a simple service focusing on the meaning of Christmas. The service will start at 7 pm.

·         We will also have an exciting online service that features special Christmas music recorded by various Good Shepherd members.

·         We are continuing to serve our community. We recently delivered our Thanksgiving baskets and have been working on our Christmas missions as well.

I would also like to thank all of our staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to help our church continue to move forward, and our church family connected. Many of you have helped deliver items, worked on cleaning and maintaining our building, helped with recording, kept the church's business going, supported our missions, shared creative ideas on worship and staying connected, and so much more. I would also like to thank everyone for your support, flexibility, and encouragement as we have tried so many new things this year with how we gather for worship.

As we continue through this Advent season, may you continue to feel the overwhelming presence of the hope, peace, joy, and love that come from our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tom

Fall Worship

Dear Church Family,

I hope that you all are doing well. I have not written to you all in a little while, so I want to update you on a few things happening at Good Shepherd. I have also created a survey about worship as we move into fall and winter. Your responses will help us immensely as we continue our planning. Please click here to complete the survey.

As I shared this past Sunday, our worship services will return inside, starting this Sunday at 10 am. I have had a blast with our outdoor services, but unfortunately, the weather has quickly cooled off. Please know we have already undertaken recommended guidelines for COVID safety at Good Shepherd for those concerned about safety. We will still have the same policies of requiring social distancing and mask-wearing while in our building. Following these guidelines will have particular importance as we do our best to protect one another from COVID-19 and keep each other healthy throughout the cold and flu season. Our health safety policies at Good Shepherd throughout the pandemic have always started with our command to love God, love our neighbor, and protect the vulnerable. Following these steps will help move us forward as we navigate our current everyday living with this pandemic. One last thing about in-person attendance is that, unfortunately, we can still not offer a nursery during worship. If you have any concerns about our health safety policies, please feel free to call me at the church office or send me an email (pastortom@gsumc-roscommon.com).

We realize that not everyone will feel comfortable meeting indoors, even with the precautions we have taken. So on-going, we will still have our online service. We have all of our past services on our church’s Facebook page if you missed or would like to re-watch one. We always want to keep everyone connected the best we can.

Finally, we know that not everyone communicates electronically. Some people need a phone call or a letter from the church with updates. While we have a list at the office, please let the office know to reach out to them if you know of such persons. We want to make sure that we overlook no one.

Again, I hope that you all are doing well. May I leave you with these words from the Book of Numbers:

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord lift up his face to you and grant you peace.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tom

Update on In-Person Return

Dear Church Family,

 I hope that you all are doing well. I would like to keep you all updated on our return to in-person worship and steps going forward. As you all know, last Sunday was our first Sunday back in the building since early March. I would like to thank everyone who helped volunteer and worked patiently with us as we worked through our social distancing protocols. I left Sunday feeling confident in our plan because everyone worked hard to keep one another safe. We will continue with them until we receive any guidance from the CDC or Annual Conference that says otherwise. As a reminder, all persons over the age of two must wear a face mask while in the building. I would like to thank you all for your patience and flexibility as we work hard to finding our new routine at Good Shepherd.

To clarify, our in-person worship time is at 9 am. Our online worship service will start at 9:30 am and will continue to do so until the pandemic ends. We will keep our in-person at 9 am because we are envisioning having to add a second service sometime in July as more people return to worship based on our survey results. When we do add a second in-person service, it will have the same format as the first. Please know, if we see a spike of COVID-19 cases in our area, we may need to revert to online-only again. My hope and prayers are that cases in our region continue to remain low.

On Sunday mornings, we need volunteers to serve as ushers and door openers. To reduce the points of contact, we need two volunteers to hold the door open at the beginning and end of our service. We also need two ushers to help navigate people to their seats or point out appropriate areas to sit. Please contact me, Sue Shoemaker, or the office if you could help us on Sundays!

Finally, we need some help at Good Shepherd in a few areas. As Mike Byers has moved from the area, we need help keeping up with building/ground maintenance and repairs. We currently have a few volunteers but need more. If you enjoy repairing things, love cutting grass or working outdoors, or have some time to spare, please contact the church office or me. We will put you in touch with Brian Powell, our Trustee chairperson. We want to continue to keep our buildings and grounds in good shape and need more help in this area.

Again, I wish you all well. Just because we have returned in-person does not mean we expect everyone to join us right away. We will continue with our online services ongoing and ask everyone to make a decision that is best for you.

 Grace and Peace,
Pastor Tom

After Easter and Moving Forward

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” Luke 24:5b

 These words, out of the Gospel of Luke, share with us the reason we celebrate Easter together. As the women and disciples searched the tomb for Jesus, a couple of angels shared this good news with them. The resurrection of Jesus showed the world that the powers of sin and death no longer have their grip on us. The resurrection is why the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, “Where O death is your victory? Where O death is your sting?” As disciples of Jesus, we share in Christ’s resurrection and triumph over death. Easter shows us that the power of sin and death in this world no longer defines us. Instead, we, as Christians, experience the power of resurrection and redemption.

Today we find ourselves in an especially difficult time with the COVID-19 outbreak. It has forced many of us to isolate at home, while many others are working on the frontlines, and some are in care facilities separated from loved ones. We strain to see an end to this and maybe also struggle to feel God’s presence. Many of us feel completely overwhelmed by our current challenges and find the whole experience jarring. Yet, Easter reminds us that God can breathe new life into even the darkest and most desperate of situations. May we especially cling to the hope that comes from the empty tomb and the power of resurrection. 

As of now, we do not know when we will gather together again. Current stay at home orders run through May 1, but circumstances between now and then will change. How we gather will be different, so we ask that everyone remain flexible as we try to discern the best path going forward.

If you find yourself in a situation where you feel overwhelmed, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I would love to talk and pray with you.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tom

COVID-19 Updates and Important Information

Dear Church Family,

I hope that you all are staying safe during this season of social distancing and the COVID-19 pandemic. It seems like the news keeps changing rapidly as far as executive orders from the state and federal governments. With news of the shelter-in-place order from yesterday, we received guidance from our Bishop's office to extend the suspension of all in-person activities until the shelter-in-place order ends on April 13th. To comply with this guidance from our Bishop and the shelter-in-place order, it means that we will not gather together in person until after Easter. It has weighed heavily upon my heart that we will not worship in-person until after the completion of our most important season, but I also value everyone's health and safety. On those two points, I will not cut corners or compromise. Whether we gather in person or not, these facts remain the same: 

1. Jesus Christ conquered the grave, and the tomb was empty.

2. Through Christ's resurrection, the forces of sin and death no longer have their sting over us.

3. God did not cause this pandemic. However, through the power of resurrection and redemption, out of hopelessness and despair, something beautiful can blossom from it.

During this Lenten season, let us hold on tight to those truths as we navigate this season.

Shortly after receiving this guidance, our leadership team met via Zoom to determine some next steps for our church. Some of these vital pieces of information has changed in the past week.

• Reaching Our Community: We realize not everyone communicates electronically. Our lead-team has begun the process of following up with such individuals. We also want to make sure that our homebound and older members are contacted during this time of limited visitation. If you know someone who does not email, please let us know, so we will assign them a person who will check in on them.

• Building Use: For the time being, we ask that you refrain from using our building. Staff will enter our building only to check the mail, phones, and quickly grab information. For the safety and protection of our community, we have to keep track of who enters and leaves our building. Our safety has particular importance as we have many persons who fall in the high-risk category at our church. I do not like the idea that we close our building, but it is essential to remind ourselves that a building does not make our church, but rather its people. If you need to enter the building for an emergency need, please contact me to let me know.

• Helping Out: The food truck this Thursday will continue as planned, with many precautions undertaken to limit contact between people. We also will share any information we receive from our local health facilities regarding the need for personal protection equipment (PPE). Munson Healthcare will put out a pattern for those who want to sew masks. A list of current needs can be found here. Drop off locations for PPE are the Prudenville Community Health Center, Grayling Hospital Emergency Department, and Tinkers Junction in Grayling.

• Staying Connected: We all must continue to stay connected with God and one another throughout this time. Fortunately, we have the ability through technology to keep in touch and gather together online. We will continue to do so. We will gather on Facebook Live on the Good Shepherd page on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Again, for those who are not online, may we reach out so that they stay connected to the body as well. Please call, email, or text me with any concerns or needs.

• Giving: In the past week, we made a deposit, but will not for another two weeks or so. We much appreciate the generosity of those who sent in donations to sustain our church. It is still vital for our congregation that we continue to receive support. For the next sixty days, the conference has set up a way for us do donate via PayPal, where they cover all of the processing fees, which will save us significant savings. There's a yellow donate button at  https://www.gsumc-roscommon.com/take-action if you prefer to give that way. 

• Office Closure: Part of the executive order asks for workplaces to determine essential workers to comply with the shelter-in-place regulations. At GSUMC, we determined that all non-Child Development Center (CDC) staff do not meet the threshold of an essential worker in regards to the executive order. This means that all staff will work remotely from home until April 13th except for the tasks outlined above under the building use section. As a staff, we are committed to doing the work of the church to keep things going. In regards to the CDC, there are different executive orders regarding childcare availability with which we may have to comply. 

As we go through this season together, may we grow closer to our God who created us, our Savior who redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit that sustains us. If you all have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me during this time.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tom

Church Moving Online for the Time Being

Dear Church Family,

I do not know how you all feel, but it feels like events have changed rapidly in the past twenty-four hours. Word came down that schools are closed until April 6th and many civic organizations have canceled all events. This afternoon, word came from our Bishop to suspend all in-person church activities, including worship, until the end of March. At Good Shepherd, we will honor that request. If events change and we can resume at an earlier date, we will. As for now, all church events will be postponed until further notice.

For me, these turn of events come as a complete shock. I will say that navigating a pandemic is uncharted territory for me and not anything I ever expected in ministry. It saddens me that we will not gather together in the short-term. With that, I also see this as an opportunity to find new ways to stay connected throughout this time. Here are some steps we will take in the meantime:

• Have a Sunday message starting this Sunday at 9:30 broadcast live on our Facebook page. I will also logon for our prayer meeting Monday morning. We will work on uploading our videos to our Youtube page and other platforms as we are able. As we perfect this process we will send out emails with appropriate links.

• Staff may be working remotely, but remain available. Again, contact us via email. If there is an emergency, I can be reached at 989-821-6056.

• Increased electronic communication. We will send out more email updates and I will go on our Facebook page with devotions from time to time.

• Praying for one another.

This list is not comprehensive, but a start of what we will do these next few weeks. In short, see you all online Sunday morning at 9:30 and everyone stay safe.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tom

Church Update March 2020

Hello Church Family,

We held our first quarterly Update Meeting on March 1st between services; this will be an ongoing event every three months.  There were approximately 35 attendees.  Here is an overview of the discussion:

Church finances- While overall attendance is up in contrast to 2019, the giving rate is down.  Despite taking austere measures in December 2019 (eliminating the custodial and youth director positions), costs surpass donations by $2,400 YTD.  The staff continue to cut expenses where feasible, yet we are already working from a bare-bones budget.

Youth Sunday School Update- I am delighted that Terri Cook has agreed to serve as our Sunday School Director.  She will launch the redesigned program this fall.  Please support Terri as she recruits volunteers to serve in various capacities.  Program specifics will be outlined in upcoming months.

Youth Group Update- We are now relying on volunteer leadership for our Youth Group (targeting grades 7th-12th).  Currently, we are seeking a structure that will provide the greatest consistency for youth attendees.  Please see Pastor Tom if you are willing to volunteer with our youth, the future of our church!

Lay Servant Academy- Good Shepherd will be the host site for this Northern Waters District training, beginning Friday evening March 27, concluding 3:00pm Saturday, March 28.  A Basic and Advanced course will be offered; attendees will gain skills to lead in a variety of ministry roles.  Refer to this link https://northernwaters.michiganumc.org to register or for more details.

Volunteer Cleaning Teams- For several months, Tracy Baker and her family took on the cleaning of our church as their mission.  We thank all of them for this selfless contribution!  Yet, a more long-term solution is needed, especially with our current finances.  The Lead Team and the United Methodist Women are launching three initiatives to keep our church building clean, including:

• March 15th cleaning supplies drive- Bring your cleaning supplies, to help defray costs

• Join a cleaning team- Refer to the poster sign-up in the gathering area to help keep a portion of our church clean

• Spring and Fall Cleaning Bees- Watch for details on our Spring Cleaning Bee; lunch will be provided!

Our next Update Meeting is tentatively slated for Sunday, June 7th between services.  See you then!

Pastor Tom

A Pastoral Note on the Coronavirus

Dear Church Family,

            Like many of you all, I find myself reading regularly about COVID-19 and the havoc it has caused our world. What seemed like a limited exposure has now become a global pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. More than just a distant reality, news broke that two persons in Michigan have tested positive for the virus, and our state has declared a state of emergency. While we pray and hope that the spread of COVID-19 slows down, I also know from my background as an Eagle Scout to be prepared for all circumstances. So while I do not hope to cause unneeded alarm, on the side of caution, I want to make our congregation prepared for all scenarios so we can be safe until this passes. Instead, drawing upon resources from the CDC and our conference, we will take the following actions.

            Immediate steps involve reducing the risk of spreading disease. Scripture mandates for us to care for the most vulnerable in our society, so it is imperative to protect older and immune-compromised congregants. While its always best practice to have good hygiene practices during cold and flu season, with COVID-19, they have taken on more considerable significance. We know the importance of handwashing, and as a church, we will make sure we have the appropriate amounts of soap and sanitizer on hand. However, I want to give a list of church specific steps that we must take until it is safe to change back.

•   Communion will be served in individual cups, and the bread will be cut up beforehand.

• Reduced handshaking and instead use alternative forms of greeting. Be creative with this and make it fun! Some levity will be especially helpful.

• If you are sick, stay home. We value your presence but care about your health first and foremost. We will continue to post videos of our service online for those who miss on Sunday.

• During our final song (Bind Us Together), I would strongly encourage us not to hold hands. While I value this tradition, again, we need to err on the side of caution and safety. While you may feel safe doing so, others may not and feel pressured into holding hands anyways.

• As of today, places such as Munson Healthcare hospitals and several long-term care facilities have placed restrictions on visitation. It means I or others will not be allowed to visit these places. If there is a pastoral need, still contact the church for prayer or any other assistance, but also reach out to the hospital chaplain.

These next steps below will serve as possibilities if COVID-19 becomes prevalent in our community, and we are ordered by the state to practice social distancing. Again, these are not things we hope will come to fruition, but will plan for here at Good Shepherd.

• Cancellation of events and church services. Please note that some of this may come at short notice as circumstances change rapidly. Again, for church services, we will get creative and find ways to worship as a church family remotely.

• Church staff working remotely from home.

• Temporary closure of the building, including the Child Development Center.

As mentioned previously, we hope that it does not come to any of the above steps. Instead, I want us all to be prepared so that if we have to implement these changes, we can do so in a short timeline.

However, I do not want to leave you all with doom and gloom. We will gather together this Sunday to worship and praise God together. So here are some things that we can do in the meantime, that I also believe will benefit is long-term.

• Pray! Pray for one another and our world.

• Have a flexible spirit! Changes may occur quickly, so having a flexible attitude will help in making the best of any potential situation.

• Always be hopeful! The world may be scary, but let us not feed into an already fearful world. Instead, be a positive light in a world that needs it.

             I hope that you find this information helpful as we seek to navigate this season together. I hope that preparation and these immediate changes will allow us to better focus on our walk with Christ this Lenten season.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Tom

Wednesday Night Worship and Study Groups Are Back!

Starting on Wednesday, September 11th we will be starting up with Worship on Wednesday! Worship will start at 6:30 and we will have two study group opportunities. The first will be a Love and Logic group led by Sharon Kavanaugh that focuses on parenting young children. It is designed to give you practical parenting skills that can be used immediately.

The second will be a book on prayer called Talking With God: What to Say When You Don’t Know How to Pray. It is about developing a prayer life where God seems less like a stranger and more as a friend.

We also will be providing childcare for those who would need it.

Come and join us as we gather together to worship God and learn together!