Worship Plan Update
Our Ad Board met on Jan 11 and discussed our safety restrictions on worship and the building being open. After discussion, we decided it is best to base whether or not we are open on how the state is currently responding to COVID risk. We decided that our threshold if we are virtual or online on is if restaurants in Michigan are open for dining-in. At present, the state is hoping to open restaurants Feb 1st. To be sure the restaurants are opening and give time for the word to get out to all our church family, we are planning to be in person starting Jan 31st. Previous restrictions back in place (distancing, masks, no singing, hand sanitizer, etc). Now that we have wifi in the sanctuary, we hope to Zoom the 11am service live from the Hopkins Sanctuary for those who cannot join us in person. For those interested in Zooming in, the connection information will be the same as it has been.
Upcoming Newsletter!
We will be putting together a Church Newsletter for February/March. We would love your contributions!
Where we mainly need your help is in a new space highlighting positive things happening in our community during this trying year. If you have a story of a positive experience within the last year or a testimony to how you have seen God at work, please email it to the church or Mitzi for it to be included in the Newsletter. You can sign it or it can be anonymous.
We will also be including some annual sections, celebrating births, remembering losses, and least excitingly a financial report.
If you have anything else you would like to contribute to the Newsletter, please submit it!
All submissions are due Jan. 15 so we can get everything together for mailing on time. You can submit by email to Mitzi or the church email or drop off a paper copy on Wednesdays or other times by appointment.
We will have Newsletters ready for pick-up at church on Jan. 24th. Any that are not picked up will be mailed after Sunday.
Ash Wednesday
Not to rush out the Christmas season, but we are already looking ahead to plan for the next big church season, Lent! Lent begins with Ash Wednesday which is on Feb 17 this year, which will surely be upon us quicker than we think.
Looking that far ahead, we cannot be sure if we will be virtual or in-person, so we have to be prepared for anything! Keep an eye on this space in the e-news and in the announcements of the bulletin for updates on what that special service will look like this year.
“Souper” Bowl
It’s almost time for the annual SOUPer Bowl Challenge between Hopkins UMC, South Monterey UMC, Burnips UMC and Monterey Center UMC!
Our challenge runs from January 3 through Super Bowl Sunday, February 7.
We’re collecting: soup, crackers, chili ingredients (beans, tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, chili spice packets, etc), macaroni and cheese, pasta sauce, pasta and canned pasta. Bring your items to HUM Hall anytime between now and February 2nd! Get excited for our Souper Bowl!!!
Food Pantry Donation Needs
Thank you so much for your faithful donations!
The needs right now are: Instant Potatoes, Canned Pasta, Canned Fruit, Tuna, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Ketchup, Mustard, and Toothpaste. Drop off Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 7pm. Bring them to church or contact Mitzi or Pastor Linda about a drop off time.