Northern Piedmont COVID-19 Update - March 17, 2020

posted on March 17

Hi Friends,
 
Our Western North Carolina Conference and District Offices have been asked to implement additional governmental COVID-19 precautions by working remotely for a period of time. Each of us in your Northern Piedmont office have laptop computers and remote access to our district phone lines. We will remain vital and responsive during this period of social distancing, and we will express an abundance of care for the health of our community. We will endeavor to do everything in our excellent "Northern Piedmont Way" during this time.
 
We encourage you to keep up daily with the WNCC and the Northern Piedmont websites, and if you are clergy - be sure to attend to your wnccumc.net email. 
 
We will keep up with our US mail, both that which is delivered to our building and to our Post Office box at Friendly Station. Maria King will be communicating with our Missional Network Leaders and offering many technology resources for you all - both for online worship and online giving. She is available to help you in any way and has a team of volunteers ready to assist you. 
 
Our DCOM (District Committee on Ministry) will likely meet remotely in early April, and please pray for provisional membership candidates who are meeting by Zoom interviews with the Board of Ordained Ministry this week. 
 
We will have to postpone our in-person March 29 District event, "Helping Your Congregation Prepare for General Conference: An Event for Clergy & Laity", but we will be back in touch with more information about this. 
 
Please call us at our office (336-282-3711) if you need anything at all. The phones are active. 
 
Above all, don't forget to stay in the scriptures, use your daily devotionals, rest, and remember to take care of your loved ones.  Thank you for the wonderful way you are innovating, even as we speak! 
 
Bishop Leeland has offered these encouraging words, which I echo:
 
I give thanks for the creative ways in which so many of you led online worship experiences on Sunday.  With short notice, you offered words of hope and comfort to those who gathered for worship on their phone, computer, or tablet.  This week, you are offering virtual Bible study, prayer services, and Sunday School.  Some of you are even reading bedtime stories so that the community you serve will still feel connected to the church during this time of social distancing.  I am proud of your extra efforts and faithful leadership in such a time as this.

I do ask that you continue to follow the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and suspend public worship, as well as other group gatherings, at least until the end of March.  Please follow the CDC guidelines, State guidelines, and the direction of county and city government.  These precautions are not only important for your own safety but for the health and welfare of the entire community.  Social distancing can and will slow the rate of infection in order to allow our health care services to respond appropriately. 
 
If you are on Facebook, enjoy the online good cheer, devotionals, and positivity. Take a moment to "like" our Northern Piedmont page, and we will share good cheer as well. 
 
"All will be well, in all manner of things." - Julian of Norwich
 
Blessings, 
Your Northern Piedmont District Staff