COVID-19

Worship with Us on Sunday!

On Sunday, we will “gather” for worship from our own homes. Contact Pastor Melissa for a link to join us. Here is an order of worship to guide you:

Welcome
”Meet & Greet”
Responsive Reading
God you gather us from different spaces and places.
From our kitchen tables to our living room couches
And in our pjs, sweats, or Sunday best,
We come ready to worship you.
May your presence fill this virtual space
And may our voices rise to worship you.
Amen.
Children’s Message
Offering
Special Music
Homily: John 9, “Blinded by the Truth”
“Amazing Grace”
Benediction

Preschool Links and Activities

More Family Resources

Parents, as you navigate these unfamiliar waters, here are a few additional resources available:

  • NPR Comic explaining the coronavirus to kids.

  • Scholastic Classroom Magazine resource for talking to various ages about the coronavirus.

  • PBS Kids has some online resources.

  • And don’t forget the link we shared earlier in the week with weekly coloring pages.

  • If you need a laugh and a good reminder to wash your hands, here’s a fun link to sing with your kids.

What resources would you like to share? Comment below.

Also, stay tuned for some ways we will connect online in the days ahead.

Family Resources - and coloring pages for adults!

As more and more of us are staying home in the days ahead, we will dedicate some space on this blog to offer suggestions on how to navigate these days with children. Here are a few to get us started:

  • Have honest conversations with your child(ren). In the absence of information, children begin to fill in gaps. Ask your child what he or she may be most concerned about. You may find some of those fears are completely unfounded or misinformed and you can easily address them. Other concerns may be a springboard for you to talk about how your faith helps you deal with those needs.

  • Find ways to give thanks. Fear oftentimes chokes out gratitude. Talk about the things you are most grateful for!

  • We provided some children’s worship bulletins for the coming weeks in worship today. If you were not here but would like some of those, tomorrow (Monday) we will place them in the black mailbox directly outside the covered entrance closest to the pastor’s office. Feel free to take one and share with a friend.

  • Illustrated Ministry is providing a free weekly coloring page and other resources. You can sign up for that here.

  • See our post above about how you can help other families in need.

If you have other ideas for families, feel free to share them in the comments.

Sunday Sermon and Worship Materials, 3.15.20

Sunday’s sermon is up for you to watch. In addition here is a related link which offers a study guide, including a coloring page, related to the sermon topic of how we handle crises. As you watch the sermon video, please be mindful we are using the best resources available to us at this moment. Thanks for your understanding! Feel free to post comments in the comment section.

Coronavirus and Church

Dear Friends,

I recognize we live in unprecedented times with the outbreak of the coronavirus. I also know a few things for certain. The God we worship has not changed. While we have reason to stay cautious and aware, there is no reason to be in complete panic. With that in mind, here is our approach to the days ahead...

  • We will continue to be open for Sunday worship. At the same time, we will monitor recommendations from the government, as well as any particularities related to the health and safety of our own members and make adjustments as necessary. UPDATE: As of 3/15/20, we will discontinue large gatherings (Sunday and Wednesday) until further notice.

  • Please do not come to church if you are sick. We will suspend hand shaking and hugging until we are on the other side of this health crisis.

  • Wednesday Family Night Dinner and programming are canceled for March 18, 2020. We will have an online forum for Bible Study that night. Please check your email early next week for further details as we set that up.

  • Lunch a Bunch will cancel for March 17 given the precautions recommended for many in that age group.

  • Our men's group decided not to go as an official church event to the Ignite conference this weekend.

  • The Youth BBQ fundraiser has been postponed. Stay tuned for a future date.

  • Our custodian, Linda Kemp, continues to clean and disinfect areas of our church, particularly after heavy use.

I recognize some of you will feel safer for you or your family not come on Sunday. If you are unable to come, I encourage you to check out this week's bulletin. Spend some time at home walking through all parts of the service from the hymns to the Scripture to the offering opportunity to the sermon reflection. We will focus on the passage from Exodus 17 and how it applies to anxious times.

Let's also continue to check on each other. Social isolation can cause its own share of concerns, so it's important we stay connected even if it's only via electronic means.

Finally, let us join with our friends around the globe to pray for health, safety, wisdom, and a sense of calm. Let us live as people of hope and promise!

Blessings and Peace,

Melissa Fallen, Pastor

Contact Us
office@glenallenbaptist.org
(804) 672-6648

Address
3028 Mountain Rd
Glen Allen, VA 23060
PO Box #1245