A Message From Pastor Erin
Emory Friends,
As I’m sure you expected, we are making more changes to our schedule at Emory in order to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of our church members and community. Due to more stringent recommendations from the White House, Gov. Wolf, our bishop, and district superintendent, we will extend the cancellation of all activities and worship services at Emory through April 4. I share the same sentiment that Gov. Wolf expressed today in his statement that we must take a measured approach to this epidemic. We will not do less than what is needed and we will not do more than what is needed. Future decisions about our ability to gather for Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter services will be made as the situation is carefully monitored over the coming week.
What we are experiencing now is unusual and uncomfortable, but it is not more than we can endure. The Church has endured all kinds of challenges in its history. It has endured through persecution, famine, natural disaster, economic downturn, and even plague. God is with us, for us, and will see us through these strange times.
There are many aspects of worship we can continue to practice. This Sunday, you can visit Emory’s website to DISCOVER resources to help you worship from home. Let’s rely on our prayer chain to keep us CONNECTED in prayer for and with each other. I encourage you to email your joys and concerns to me (ewheeler@susumc.org) and they will be shared with the prayer chain. To continue in stewardship and SERVING the Lord by making an offering, you can mail your tithes and gifts to the church.
If you are in need of pastoral care, please contact me on my cell phone at 717-542-4957. If you need help with picking up groceries, running errands, picking up prescriptions, please do not hesitate to ask for that help from your Emory family. Reach out to your church friends and neighbors during this time of increased isolation. Check on each other, stay in touch, support each other. This is an opportunity for us to prove that our church exists beyond our building.
May God bless you and keep you healthy and safe,
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Pastor Erin