Sanitizer
Barrels of sanitizer await distribution in the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference. (Conference photo)
When it comes to caring for people inside and beyond the church during the coronavirus pandemic, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference is kicking COVID butt. The latest issue of EPA’s NEWSpirit newsletter is filled with encouraging developments about how both conference and local church leaders are responding creatively to the ongoing pandemic
Conference communications director John W. Coleman reports about alert efforts by the Conference Disaster Response Ministry to get public health supplies for local churches:
Robert Simcox
Robert Simcox, chair of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Disaster Response Ministry (Conference photo)
“Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eastern PA Conference Disaster Response Ministry has been sharing information about government resources with Bishop Peggy Johnson and her Cabinet since the U.S. outbreak began in March. Now the ministry will provide churches with two essential resources to help fight the spread of virus infections: hand sanitizer and protective masks.
“Coordinator Robert Simcox and his Disaster Response Team work collaboratively with Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), a national consortium of disaster response groups, and its Pennsylvania component, PA VOAD. He recently learned of a major donation of hand sanitizer gel in 50-gallon containers to be provided to nonprofit organizations. The donation was given to the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to distribute.
“Dwain Hostetter, West District Disaster Response Co-Coordinator, ordered six barrels, for a total of 300 gallons of hand sanitizer. The team is working to make the barrels available at locations across the conference for churches to come fill their own containers.
“ … The Disaster Response Ministry is also awaiting delivery of 125,000 donated, washable, cloth face coverings from FEMA to distribute to churches and affiliated service agencies to help them ensure safety during worship and other activities. The adult-sized masks are 100% cotton, and contain silver and copper to help prevent the growth of viruses and germs, said Simcox.”
Meanwhile, the Rev. Candy LaBar, pastor of Wesley UMC Bethlehem, has developed an artistic way to encourage church members to wear face masks. She uses themed photo collages composed of pictures of church members. The Eastern Pennsylvania newsletter quotes her: “Love one another enough to wear a mask,” she wrote to members. “What you are doing is just what Jesus told you to do.”
Rio Texas offers summer resources
Rio Texas Annual Conference is making efforts to assure that pastors, who’ve been bearing the brunt of coronavirus pandemic effects on local churches, get the rest and recovery they need this summer. In addition to offering several resources for online worship, the conference newsletter observes:
“As we move through the summer, it will be more important than ever before to ensure that your pastor takes time for rest and restoration. John Thornburg, of Texas Methodist Foundation, shared the notion that traumatic seasons often move through three stages:
“The Heroic Stage
People work hard and try new things. They give more than they thought possible and ride an initial surge of energy.
“The Disillusionment Stage
This stage is characterized by exhaustion. People realize that while they’ve adapted to a new context, they haven’t really innovated. The reality that the crisis will continue sinks in.
“The Turning (Toward the New Thing)
Turning to truly look ahead is dependent on getting rest and some distance from the constant anxiety of the crisis. It’s a time for people who have worked heroically to receive support. This need for rest will certainly apply to laity as well as clergy.”
We commend Rev. Thornburg’s wisdom to all as we move through both the pandemic and “dismantling racism” efforts.
Media Mentions as of July 10, 2020
To fight racism, we need to confront religion's racist past – Religion News Service
Alfalit Liberia Distributes Face Masks as COVID-19 Cases Rise – Liberian Daily Observer
Close ties challenge rural Africa COVID-19 fight – United Methodist News Service
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.