Calendar & News
Dedication of Trees - Sunday, July 12 after postlude
Consistory approved a proposal to conduct a virtual dedication of the 13 newly-planted trees that line the top of the beautifully rebuilt wall along Ridge Road. Everyone is invited participate in this special dedication event. Please plan to join us live on Facebook Sunday, July 12. The dedication follows our 10AM worship service. A commemorative perpetual plaque, to be hung in the sanctuary, will be presented with dedication message plates from our donors.
Chicken BBQ - Cancelled for Sunday, August 16
Sunday Services at St. Vincent UCC
St. Vincent UCC Sunday morning worship services will be live streamed on the St. Vincent United Church of Christ Facebook page at 10:00AM. If you do not have or use Facebook, you can still view the service! A few minutes before, go to our homepage at www.stvincentucc.com, and scroll down to the "Connect With Us" section where you will find a Facebook icon. Click on the icon. You do not need to sign up for a Facebook account. Simply click on "Not now" and then scroll to find the live event.
Consistory News
We are anxiously awaiting the day we can be together again as a church family, but the world as we know it requires we move forward with an abundance of caution. The Consistory met last month and thoughtfully agreed to continue with virtual worship through the end of August with a plan to revisit the decision at the end of the summer.
While Chester County may have moved to “green” on June 26, that does not automatically clear the way for in-person worship as we know it. When we decide to open our doors, here is what worship is projected to look like:
· Masks required
· Social distancing protocols when seated
· No passing the peace, physical greetings, or hugging
· Choir and congregational hymn singing suspended
· Offering no longer collected in the pews
· Communion and baptisms likely suspended
· No fellowship time, no coffee/tea available
· Facebook live streaming to continue for those not comfortable worshiping in person
· Lots of hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes!
So for now, we press on as a faith community, using the monthly Vincent View newsletter, www.stvincentucc.com, and Facebook as our primary communications channels to stay connected and engaged with each other. Be sure to “Like” the St. Vincent United Church of Christ Facebook page so you have easy access to all the great programming available each week!
And, the Consistory is pressing on with the business of the church, particularly with respect to several significant property-related issues. The parking lot has been repaved and relined, and the stone at the back of the lot was replaced and leveled. It looks great! The faulty carpeting has been replaced with a more appropriate and durable commercial-grade product. No more pulls and frays!
Please reach out to any member of the Consistory if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Thank you for your continued support of St. Vincent through your contributions and prayers. Until we meet again, be well, be safe, and be kind!
The Changing Face of Sunday School: Sunday School Update
When 2020 started, who would have thought the year would look the way it does now? Our last Sunday School class was held in March- and it has been a struggle to not see the children each Sunday and listen to their voices as we talk about our lesson that day. Unfortunately, the year 2020-2021 is going to look extremely different for our children and our congregation. Some people may not feel comfortable returning to regular services/Sunday school in September (or whenever we decide to open). Some may come and decide to keep their children with them and not send them downstairs.
I want you to know that no decisions are made for the look of Sunday School as of today. No matter what the outlook, we need to keep teaching our children about God and His love for us. We need to make sure that they are receiving messages each week - in person or via a video message- to keep them connected. Please be sure your children are tuning into Pastor Susan’s weekly children’s message on Facebook.
Please stay tuned to these monthly newsletters as I work with our Christian Education team to come up with a plan of action for next year. I hope to have an update to you all by the August Newsletter. Suggestions are welcome and can be emailed to Stephanie W.
Supporting Your Church
There have been questions about how to continue to make your offerings. Members are mailing in their offerings routinely, some have signed up for e-giving, and others have asked if they could use PayPal. Yes, you can use PayPal via the "USE APP" button on our ST. VINCENT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Facebook page to donate to St Vincent UCC. By pressing the blue "USE APP” bar under the large picture of the church, you can connect to your PayPal account. Then follow the PayPal instructions.
Thank you to ALL our congregants and friends that continue to support our church while socially distancing.
Staying Connected
To keep us all connected while we are self-distancing, please check out ST. VINCENT UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST on Facebook for daily music selections from our music director, Keith; Tuesday and Thursday video devotions with Pastor Susan; and Wednesday children's messages for the child in all of us. Let us know if you have any suggestions for what you might like to see or hear. Email Pastor Susan at holylistener@gmail.com.
Musical Selections for Spiritual Reflections
Spiritual music selections are posted each morning on our Facebook page – a daily dose of comfort, joy, and inspiration from our music director (thanks, Keith!). If you have access to YouTube, you'll want to take a listen.
Safety and Security Update
Our church maintains a safety policy of keeping our doors locked at all times, including during worship. If you arrive late, ring the doorbell. Greeters should plan to arrive at church by 9:30AM to open the door for arrivals. Those who arrive earlier than that (such as choir members, adult Sunday school participants, etc.) should ring the doorbell and someone from the class will open the door for you. Thank you for your cooperation.
Cooke Tavern Dry Soup Mixes are available for purchase year-round at $8. We have a good variety of flavors in stock. Most are gluten-free and MSG and salt-free. Contact Linda G in the office or Deb Rick.