With the rising of COVID-19 cases, our Indiana Conference bishop yesterday asked all United Methodist churches in Indiana to suspend in-person worship beginning November 22nd for the foreseeable future. On December 9th, our Church Council will meet to re-asses

in-person worship.

 

Because of these difficult times, two truths of faith seem to be pushing against one another. It is a truth in faith that we are a people together. Worship is an act of a people gathering out of the world to be present with God and each other. The worship of the church is misunderstood when it is primarily seen as an individual exercise. There is a spiritual necessity and truth in such a presence together in God and with one another. It is also a truth that the people of faith always consider God’s work for the whole of society, and the goodness seen in God for others, especially the most vulnerable. We love each other in the church, and we love God’s world and all within it. Sadly, this pandemic has created a tension that should not exist. In God, communal

in-person worship together should drive us into God’s people who serve and love the world.

 

Thus, the circumstances of the pandemic are not ideal, but God is with us. The United Methodist Church has a long standing relationship with IU Health. Methodist Hospital, downtown Indianapolis, was started by our conference. In our specific county and the metro area as a whole, hospitals are at full capacity while trying to make room for more. One doctor shared with me, “I will tell you, numbers in the hospitals are at record levels, staffs are getting to the point of being overwhelmed. Many healthcare workers and their families are testing (+) and out of the workforce for a time, many are reaching their physical and mental breaking points.”

 

For this reason, the bishop has asked for in-person worship to be suspended. You will soon hear about ways to continue to still share in worship together as a congregation. Remember God is good, and God’s faithfulness and work in the world is assured. Thank you for being Avon UMC.

 

– Pastor Danny

 

We will be beginning a new sermon series in October on the book of Ruth. Join us online via Livestream, Facebook Live, or in person by registration at 9:00 am or 10:45 am.

Beginning Sunday, September 6th we will be offering in-person worship at 9:00 and 10:45 am. The 9:00 am service will be traditional and the 10:45 am will be contemporary. Both services will be on Livestream and Facebook Live.  

You are invited to join us in the East Parking Lot between the main entrances of the chapel/sanctuary and Kroger for a drive-in movie. We’ll be showing the movie Woodlawn on Friday (8/7) and Saturday (8/8) at 8:30 pm. You may want to bring some lawn chairs, popcorn, candy, and drinks to enjoy for a special evening at AUMC.

 

Below is a brief description of the film:

In 1973 a spiritual awakening captured the heart of nearly every player on the Woodlawn High School football team. Their dedication to love and unity, in a newly desegregated school filled with racism and hate, leads to the largest high school football game ever played in the torn city of Birmingham, Alabama, and the rise of superstar Tony Nathan.

 

Here is a link to a movie trailer for Woodlawn:

 

You can also purchase a daily devotional based on the Woodlawn movie and video series we’ll be using for the church-wide sermon and small group series that begins on August 16th. Below is a link to purchase the Woodlawn Journal (devotional) through the ministry that produced the small group series:
https://cityonahillstudio.com/product/one-the-woodlawn-study-journal/

Watch for information about possible Indoor Worship beginning on Sunday, July 12th. Registration will be required.