What a week it’s been! I’m so very proud of the staff and the people of Court Street United Methodist Church. This has been an unusual and challenging week, and you have responded with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. The Holy Spirit has been moving among us these last few days, creating sanctuary and community in all of the places where we dwell.

We are working to figure out what ministry looks like in this season of physical distancing. We will also work to keep you posted about events and changes in the life the church. Please note that we have reduced the on-campus time of all church staff. Melissa, our stellar secretary, will be working from home most of the week. Don’t be surprised or frustrated if nobody answers the phone. Melissa will be checking phone messages regularly, and we would appreciate if you would leave all of your messages in the general voicemail box, which will be checked more often than the boxes for individual staffpersons.

We would like to thank the people who made Sunday morning’s worship livestream possible. Alan Weamer on the organ, Rev. Christy with the children’s message, Vince Slocum with a deeply pastoral prayer, Celia Peters with the Scripture reading - you saw all of them on camera. You didn’t see two people who were instrumental in making that service happen: many thanks to Warren Cormicle for working the sound system, and to Ryan Pratt for serving as our cameraman and computer guru.

We appreciate your encouragement and constructive feedback about that first attempt at livestreaming. We have got some new equipment and software this week that we hope will make the experience even more user friendly. We hope to be able to broadcast to Facebook, YouTube, and our church website. Those with smart TVs and Roku-style devices will be able to join worship on the TV screen. We also hope to be able to put hymn lyrics on the screen so there’s no need to print a separate songsheet. Please pray for us as we figure out how to make all of this work!

Thanks to those who are giving through the church website, and thanks to those who have faithfully sent in offering envelopes. We are working to make it even easier to give. If you are able, please consider making an extra gift to Court Street UMC. We are investing in new equipment and software, believing that God will provide the resources and bring us out the other side of this challenging season with even stronger and more effective ministries.

One new tool for ministry we are going to employ during our weeks of physical distancing is an online service called “Zoom.” Zoom makes it possible to have virtual gatherings online through your internet browser. Participants can see and hear each other, and there is no need to download any additional software to your computer. This week we are going to try using Zoom for some of our regular gatherings. Check your email for links to the following events:

Wednesday, March 18, 6pm: Online Youth Group

Wednesday, March 18, 7pm: Virtual Potluck/Bible Study

Thursday, March 19, 10am: Online Coffee with Clergy

Thursday, March 19, 7pm: Bedtime Stories with Rev. Christy

Sunday, March 22, 6pm: Online Youth Group

Tuesday, March 24, 7pm: Bedtime Stories with Rev. Christy

Please know that we are working to care for those members of our church family who may be struggling with feelings of isolation. A handful of Court Streeters have volunteered to make regular phone calls, particularly to those who are homebound or living alone. We would love to have more Court Streeters making more calls to more people. If you’re willing to spend some time on the phone, keeping our church family connected, please respond to this message for further instructions.

Above all, Church, keep doing what you have been doing. Look for ways to love the people who are cooped up with you. Take lots of deep breaths. If you are able, participate in one of the many ministries that are helping people find the essentials (there’s still a food ministry happening at Asbury UMC, for example). Wash your hands, and do not be afraid. God is with us, everywhere!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Jeremy

Jeremy Peters

March 14, 2020

All Church Gatherings Suspended

Jeremy Peters

March 14, 2020

Dear Church,

After much consultation and prayer, and upon the request of Bishop David Bard, we are suspending all church activities, including Sunday school and in-person worship. The State of Michigan has recommended that all gatherings of more than 100 persons be suspended, and many churches in our area have made this same decision. In light of all we have learned about the Coronavirus in recent days, we believe this is the best way for us to care for one another and our community.

This unusual moment gives us an opportunity to remember that “church” is not a building or something we do on Sunday morning; we are the church, and no amount of social-distancing or self-quarantining can stop us from being the church together. We believe that by the power of God’s love we can be present with one another, even when we are separated by great distances or death.

We are working to find new ways of connecting to one another. Get ready to hear about how the youth group will gather online, and how Christian Education can continue without in-person gatherings. We are planning to livestream worship on Sunday mornings at 10:30am. You should be able to watch the video through Facebook; we are working on a way to also stream it here on the Court Street website, but that might not be ready in time for this Sunday.

As always you can listen to sermons and even give your tithe through the church website. In this strange and anxious moment, the work of the church goes on. In fact, our staff are working many extra hours this week to sanitize the building, keep up with current events, and create new ways of being in community. Please support that work by continuing your generous giving.

In the meantime, spend some extra time on the phone with loved ones who might be feeling anxious. Gather with your family for laughter and prayer. FaceTime people who might be feeling lonely and isolated. And, as always, keep on washing your hands and do not be afraid.

God is with us!

Pastor Jeremy and Rev. Christy

Melissa Urban

March 12, 2020

Update on COVID-19 Response

Melissa Urban

March 12, 2020

Dear Church,

In an attempt to do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19, all non-essential gatherings at Court Street United Methodist Church are being suspended for the time being.At this time we are planning to continue Sunday School and Sunday Worship as usual, and we are looking at ways that we might make worship available online for people who do not feel they can safely participate in person.We will not, however, have Wednesday pot lucks, Coffee with Clergy, or prayer in the chapel.Groups and committees (UMW circles, musical ensembles, Trustees, etc.) will be allowed to make their own decisions about whether and how to meet, but we are encouraging groups to avoid meeting in person if it can be avoided.

Please know that this was a difficult decision.We have learned that in places where gatherings are curtailed early on, the spread of COVID-19 can be slowed and the mortality rate remains relatively low.In cities and nations that take fewer precautions, the spread of COVID-19 is exponential and the health system is quickly overwhelmed, leading to a much higher mortality rate.While there are only a couple of confirmed cases in Michigan at this time, we felt that the responsible thing would be for us to take precautions early enough to make a difference.

We do not plan to close the church building or offices at this time, although that may change as we receive new instructions and recommendations from health officials.Even though we may not gather in person as often as we usually do, the work of God’s church will go on.We will work to find new and creative ways to connect with one another, and to share God’s love with our community.If you choose to stay home from worship (and if you are showing any signs of illness or have a weakened immune system, we encourage you to stay home), remember that you can catch up on Sunday’s sermon and give your tithe through the church’s website, www.CourtStreetFlint.org.

We will continue to watch the COVID-19 situation closely, and we will keep you informed about any further changes to church activities.Thank you for your patience and understanding, thank you for your willingness to find new ways of being in community with one another, and thank you for praying for all affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.Keep on washing your hands, and do not be afraid!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Jeremy

Melissa Urban

February 26, 2020

Ash Wednesday Service Canceled!

Melissa Urban

February 26, 2020

Worship at Bethel UMC tonight has been called off due to weather concerns. We hope you will repent in a safe, warm place today, and we hope to see you on Sunday at 10:30am!

Melissa Urban

January 6, 2020

Growing in Faith

Melissa Urban

January 6, 2020

There are 22 questions the members of John Wesley’s Holy Club asked themselves every day in their private devotions over 200 years ago. These questions are vast, but still incredibly pertinent to our lives today. As I am cleaning, organizing, and making plans for change in this new year I am longing to find ways to continue bettering myself and growing deeper in my faith. These questions are a tool to help me keep my life in check and growing closer to Christ every day.

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?

2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?

3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?

4. Can I be trusted?

5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?

6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?

7. Did the Bible live in me today?

8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?

9. Am I enjoying prayer?

10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?

11. Do I pray about the money I spend?

12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?

13. Do I disobey God in anything?

14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?

15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?

16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

17. How do I spend my spare time?

18. Am I proud?

19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?

20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?

21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?

22. Is Christ real to me?

The language reflects a way of life 200 years ago, but the message remains. May your new year be full of contemplation and many blessings as you continue to increase your faith and grow closer to God in this new decade!

Your partner in growth,

Pastor Christy

Melissa Urban

September 10, 2018

A word about blessings.

Melissa Urban

September 10, 2018

Dear Church,

The other day I got a hesitant request from a Court Streeter who has just moved into a new home. “Pastor,” she said, “I’d like to have you come and say a blessing for my new home, but I’m worried that you’ll think that’s weird. Do Methodists do that? Do you bless stuff?” “Of course!” I told her - “Blessing stuff is one of my favorite things!”

The idea of giving blessings goes back to a time long before the Christian faith. In one of the earliest stories in the Bible, God says to a man named Abram, “I will bless you, and…you will be a blessing… In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” When God said, “I will bless you,” God meant that God would watch over Abram, walk beside Abram, lend assistance and protection to Abram. When God said, “You will be a blessing,” God meant that Abram was to watch over others, to walk beside them, to lend assistance and protection to them. From the very beginning of the Bible story, we find that blessings are a powerful way of thinking about our relationship with God. God blesses us, that we might bless others.

Blessings became an important part of Jewish identity. Our Jewish friends say dozens of blessings each day. There are blessings for different parts of the day, blessings for each meal, blessings for lighting candles. Interestingly, our Jewish friends don’t begin a meal by saying, “God bless this food.” Instead, they begin each meal by saying, “God, we bless you and thank you for this food.” Blessings for our Jewish friends are a way of saying thanks and giving praise to God the source of every good thing.

I went to the Court Streeter’s new house, and we made our way through the home, saying a blessing for every room. I blessed the kitchen, and prayed that it would be a place of sustenance and fellowship. I blessed the back porch, and prayed that it would be a place of rest and meditation. We came to the bathroom, and the Court Streeter said, “Surely you won’t say a blessing for the bathroom?” “Why not?” I asked. “We believe that God is present everywhere, and God can work through every thing!”

Today’s festivities will include lots of blessings. We will bless backpacks, students, and teachers. We will bless babies and teenagers. We will bless water and new members. We will bless barbecue and ice cream. We will bless God, and we will bless you. All of these blessings are a way of remembering the God who is the source of every blessing. Each blessing is a way of giving thanks, and a way of saying to God, “Thank you for being in our lives - we need you!”

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Jeremy