Guidelines for in-person worship

Welcome back! Guidelines for in-person worship

Yes, we’re having audio problems

Those of you who are listening to our live streaming of Sunday worship services have probably noticed that we’re having some problems with audio the past few weeks.   We think at least a couple of things are going on.  

First, we are pretty sure that the church’s Wi-Fi isn’t up to doing what we’re asking it to do.  Our internet provider has told us that the level of service we pay for isn’t really set up to handle live streaming.  (Who knew?!)  Also, having people in the building and using their phones seems to be taxing the system.  We may need to connect the audio/visual equipment to the internet by means of an ethernet cord, and we’re looking into that option.  We may also need to upgrade our Wi-Fi system, and we’re looking into that too.  

In addition, we have realized for several months that we would benefit from some equipment upgrades, and we have given quite a bit of thought to what equipment would help.  We even got the church credit card out to pay for such equipment.  What’s the problem, then?  Pretty much everybody out there is coping with pandemic restrictions by live streaming, using Zoom, etc., and the equipment we want has been simply unavailable.   

We’re working on it.  We appreciate that you let us know what the problems are so we can give them the attention they need, and we also appreciate your patience as we work to address these problems.  

Thanks!   Catherine Griffith, on behalf of the Technology Working Group

Michael Barrett

Doug Chambers

Joe Dawley

Kim Edgington-Keehn

Implementing New Committees

October’s Monthly Meeting for worship with a concern for business approved the Nominating Committee’s report, including those who are feeling called, gifted, and led to serve on the new committees.  As we think about putting this new structure into place, the Nominating Committee made this suggestion:

Having some overlap meetings might be useful, so what about using the time between now and January 1, 2021, for the new committees to meet with the old committees (including those committees that will become working groups), with full implementation of the new structure in January?  

Monthly Meeting approved that suggestion, so we are now in between:  the eighteen old committees are meeting and/or functioning as usual, while the three new committees are getting ready for the handing off of the baton, so to speak, in January.  

During this integration process, if you are on one of the old committees, please consider these possibilities:

·         Someone from a new committee might contact you to meet with them. 

·         Someone from the new committee might sit in on your meeting. 

·         You might want to communicate with the new committee about priorities or concerns.  

·         You might want to ask to meet with the new committee.  

Church activities this week

Wednesday, November 4, 6:30 pm, Bell choir rehearsal

Thursday, November 5, 4:00 pm, Assets Committee

Saturday, November 7, 1:30 pm, Listening Group 5.3 (Doug & Pam)

Saturday, November 7, 4:00 pm, Christian Education

Halloween Party

This year we will be having a Spooky Yard on October 31st from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Church. We are still asking for any type of candy donations that are individually wrapped.  We will be putting the candy on sticks in the yard.  Please drop candy off at the church during normal office hours of Tuesday through Friday 9 am to 1 pm.  If you can help with this please let Andrea Suttle at asuttle121@gmail.com or Cheryl Mallonnee at cmallonee@clclodging.com know as soon as possible. Thanks!

Listening Groups: Preparing for an All-Church Retreat

As you know, University Friends Meeting is in a time of transition.  As part of that effort we are seeking to answer these questions: Who are we? Who are our neighbors? To what is God calling us?   As part of discovering God’s call for University Friends Meeting, Ministry and Counsel plus the Transition Team are putting into action a series of Listening Group conversations.   

These Listening Group conversations are crucial as we consider questions related to the future of University Friends Meeting. Please keep them in your prayers.

What would it mean for us to join God’s work in our community, in our time?

How can we be better stewards of our assets, in terms of people, facilities, and money?

What is God calling us to be and do?

Book Club

The Book Club meets at 6:30 p.m., the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of each month.  Join us in the church library or via zoom.  If you would like to join via zoom, please email Catherine at orcagriffith@yahoo.com and she will send you an invitation.  Everyone is welcome!  On Tuesday, November 10, we will be completing the discussion of Thomas Kelly’s A Testament of Devotion by reading the sections “The Eternal Now and Social Concern” and “The Simplification of Life” (pp. 89-124).     

Tuesday November 24, the Book Club will be reading Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies:  Some Thoughts on Faith, with plans to discuss the “Overture” (through p. 55).

PRAYER REQUESTS AND CONCERNS: 

Joe Dawley was diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for COVID-19.  He is recovering.

Greg Newby received an all clear on his PET scan.

Linda Mallonee is home now recuperating.

Our church during this time of transition – May we find clarity and energy for the tasks at hand and the decisions we will need to make as we find our way forward.   May we find ways to use our assets wisely and well.  May we discover ways we are to be a beacon of love in our world. May we be looking for the doors God is opening, and may we have the courage to walk through them.

Celebrations

Happy November Birthdays!!

A very special birthday wish to Howard Rishel who turns 96 on November 24th

Nov. 2: Elizabeth (Perkins) Hendricks; Nov. 6: Greg Liston, Jack Black; Nov. 7: Dorothy McKay; Nov. 9: Justin Howdeshell, Pascal Moss; Nov. 10: James Gilliam, Shawn Palmer; Nov. 14: Mary Beth Charles, Carol Kirkwood; Nov. 15: Rox Ann Dicker, Isaiah Logan, David Perkins; Nov. 18: Muriel Hopkins; Nov. 19: Lynn Hankins, Jocelyn Clonts, Robby Pogue; Nov. 20: Glenda Carpenter, Carolyn Walz, Laura Kingrey, Dave Heffelfinger, Matthew Cook; Nov. 22: Susan Johnson; Nov. 23: Chastity Savely; Nov. 24: Howard Rishel; Nov. 25: Gonzalo Sales, Diane Binford; Nov. 26: Luke Barrett, William Barrett; Nov. 27: Lyndy Wine

Anniversaries

(40+ Years)

Don and Linda Mallonee, 62 years on November 27^th

Milton and Glenda Carpenter, 56 years on November 26^th

Richard and Janice Davis, 43 years on November 30^th

Wedding Announcement

Shelby Smith and Ben Berry were married Saturday, October 17, 2020 at the outdoor venue Prairie Hill Vineyard, in Colwich, KS.  Duane Smith, Minister and Professor at Berea College in Berea, KY, performed the ceremony.  Duane married Gil and Pam Smith in 1986.  Duane also married Greg and Gail Smith in 1989.  Duane is the cousin of Shelby and Gil and nephew of Joan Smith.  Parents of the bride and groom are Gill and Pam Smith and Tom and Mary Berry.

  Birth Announcement

Henry John Mettman was born August 11, 2020 to Andrew and Emily Mettman.  Big sister is two year old Evielyn Josephine (Evie).  Grandparents are John (Jack) and Becky Black.  Great grandparents are Charlie and Karen Tombaugh.