June 5, 2020
Originally published in The Exchange on June 5, 2020, and the FPCP Blog on June 6, 2020
Results from Last Sunday’s Poll
Last Sunday we took a Zoom Poll to help us get a sense of how you, the members of the congregation, are feeling about transitioning back to in-person worship services. These results are helpful for the Session as they discern and plan a path forward. We couldn’t do this without you! Below are the poll questions and number of responses (in parentheses). Each response represents one household.
1. I will return at the first opportunity (when these services are allowed by Sonoma Co). (6)
2. I will return at 1st opportunity but with some concerns and precautions. (5)
3. I will wait several weeks (after 1st opportunity) before I return. (16)
4. It may be quite a while (after the first opportunity before I return. (6)
Would you return sooner if worship services were held outside? (24 YES, 6 NO)
So now what? Several of our church leaders have been actively working on a transition plan that will be in compliance with Sonoma County regulations and recommendations. A first draft has already been completed and is now being reviewed. Although we don’t have a solid date on the calendar, we could start some kind of transition as early as July, and we want to be prepared. Keep in mind, we are anticipating the transition back to be a gradual one. As soon as the plan is adopted by Session we will get it out to you.
With regard to worship, the staff and Worship Commission have been talking about what that might actually look like during and after the transition. At this time we don’t entirely know, but we’ve got some good ideas being developed, and we’re very committed to maintaining our online presence. Zoom is here to stay, and we greatly value the interaction and real-time, back-and-forth participation that it allows. We just love having so many of you join us from afar, and join us from home.
So for now, stay tuned and stay tuned in. If you haven’t already, sign up to engage with us on social media. Follow FPCP on Instagram and Facebook, check out the church website from time to time for updates and YouTube video links. These are good places not only to get up-to-date information on all things FPCP, but to also interact with others who have joined our online community.
Finally, thank you. On behalf of all of our church staff, leaders, and volunteers, thank you for all the encouragement, support, love and patience that you have extended. We’re all doing the best we can, and every day learning ways to do it even better. This is new territory for us all, and you are weathering the church culture shock of this season remarkable well, and with tremendous grace. Thank you!
If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be more involved in conversations or implementation as we move forward, please contact Pastor John (ph. 206-604-0942, [email protected]. We welcome your voice, and value the collective wisdom of the whole.
Results from Last Sunday’s Poll
Last Sunday we took a Zoom Poll to help us get a sense of how you, the members of the congregation, are feeling about transitioning back to in-person worship services. These results are helpful for the Session as they discern and plan a path forward. We couldn’t do this without you! Below are the poll questions and number of responses (in parentheses). Each response represents one household.
1. I will return at the first opportunity (when these services are allowed by Sonoma Co). (6)
2. I will return at 1st opportunity but with some concerns and precautions. (5)
3. I will wait several weeks (after 1st opportunity) before I return. (16)
4. It may be quite a while (after the first opportunity before I return. (6)
Would you return sooner if worship services were held outside? (24 YES, 6 NO)
So now what? Several of our church leaders have been actively working on a transition plan that will be in compliance with Sonoma County regulations and recommendations. A first draft has already been completed and is now being reviewed. Although we don’t have a solid date on the calendar, we could start some kind of transition as early as July, and we want to be prepared. Keep in mind, we are anticipating the transition back to be a gradual one. As soon as the plan is adopted by Session we will get it out to you.
With regard to worship, the staff and Worship Commission have been talking about what that might actually look like during and after the transition. At this time we don’t entirely know, but we’ve got some good ideas being developed, and we’re very committed to maintaining our online presence. Zoom is here to stay, and we greatly value the interaction and real-time, back-and-forth participation that it allows. We just love having so many of you join us from afar, and join us from home.
So for now, stay tuned and stay tuned in. If you haven’t already, sign up to engage with us on social media. Follow FPCP on Instagram and Facebook, check out the church website from time to time for updates and YouTube video links. These are good places not only to get up-to-date information on all things FPCP, but to also interact with others who have joined our online community.
Finally, thank you. On behalf of all of our church staff, leaders, and volunteers, thank you for all the encouragement, support, love and patience that you have extended. We’re all doing the best we can, and every day learning ways to do it even better. This is new territory for us all, and you are weathering the church culture shock of this season remarkable well, and with tremendous grace. Thank you!
If you have any questions or suggestions or would like to be more involved in conversations or implementation as we move forward, please contact Pastor John (ph. 206-604-0942, [email protected]. We welcome your voice, and value the collective wisdom of the whole.
May 8, 2020
Dear Members and Friends of First Presbyterian Church,
When we headed into 2020, who would have imagined that in just a few months we would find ourselves in the middle of a pandemic? Who would have imagined that COVID-19 would bring our normal routines to a screeching halt, or that May 3rd would mark our seventh Sunday worshiping online? We never expected to be wearing face masks in public, or become “experts” on Zoom. So much has changed in a short amount of time, and we have all been impacted in some way.
The purpose of this letter is to update you on some of the ways First Presbyterian Church has been impacted, to share how we are responding to needs in our community, and to let you know what our life together and apart might look like moving forward.
1. Gathering in person — Until further notice, we will continue to suspend all in-person meetings and worship services, in compliance with state and local guidelines.
2. Gathering online — We have been delighted by how many of you have joined our online worship services and taken advantage of video conferencing for church meetings. If you need assistance getting set up with Zoom (video and/or phone), please call Pastor John (206-604-0942) or Roger Johnson (707-762-8269) for assistance. We’d be happy to help you.
3. Church office — The office will continue to remain closed, though the mail is being received and checks are being processed on a daily basis. Roger Johnson will be working from home, and Pastor John will be in and out as needed. If you call the church office (707-762-8269) your call will be automatically forwarded to Roger’s phone at home.
4. Finances — We are so very grateful for the financial generosity you have shown through your monthly donations of tithes and offerings. It has helped us track our financial situation through these first couple of months. Where we are seeing the most loss is in our revenue generated from outside groups who rent portions of our campus. A rough projection through the end of the year, shows an approximate $16,000 loss of rental income. On the other hand, we were offered and have received relief of three months of payments due for the pastor pension fund, which will save us about $5,500! It is anticipated that there could be a reduction of around $6,000 in utility expenses. We also have some savings and other funds to help us with any shortfalls. In addition, there is a possibility that we will receive an SBA loan/grant. The Budget and Finance Commission and Session will continue to look into ways to increase revenues and cut back on expenses, if necessary, to keep our church in a sustainable financial position through this time.
5. Staff — Our wonderful staff members have been working behind the scenes to keep things going, and make the necessary transitions to being online. Daniel Weidlich, our Janitor/Custodian, has been working extra hard to disinfect and give the entire campus a much-needed deep cleaning. Because those tasks are completed, and the campus is no longer being used as it once was, the Session has made the very difficult decision to eliminate the Janitor/Custodian position effective May 8. I can’t say enough about how much we all love and appreciate Daniel. And I can’t emphasize enough how difficult these conversations have been for the Session, and may continue to be, as we monitor and balance our financial circumstances with our staffing needs.
6. How can we help? — We’re all in this together. I know you hear it a lot, but it’s true. We are here for you. Our well-organized deacons are ready to offer whatever assistance they can. Volunteers are standing by to pick up and deliver groceries, prescriptions, or run other errands as needed. Grocery cards are also available (contact Pastor John).
7. Request a virtual visit — If you would like to request a phone call or a video call from Pastor John click on this link to send Pastor John an email to schedule a chat. If you’d like to schedule a phone or video chat with one of our Deacons, click on this link to send an email request. We’d love to hear how you are doing, learn how we can support you, and pray with you.
8. Looking ahead — There is simply no way of knowing how long all this will last, but we will do our best to keep you informed, and to provide you with as much spiritual, physical, and emotional support as we can. Please feel free to reach out to Pastor John or any of our Deacons and Elders with suggestions on how we can do this better. We don’t always know what the needs are, and we appreciate your help and grace as we fumble our way along on this unfamiliar path.
Stay connected, stay safe, and please keep our FPCP leadership in your prayers, as you remain in ours.
Praying God’s peace, health, and very best for you all.
Pastor John
Shawn Dooley, Budget & Finance Elder
Diane Olson, Student & Family Ministries Elder
Mark Sturges, Personnel Elder
When we headed into 2020, who would have imagined that in just a few months we would find ourselves in the middle of a pandemic? Who would have imagined that COVID-19 would bring our normal routines to a screeching halt, or that May 3rd would mark our seventh Sunday worshiping online? We never expected to be wearing face masks in public, or become “experts” on Zoom. So much has changed in a short amount of time, and we have all been impacted in some way.
The purpose of this letter is to update you on some of the ways First Presbyterian Church has been impacted, to share how we are responding to needs in our community, and to let you know what our life together and apart might look like moving forward.
1. Gathering in person — Until further notice, we will continue to suspend all in-person meetings and worship services, in compliance with state and local guidelines.
2. Gathering online — We have been delighted by how many of you have joined our online worship services and taken advantage of video conferencing for church meetings. If you need assistance getting set up with Zoom (video and/or phone), please call Pastor John (206-604-0942) or Roger Johnson (707-762-8269) for assistance. We’d be happy to help you.
3. Church office — The office will continue to remain closed, though the mail is being received and checks are being processed on a daily basis. Roger Johnson will be working from home, and Pastor John will be in and out as needed. If you call the church office (707-762-8269) your call will be automatically forwarded to Roger’s phone at home.
4. Finances — We are so very grateful for the financial generosity you have shown through your monthly donations of tithes and offerings. It has helped us track our financial situation through these first couple of months. Where we are seeing the most loss is in our revenue generated from outside groups who rent portions of our campus. A rough projection through the end of the year, shows an approximate $16,000 loss of rental income. On the other hand, we were offered and have received relief of three months of payments due for the pastor pension fund, which will save us about $5,500! It is anticipated that there could be a reduction of around $6,000 in utility expenses. We also have some savings and other funds to help us with any shortfalls. In addition, there is a possibility that we will receive an SBA loan/grant. The Budget and Finance Commission and Session will continue to look into ways to increase revenues and cut back on expenses, if necessary, to keep our church in a sustainable financial position through this time.
5. Staff — Our wonderful staff members have been working behind the scenes to keep things going, and make the necessary transitions to being online. Daniel Weidlich, our Janitor/Custodian, has been working extra hard to disinfect and give the entire campus a much-needed deep cleaning. Because those tasks are completed, and the campus is no longer being used as it once was, the Session has made the very difficult decision to eliminate the Janitor/Custodian position effective May 8. I can’t say enough about how much we all love and appreciate Daniel. And I can’t emphasize enough how difficult these conversations have been for the Session, and may continue to be, as we monitor and balance our financial circumstances with our staffing needs.
6. How can we help? — We’re all in this together. I know you hear it a lot, but it’s true. We are here for you. Our well-organized deacons are ready to offer whatever assistance they can. Volunteers are standing by to pick up and deliver groceries, prescriptions, or run other errands as needed. Grocery cards are also available (contact Pastor John).
7. Request a virtual visit — If you would like to request a phone call or a video call from Pastor John click on this link to send Pastor John an email to schedule a chat. If you’d like to schedule a phone or video chat with one of our Deacons, click on this link to send an email request. We’d love to hear how you are doing, learn how we can support you, and pray with you.
8. Looking ahead — There is simply no way of knowing how long all this will last, but we will do our best to keep you informed, and to provide you with as much spiritual, physical, and emotional support as we can. Please feel free to reach out to Pastor John or any of our Deacons and Elders with suggestions on how we can do this better. We don’t always know what the needs are, and we appreciate your help and grace as we fumble our way along on this unfamiliar path.
Stay connected, stay safe, and please keep our FPCP leadership in your prayers, as you remain in ours.
Praying God’s peace, health, and very best for you all.
Pastor John
Shawn Dooley, Budget & Finance Elder
Diane Olson, Student & Family Ministries Elder
Mark Sturges, Personnel Elder
March 12, 2020
Dear Members and Friends of First Presbyterian Church,
Grace and Peace to you in the name of Christ Jesus. I’m writing to update you on FPCP’s plans for responding to the onset of COVID 19 (Coronavirus).
After considering recommendations from our state, local and denominational leaders, the Session and staff believe the most responsible course of action at this time is to exercise an abundance of caution and cancel our worship service for this Sunday, March 15.
Preventing the further spread of the coronavirus is one of the best possible ways for us to love and care for one another and for our communities. When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor,” he asked us to consider how altering our actions might benefit others, particularly the most vulnerable in our midst.
I know that gathering for worship and fellowship is a great joy and time of encouragement, but I am also reminded that gathering Sunday morning is not the only thing that makes us the church. Our connection to God and one another is not limited to physical meeting. We are the body of Christ, the church, joined together by love and faith (as well as phone calls, emails, texts, Instagram posts and video calls) wherever we are in the world. Perhaps Sunday morning you will reach out to someone you know and ask, “How are you doing? Is there anything you need? And how can I pray for you?”
Besides canceling our worship service for this Sunday, smaller gatherings (Bible studies, small groups, Young At Heart, commission meetings, Session, Deacons, etc.) will be held at the group’s discretion. Some may choose to meet virtually through video platforms such as Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, etc., or at the very least provide call-in options.
We will keep you informed about future Sundays and other events that may be impacted. When in doubt, check the church website, Facebook page, the Exchange eLetter, or give us a call.
The church office will continue to stay open, and we are here for you. Don’t hesitate to call for prayer, conversation, or any kind of assistance you may require. You can reach the church office at (707) 762-8269 or call me directly at (206) 604-0942.
Finally, I encourage you to pray for healing for those who are ill throughout the world, and for those medical professionals and caregivers who are working so tirelessly on the front lines. And let us pray for one another, that we would encounter Jesus in this strange and unexpected Lenten wilderness in which we now find ourselves.
Praying God’s peace, health, and very best for you all.
Pastor John
Grace and Peace to you in the name of Christ Jesus. I’m writing to update you on FPCP’s plans for responding to the onset of COVID 19 (Coronavirus).
After considering recommendations from our state, local and denominational leaders, the Session and staff believe the most responsible course of action at this time is to exercise an abundance of caution and cancel our worship service for this Sunday, March 15.
Preventing the further spread of the coronavirus is one of the best possible ways for us to love and care for one another and for our communities. When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor,” he asked us to consider how altering our actions might benefit others, particularly the most vulnerable in our midst.
I know that gathering for worship and fellowship is a great joy and time of encouragement, but I am also reminded that gathering Sunday morning is not the only thing that makes us the church. Our connection to God and one another is not limited to physical meeting. We are the body of Christ, the church, joined together by love and faith (as well as phone calls, emails, texts, Instagram posts and video calls) wherever we are in the world. Perhaps Sunday morning you will reach out to someone you know and ask, “How are you doing? Is there anything you need? And how can I pray for you?”
Besides canceling our worship service for this Sunday, smaller gatherings (Bible studies, small groups, Young At Heart, commission meetings, Session, Deacons, etc.) will be held at the group’s discretion. Some may choose to meet virtually through video platforms such as Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, etc., or at the very least provide call-in options.
We will keep you informed about future Sundays and other events that may be impacted. When in doubt, check the church website, Facebook page, the Exchange eLetter, or give us a call.
The church office will continue to stay open, and we are here for you. Don’t hesitate to call for prayer, conversation, or any kind of assistance you may require. You can reach the church office at (707) 762-8269 or call me directly at (206) 604-0942.
Finally, I encourage you to pray for healing for those who are ill throughout the world, and for those medical professionals and caregivers who are working so tirelessly on the front lines. And let us pray for one another, that we would encounter Jesus in this strange and unexpected Lenten wilderness in which we now find ourselves.
Praying God’s peace, health, and very best for you all.
Pastor John