Author: Wesley Office

March 14, 2020

This email was sent to the congregation of Wesley United Methodist Church (Winona, Minn.) on March 14, 2020.

Dear Wesley family:

I am writing to inform you that our church council just voted to suspend all worship, gatherings and church meetings at Wesley UMC effective immediately until the time that it is safe to reconvene.  At the end of April, Wesley leadership will evaluate where we are at and if we need to continue this period of suspension.

Be assured, we will not leave you without connection to your church.  During this time, families will be called regularly for a check-in and to see if there are any needs that we can help meet.

This Sunday we will post an online devotional video that will be available on our website and Facebook page.  We will also send you a link to access the worship devotional.  Then, starting next Sunday, we will begin broadcasting on Facebook a live worship/devotional at the usual Sunday service time of 10 a.m.  In addition, Wesley is launching a YouTube channel where we will post the weekly broadcast of our worship devotional for your family to enjoy at a convenient time. We will send you the links, as well as put them on our website and Facebook page, so you can take advantage of these connections.  Our worship will also be broadcast Wednesdays on local TV at the usual time.

Although in-person meetings will not be happening, Wesley will make it possible for groups to connect on the internet through Google Hangouts Meet. More on that later.

Church finances are a big concern to all congregations considering suspending their in-person ministries.  Many of you are already giving through direct deposit or through our online giving service (Vanco) located on our website.  If you are not giving this way and would like to explore this option, we encourage you to contact our Finance Secretary, Edie D. Edie will let you know how set up electronic giving options.

At this point, our church office hours of 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday will remain in place.

Friends, now is a time for creativity in how we continue to be a family in service to God and one another. It is also a time to pull together to make this work and to learn new ways of communicating the Good News of life in Christ to our neighbors.

In the love of Jesus,

Pastor Robert