Month: March 2020

Join us for a video worship service featuring a sermon by Pastor Krista, a solo anthem by Marc Dorrel and musical accompaniment by Grace Amador.

Hello Friends,

As this season continues, it is vital for us to know we are not alone. Several of our members have offered to help with errand, rides to doctors appointments, grocery stores, etc. If you need groceries, errands done or a ride, please contact us at office@walnutumc.org!
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For those in need of a prayer,
This is a prayer from one of my favorite authors, Nadia Bolz-Weber:

God who made us all,
Our healers are exhausted, God. Give rest to those who care for the sick.
Our children are bored, God. Grant extra creativity to their caregivers.
Our friends are lonely, God. Help us to reach out.
Our pastors are doing the best they can, God. Help them to know it is enough.
Our workers are jobless, God. Grant us the collective will to take care of them.
Our fellow parents are losing their minds, God. Bring unexpected play and joy and dance parties to all in need.
Our grocery workers are absorbing everyones’s anxiety, God. Protect them from us.
Our elderly are even more isolated God. Comfort them.
We haven’t done this before and we are scared, God.
I don’t even know what else to pray for.
Amen.

May God be with you,
Pastor Krista

Pastor Krista is planning a weekly Children’s Time, so share this with your little ones!

Although we cannot meet together in person, we are connected in the family of God. Blessings to you and yours!

Happy Friday, friends!
This week, all churches in the Cal-Pac Annual Conference received word that the bishop is “instructing all of our churches in the California-Pacific Annual Conference not to hold public worship services.” Last night California Gavin Newsom issued a mandatory ‘Stay-at-Home’ order for all Californians and therefore we are suspending all activities until further notice.
What does that mean?

• Our See’s Candy Fundraiser is canceled. Details TBA.
• Our Holy Week and Easter Plans are postponed. 
• It means our Choir Cantata is on hold until we can regather. 
• It means an amount of adjustment to our church activities, ministries and rethinking how we are to stay in community when we cannot gather together in person. This will call for some creativity and ingenuity.

BUT…Easter will happen! It will be different this year, but it will come on April 12th as planned and we will mark the occasion, although less extravagantly, as a community. Furthermore, when we gather together again, what a wonderful celebration it will be! In fact I believe we will feel resurrection especially meaningfully this year.
Other News:

• Walnut Valley School District closed all schools until April 20, which includes Spring Break.

• Walnut United Methodist Preschool is now closed per the California Licensing Board. Please keep our teachers, families and staff in your prayers as they deal with these uncertain times.

A Note about Finances:This will be a challenging time financially for our church. As we are not meeting in person for the foreseeable future, we are missing those weeks of in-person offering. For those who pledge and those who make a weekly donation, please send your offering to the church office by mail. We are checking the mail regularly and will be making a weekly deposit. Make your check payable to Walnut UMC and send to:20601 La Puente Road, Walnut CA 91789
Thank you!

In light of the recent COVID-19 case in our area, and as a response to the California Public Health guidelines announced by Governor Newsom and Bishop Hagiya, Walnut UMC will cancel all activities, including worship, until further notice. It is vital for us to ensure the health and safety of all people in our community and with our population of elderly and at-risk members who are most vulnerable to this illness, it is important that we protect one another. Although, we will not be meeting in person, the church will remain active in ministry. We are already developing creative ways to engage with you during this Lenten journey. I am working on a video worship service for this Sunday that will be available on our Facebook page and on YouTube. I will send you an email with all the information to enjoy this new worship experience. Let us pray for each other, pray for all those affected, pray for all those who are in fear, and for all of the medical professionals and researchers and community members who are trying to find solutions. This is a very fluid situation and we will continue to assess current information, following the guidance of the health and government officials, as we plan next steps. If you have any pastoral needs, anxieties, questions, or suggestions on how we might be of greater service to you in this unusual time, please feel free to be in contact with me. Together we will continue to be the community of Christ and seek the healing of the world. Peace be with you,  Pastor Krista

March 12, 2020

Beloved friends,

Yesterday, our Bible Study group studied the scripture from Matthew 17 where Jesus invites Peter out of the boat to walk on the water. When Peter starts to sink into the sea, Jesus offers his hand saying, “Do not be afraid.”

As we deal with the news about the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), panic and anxiety may overwhelm us and we may begin to sink into the waters of Fear. Is it a worrisome time and I encourage us all to be careful with our health and to take care of physical health now, as always.

I want to assure you that, at Walnut United Methodist Church and Preschool, we are taking precautions and are on alert. Our Preschool has been diligent about children who appear to have sniffles, coughs or symptoms of illness and are sending home anyone who is not feeling well. Our facility is cleaned regularly and teachers and students are focusing on hand washing and good hygiene practices.

We will take additional precautions during this time including: additional cleaning / disinfecting of our church office, sanctuary and narthex and we beginning this Sunday, we will take additional steps to limit contact by eliminating the after worship greeting line and the Passing of the Peace, in an attempt to refrain from hugs and handshakes. Although the cleaning process has already begun, I will be cleaning the sanctuary surfaces on Saturday at 9:00AM and you are welcome to join me.

In addition, if you are not feeling well, please stay home from church. In an effort to make it possible for you to participate in worship while at home, I am investigating live-streaming services, posting a video of each service and/or posting an audio file of the service. It make take some time, but we are considering all possibilities if we need to take steps in that direction.

With the news of a COVID 19 case at Pomona Valley Hospital and the Governor’s advice to cancel gatherings of 250 people, I have reached out to the Bishop and our District Superintendent for guidance on how to proceed. Currently, we are following CDC advice in our preparation and precaution and so we will not be canceling any events, services or meetings at this time. Stay tuned for more information as guidance and instruction comes from the conference. We are monitoring the situation as it develops.

Peace be with you,

Pastor Krista

For more info:
https://www.claremont-courier.com/articles/news/t36078-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR3JybboVFydOuZgy_aiG_SgZbn2kcIbTT7hkMtdfsVEb-XqiyJHv1mpga8

and

Governor Says Gatherings of More Than 250 People Should Be Cancelled Statewide

The Cantata is coming up! The Cantata will be performed during Palm Sunday, the Sunday right before Easter.

The choir has been working hard each week to practice each song so please join us on April 5th at 10 AM during the worship service to see our wonderful choir peform!

It will be a performance you don’t want to miss! 😀