COVID-19 – Beaver County Metrics – 12-30-2022

COVID-19 Integrated County View:

Here are the weekly COVID-19 statistics for Beaver County, PA as of December 30, 2022, showing Beaver County continuing in the HIGH category.

• The Incidence Rate decreased from 105.5 to 82.9 (a decrease of 22.6 , or 21.4%), in the SUBSTANTIAL category.
• The PCR Positivity Rate decreased from 27.2 to 24.5 in the HIGH category.

(Allegheny County’s figures continued in the HIGH category during the past week, at 77.7 and 16.4%.)

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The new “COVID-19 COMMUNITY LEVEL” index:

Starting on March 3, 2022, for hospitals and healthcare systems, the CDC is also issuing a new “COVID-19 Community Level“ index that measures the “current potential for strain on the health system” (in other words, the ability of hospitals to take in and treat additional folks with COVID-19.)  

This new index is in addition to the CDC’s “COVID-19 Integrated County View” which they continue to publish each week.

The CDC currently reports that current “COVID-19 Community Level” moved up into the LOW category.  This metric was adopted on March 3, 2022, reflecting on the potential availability of hospital beds for new COVID-19 cases. 

CDC-Recommended actions when in the HIGH level:

• Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Get tested if you have symptoms.
• If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.

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The “Triple Threat”:

Recently, health officials have begun referring to the combination of RSV, COVID-19 and flu as a “triple threat” because they are all circulating simultaneously — and could all fuel a spike in respiratory illnesses in the coming months.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a respiratory virus that usually causes cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, poor appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. 

The virus can spread via coughs, sneezes, surfaces and direct contact, according to the CDC. Most people who get infected experience mild symptoms and recover within a week or two, but the virus can be serious, especially for infants and older adults.

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• At Central Church, in order to look out for our older folks, as well as the unvaccinated or immunocompromised, we are continuing to look to the CDC’s“COVID-19 Integrated County View” to evaluate which protective measures and protocols that we should observe to protect all of the folks who come through our doors for in-person worship or for other reasons, such as to participate in our community feeding ministry outreach.

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• Small Group Meetings (Sunday School, AA, other meetings):

The current guidance on when and how gatherings can take place is based upon the threshold of infection rate.

For Indoor meetings/Sunday School to resume, the 7-day average of daily cases for gatherings that include unvaccinated folks should be:

• • 1.5-2.0 – for everyone except those at high risk; and
  • Less than 1.0 for those at high risk.
  • Our current level is 11.8, so resuming small group meetings may not be feasible for the immediate future.

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As the pandemic continues, we are continuing our efforts to:

 

• Disinfect Central Church prior to every worship service and feeding ministry event using EPA-registered products in compliance with CDC standards to kill germs and reduce the risk of spreading infection, and in compliance with EPA criteria for use against SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19; and

• We have significantly expanded our new medical-grade HEPA-13 air filtration equipment in our Sanctuary, which is rated to remove COVID-19 from the air, which now provides 10.7 complete air changes every hour in our Sanctuary (every 6 minutes)!

• In addition, our Parlor, Church Office, Pastor’s Office, UMYF Meeting Room, Fellowship Hall, and Nursery all offer even higher levels of air changes per hour using HEPA-13 or HEPA-14 filtration.

• (5 air changes per hour is the EPA’s general recommended standard, and the EPA now recommends 8-15 air changes per hour in Churches. )  
  

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Active Air Filtering Measurement at Central Church

Here is some good news!

In order to continuously monitor how effectively our air filters are scrubbing the Sanctuary air for us, our Trustees have added an active air filter meter in our Sanctuary.

The actual COVID-19 virus measures about 1.5 microns in size, but it usually hitchhikes on air-borne droplets exhaled from infected humans to spread throughout a room.  The size of those droplets (classified as fine particulates) is 2.5 microns, so we are measuring for that level of particulates.

Our Sanctuary is disinfected prior to every worship service, so any particulates that are floating around are mainly routine dust and pollen.   (The Medify air filtration equipment that we have in place are rated to remove air-borne contaminants down to 1 micron.)

• During our Sunday in-person worship services, when the air filters are in full use, the Sanctuary air readings hover between zero and 1, except for when we were singing hymns, when it briefly increased a few points before resuming its steady decrease down to 1 ppm, so our air filters are definitely doing their job of effectively scrubbing our air!

• Since our objective is to reduce any air-borne COVID-19 virus (or cold or flu viruses) exhaled by an infected person during a worship service, we are protecting our folks as best we can.

Our thanks to our dedicated Trustees for tirelessly working during the COVID-19 pandemic to help protect anyone who comes through our doors.

Missions: From Start to Finish – A Nurseryman Finisher

Key Bible Verse: “Let’s go at once to take the land,” Caleb said. “We can certainly conquer it!”  – Numbers 13:30

Bonus Reading: Joshua 14:6-14

The Sahara Desert advancing across Mauritania is forcing this country’s once nomadic population to its two cities. The National Geographic called the result “the largest refugee camp in the world.” The government asked Impact Teams International for help. That’s how Bill Stoffregen, a Christian nurseryman from North Carolina, landed in Mauritania. Appalled at the intense heat and lack of water, Bill questioned if any cash crop would grow there—until he spied a row of green trees. “What are those?” he asked.

“Neem trees,” said his interpreter. Bill knew that neem is an ingredient in insecticides. A computer search divulged that neem products treat wounds and a variety of ailments. And because the tree’s roots grow three feet underground for every foot above, it might hold drifting sands in place.

Excited by Bill’s report, Mauritanian officials agreed to explore the tree’s commercial potential. The research, which Bill funded from his savings, revealed that $1 million invested in planting trees and building a processing plant would create many jobs. Commercial shipments have now begun. Bill has no doubt that God used him to launch this project.

—Anne Garris in Today’s Christian

My Response: To explore ways to invest my experience or resources in Christ’s kingdom, I’ll ____.

Thought to Apply: What we give up for Christ we gain. What we keep back for ourselves is our real loss. ;mdash;J. Hudson Taylor (English missionary to China)

Adapted from our sister publication Today’s Christian(9-10/04)

Prayer for the Week:  Prevent me, sovereign Lord, from placing age or place restrictions on my readiness to serve You.

 

 

Missions: From Start to Finish – The Business Plan

Key Bible Verse: “If you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.”  – Mark 8:35

Bonus Reading: Mark 8:34-35

Rusty met the Lord as a college athlete and accepted His call to penetrate China’s bamboo curtain with the gospel. Convinced that the best entry was through business, Rusty learned sales working for a world-class retailer in Seattle. Next, he spent two years in Taiwan learning the Mandarin language and Chinese culture. He was hired by an international manufacturer and through hard work, Rusty quickly advanced in the company, becoming its lead representative in Beijing.

Today, 15 years on, Rusty is one of the most respected Christian businessmen in China. An article about Rusty in a Beijing newspaper noted his contributions to the Chinese people and characterized him as trustworthy. His business platform provided the basis for a reputation that opened the minds and hearts of many.

He’s witnessed to thousands of Chinese business people and led many to Christ. He’s supported the Chinese church and helped hundreds of mission workers and Chinese believers establish themselves in business and ministry.

—Mike Barnett in The Changing Face of World Missions

My Response: In what arena am I—or could I become—qualified to demonstrate what a follower of Jesus is like?

Thought to Apply: There comes to many of us the choice between a life of contraction and one of expansion; a life of small dimensions and one of widening horizons. ;mdash;John R. Mott (Student Volunteer movement leader)

Adapted from The Changing Face of World Missions (Baker, 2005)

Prayer for the Week: Prevent me, sovereign Lord, from placing age or place restrictions on my readiness to serve You.

 

 

Missions: From Start to Finish – Brief Task, Lasting Results

Key Bible Verse: And you know that the way we lived among you was further proof of the truth of our message.  – 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Bonus Reading: 1 Thess. 1:4-10a

Four university students from Canada partnered with four from Daystar University in Nairobi for six weeks in the summer of 1996. They were assigned to Olepolis, a Masai village in a Kenya area with almost no Christians. Some 80 percent of the population was alcoholic, with women brewing corn beer for their families.

Sarone, my Masai friend, arranged for the team to camp on his family’s farm. Together they built a bridge of rocks across the local river, which annually cut the village off from the outside world for up to four weeks. They also spent hours visiting families in the shade of trees outside their homes, “chewing the news.”

In response to their demonstration of the gospel and God’s love, the villagers requested that another Christian mazungu (white man) be sent to live with them and help them develop their land.

Seven years later, during meetings in Nairobi, I bumped into Sarone, with three elders from the new Masai church in Olepolis. They recalled the impact of seeing young Masai and Canadian Christians living and serving together. Over 300 members, they reported, were the fruit of the seeds the team had planted! Then they shared their plans for evangelizing surrounding villages.

—Randy Friesen in EMQ

My Response: Should I be content to plant seeds, trusting God for long-term fruit, or __?

Thought to Apply: It may be He has only sent me here as a stopgap. Part of a soldier’s duty is to fill gaps, you know. ;mdash;Amy Carmichael (British missionary to India)

Adapted from EMQ (Evangelical Missions Quarterly, 10/05)

Prayer for the Week: Prevent me, sovereign Lord, from placing age or place restrictions on my readiness to serve You.

 

 

Missions: From Start to Finish

Caleb provides the biblical ideal for a “finisher.” Over a lifetime he has consistently served as a tribal leader for Judah.

At age 85, he is still alert and fit. What’s more, he is chomping at the bit to take on a fresh challenge. What a model to emulate!

 Interact with God’s Word:  Joshua 14:6-14

1. What was Caleb’s role (Numbers 13:3-16) when he was selected for the Canaan scouting expedition?
2. The scouting party majority was intimidated by the Anakites (Numbers 13:31-33). How did the outlook of Caleb and Joshua differ from their “grasshopper complex”?
3. Why (v. 7) were Caleb’s words (Numbers 13:1, 30) a “good report”?
4. How do we know (v. 12) that Caleb was not a naïve optimist?
5. Why did God consider the majority report a rejection of Him (Numbers 14:11)?
6. How does Caleb’s appeal to Joshua (v. 12) contrast with the usual assumption in our day about retirement pursuits?
7. What (vv. 11-12) was Caleb’s assessment of his retirement-age capabilities? What was his ambition?
8. What (vv. 13-14) was the outcome of Caleb’s venture?

Spend Time in Prayer:  Ask God to make you receptive to any assignment He may have for you, regardless of its location, duration, or your age.

Joshua 14:6-14

6 A delegation from the tribe of Judah, led by Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb said to Joshua, “Remember what the Lord said to Moses, the man of God, about you and me when we were at Kadesh-barnea. 7 I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, 8 but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God. 9 So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.’

10 “Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. 11 I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. 12 So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.”

13 So Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land. 14 Hebron still belongs to the descendants of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite because he wholeheartedly followed the Lord, the God of Israel.

Prayer for the Week: Prevent me, sovereign Lord, from placing age or place restrictions on my readiness to serve You.

Missions: From Start to Finish – From Short to Long

Key Bible Verse: It is right for me to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God.  – Romans 15:17

Bonus Reading: Romans 15:15b-21

Straight out of high school, Ken went to work for a water drilling company in the mountains of North Carolina. A believer, he not only loved his work, but he also fell in love with and married Carolyn, the boss’s daughter.

After two volunteer short-term assignments in West Africa, he and Carolyn started praying about a way to serve overseas. But with no formal training, God’s answer looked to them like a no.

Then a friend introduced Ken to a young man who wanted a well dug at his farm home. Ken remembers saying, “Franklin, if you ever need to find water where you’re working in Africa, let me know.”

Months later Franklin Graham took Ken up on his offer, asking him to go to Ethiopia to explore drilling wells there. Ken launched a major well-drilling program for the National Evangelical Church, showing the love of Christ to thousands with pure, clean, crystal-clear drinking water.

As international director of projects for Samaritan’s Purse, Ken Isaacs now oversees work in nearly 100 countries. How did he land there? “God raised me up,” he marvels, “literally from the mud, as a blue-collar well driller.”

—Melvin Cheatham in Make a Difference

My Response: I’ll pray about using my skills among the world’s poor.

Thought to Apply: In 1944 the Lord called me from aviation to Himself, and now He has sent me back to aviation for Himself.  – Nate Saint (missionary pilot martyred in Ecuador)

Adapted from Make a Difference (W Publishing, 2004)

Prayer for the Week: Prevent me, sovereign Lord, from placing age or place restrictions on my readiness to serve You.

 

 

Missions: From Start to Finish – A Cyclist Starter

Key Bible Verse: The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.  – Proverbs 20:29

Bonus Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:5

Ted Webb of Uxbridge, Ontario, traveled to Malawi three years ago on a mission trip, and discovered the importance of bicycles to impoverished Malawians. With his years of fixing, building, and selling bikes, the 21-year-old avid cyclist observed people walking downhill because their brakes had fallen apart, or uphill because the single gear made it impossible to ride!

Ted saw a great opportunity. “So many bikes collect dust in North American garages,” he says, “and they’re so desperately needed in Africa. Once refurbished, they’re of much better quality than those typically available there.”

Africycle was born in 2004 as Ted and his friends collected 180 used bicycles, restored them to top condition, and packed them in a container. Ted and three friends flew to Malawi to meet the shipment and distribute the donated bikes to pastors, orphans, and trades people.

They offered workshops on repairing and maintaining them. When an Africycle team returned in 2006, they found pastors traveling greater distances and reaching more people.

Africycle sent more bicycles to Malawi last year and set up a sale and repair shop. The small fee for the bikes pays locals to work in the shop and funds a school for orphans and disabled kids.

—Sandra Reimer in FaithToday

My Response: What interest of mine might God harness to advance His kingdom?

Adapted from FaithToday (1-2/07)

Prayer for the Week: Prevent me, sovereign Lord, from placing age or place restrictions on my readiness to serve You.

 

Effective Stewardship – Month #13

Money is a means to the greater end of glorifying God

as we demonstrate practical Christianity in our lives.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,

do everything for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

 

Shortly after World War II came to a close, Europe began picking up the pieces. Much of the Old Country had been ravaged by war and was in ruins. Perhaps the saddest sight of all was that of little orphaned children starving in the streets of those war-torn cities.

Early one chilly morning, an American soldier was making his way back to his barracks in London. As he turned the corner in his jeep, he spotted a little lad with his nose pressed to the window of a pastry shop. Inside, the cook was kneading dough for a fresh batch of doughnuts. The hungry boy stared in silence, watching every move.

The soldier pulled his jeep to the curb, stopped, got out, and walked quietly over to where the little fellow was standing. Through the steamed-up window, he could see the mouth-watering morsels as they were being pulled from the oven, piping hot. The boy salivated and released a slight groan as he watched the cook place them ever so carefully into the glass-enclosed case.

The soldier’s heart went out to the nameless orphan as he stood beside him.

“Son, would you like some of those?”

The boy was startled. “Well, yes, I would.”

The American stepped inside and bought a dozen doughnuts, put them in a bag, and walked back to where the lad was standing in the foggy cold of the London morning. He smiled, held out the bag, and said simply, “Here you are.”

As he turned to walk away, he felt a tug on his coat. He looked back and heard the child ask quietly, “Mister, are you God?”

There’s an old saying that says, “Money talks.” It does, you know. It speaks volumes about our priorities, about the things we think are most important, about our values. Money never speaks more clearly than when we use it to minister to someone in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. When that happens, money sends forth a radiant, powerful message about the love of Christ as we demonstrate our Christian faith in action.

The admonition from God’s Word is clear: Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we are to do it for the glory of God. As you consider what God would have you give to your Church, and as you consider the commitments about money and giving you have made to Him, are you doing what you are doing for His glory?

Remember the young boy’s question of a man who befriended him: “Mister, are you God?” It’s just possible, you know, that someone may experience your faith in action by how you use your money today and ask the very same question about you.

Central Church – Online Worship Service – Christmas Day – 12-25-2022

Central Church’s Sanctuary decorated for Christmas!   On this cold and overcast Christmas Day, when the coronavirus prevents many of us from gathering in Central Church’s Sanctuary to worship in body, let us join together in spirit with our online worship service. Today’s online worship service includes a favorite HYMN with lyrics so you can sing along! Our prior online worship services are available in our online library, and can be viewed on demand, and be sure to join us in worship, either online or in person, every week!    AND… Both the video on Facebook and the video on YouTube now have closed captions (if you turn them on) so you can read along with the spoken words during the service!  To activate captions in Facebook, click on the Settings “gear” symbol in the bottom right corner of the image, and then click on the “Off” button to change it to “On” for “Auto-Generated Captions”. To activate captions in YouTube, click on the “CC” icon in the lower right corner of the image to toggle captions On and Off. A brief comment on our new closed caption capability – The closed captions on our videos use voice-recognition software similar to that used on Television broadcasts, and with similar accuracy!  Sometimes, the captions are not entirely accurate, so if you read something incongruous, back up the video a few seconds and listen carefully for what is actually being said.  Also, it takes a while to generate the captions after the videos are published, so if the captions are not available immediately after the video is published, just check back a little later. To begin, simply click on one of the links below to join with the folks who have already made their way into our digital Sanctuary.  You can find this week’s online worship service on both Facebook and YouTube at the following coordinates: Facebook – https://business.facebook.com/100064561097491/videos/488045376567143/?t=0 YouTube –  https://youtu.be/1cK_wY14IXs (If the video doesn’t come up after clicking on the link, just copy and paste the address into your browser search bar.)

Missions: From Start to Finish – An Accountant Finisher

Who Said It…Jim Reapsome

Jim Reapsome, at 77, has just completed a stint as interim pastor of Western Springs, IL Baptist Church.

That follows retiring from a journalism career: public relations director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, editor of The Sunday School Times and Evangelical Missions Quarterly, and managing editor of Christianity Today. And oh yes, he’s pastored a Pennsylvania congregation.

Jim also gardens, golfs, and roots for the Phillies.

What He Said…An Accountant Finisher

Howard and Marilyn Schmidt represent a host of Christians (called “finishers” in missions lingo) who’ve chosen missionary work as their second career. In 1966, Howard took a year of leave from his managerial job at U.S. Steel, and went to Nigeria with their three children. There he served as a field auditor for Charlotte, NC-based SIM International, traveling among SIM’s bases of operations reviewing their financial books.

This short-term experience was so successful that it proved to be a long-term turning point for this family. Howard stayed with U.S. Steel long enough to qualify for a minimum pension (about the same as SIM’s allowance for a missionary couple). By this time their children had finished their college educations, and the Schmidts were free to rejoin SIM in 1981, bringing their own support.

The Schmidts 21-year second career took them all over the world for SIM. He installed financial systems and trained missionaries in a number of countries.

Adapted from World Pulse (8/6/04)

Prayer for the Week: Prevent me, sovereign Lord, from placing age or place restrictions on my readiness to serve You.

 

 

Advent Devotional – Sunday, December 25, 2022 – A Successful Life

Scripture: James 4:14 –

¹⁴ whereas you do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Zig Ziglar said “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.”  This series of Advent devotionals has been focused on what it means to be prepared and to prepare the way of the Lord. Now Christmas Day is upon us.  We celebrate Jesus’ first coming into the world, and we look ahead to what is next – the continued work of spreading the good news to all the world. Will we be successful in that endeavor? What does “success” mean in this context?

During the celebrations of Christmas, many of you are surrounded by friends and family. People who have impacted your life and people who you (hopefully) have influenced in a  positive way. They supported you when you lost a job, they held you when your heart was broken, they laughed with you when you got baking soda and baking powder mixed up and the cornbread tasted like soap. Rejoice in those relationships and continue to go deeper.

We also remember that not everyone has that team of love and support. We are prepared to meet the Lord in all the ways that have been shared in these devotions – now let us prepare the way for others.

Prayer: Lord, help me step out of my comfort zone and share your love with everyone that I encounter. May the mist of my life bring opportunities to show the pathway to your expansive heart. What is my life? A chance to serve others because of what you have done for me. Amen.

– Chris Howell – Madison Heights, VA

Central Church – Online Worship Service – Christmas Eve – 12-24-2022

On this unseasonably, bitter cold Christmas Eve, when the Delta and Omicron variants of the coronavirus prevents many of us from gathering in Central Church’s Sanctuary to worship in body, let us join together in spirit with our online worship service. Today’s online worship service includes a favorite HYMN with lyrics so you can sing along! AND… Both the video on Facebook and the video on YouTube now have closed captions (if you turn them on) so you can read along with the spoken words during the service!  To activate captions in Facebook, click on the Settings “gear” symbol in the bottom right corner of the image, and then click on the “Off” button to change it to “On” for “Auto-Generated Captions”. To activate captions in YouTube, click on the “CC” icon in the lower right corner of the image to toggle captions On and Off. A brief comment on our new closed caption capability – The closed captions on our videos use voice-recognition software similar to that used on Television broadcasts, and with similar accuracy!  Sometimes, the captions are not entirely accurate, so if you read something incongruous, back up the video a few seconds and listen carefully for what is actually being said.  Also, it takes a while to generate the captions after the videos are published, so if the captions are not available immediately after the video is published, just check back a little later. To begin, simply click on one of the links below to join with the folks who have already made their way into our digital Sanctuary.  You can find this week’s online worship service on both Facebook and YouTube at the following coordinates: Facebook –  https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1600522090408439 YouTube –    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEfH1CRCwF8 (If the video doesn’t come up after clicking on the link, just copy and paste the address into your browser search bar.)

Advent Devotional – Saturday, December 24, 2022 – Unexpected Visitor

Scripture: Matthew 25:35 –

³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

It was Christmas Eve. Our church was ready to celebrate with candlelight and carols. I was pastor, and when I arrived, the choir was standing outside their rehearsal room. Why? A homeless man had taken up residence in their room. He wouldn’t leave. What to do? Call the police?

I decided to talk to him. He didn’t seem dangerous, though he obviously was inebriated. After a conversation about why he was there, and the meaning of that night, he said he just wanted a Bible. I gave him one telling him it was our Christmas present to him. His response? He hugged me, kissed me on both cheeks, and left. My next thought–what would folks think about their pastor’s strong smell of alcohol left by our unexpected visitor?

This man wanted a Bible. Peoples’ wants are many. It may not be a Bible, but they yearn for its message. A message of love. Of forgiveness. Hope for the future.

We know there are hungry people wanting somebody to relieve their hunger. The Society of St. Andrew reminds us of the many who are food insecure. The homeless man in our church wouldn’t leave until he got his Bible. Through him, the Holy Spirit reminded us that human need won’t go away. The hungry won’t disappear. That’s something to think about.

Prayer: Dear God, at Advent, and every season, give us caring hearts and helping hands for those in need among us. Amen.

– Hasbrouck Hughes – Williamsburg VA

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Central Church

COVID-19 – Beaver County Metrics – 12-23-2022

COVID-19 Integrated County View:

Here are the weekly COVID-19 statistics for Beaver County, PA as of December 23, 2022, showing Beaver County continuing in the HIGH category.

 

• The Incidence Rate increased from 88.4 to 105.5 (an increase of 17.1 , or 19.3%), in the SUBSTANTIAL category.
• The PCR Positivity Rate increased from 16.4 to 27.2 in the HIGH category.

(Allegheny County’s figures continued in the HIGH category during the past week, at 75.7 and 12.8%.)

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The new “COVID-19 COMMUNITY LEVEL” index:

Starting on March 3, 2022, for hospitals and healthcare systems, the CDC is also issuing a new “COVID-19 Community Level“ index that measures the “current potential for strain on the health system” (in other words, the ability of hospitals to take in and treat additional folks with COVID-19.)  

This new index is in addition to the CDC’s “COVID-19 Integrated County View” which they continue to publish each week.

The CDC currently reports that current “COVID-19 Community Level” moved up into the LOW category.  This metric was adopted on March 3, 2022, reflecting on the potential availability of hospital beds for new COVID-19 cases. 

CDC-Recommended actions when in the HIGH level:

• Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Get tested if you have symptoms.
• If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.

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The “Triple Threat”:

Recently, health officials have begun referring to the combination of RSV, COVID-19 and flu as a “triple threat” because they are all circulating simultaneously — and could all fuel a spike in respiratory illnesses in the coming months.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a respiratory virus that usually causes cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, poor appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. 

The virus can spread via coughs, sneezes, surfaces and direct contact, according to the CDC. Most people who get infected experience mild symptoms and recover within a week or two, but the virus can be serious, especially for infants and older adults.

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• At Central Church, in order to look out for our older folks, as well as the unvaccinated or immunocompromised, we are continuing to look to the CDC’s“COVID-19 Integrated County View” to evaluate which protective measures and protocols that we should observe to protect all of the folks who come through our doors for in-person worship or for other reasons, such as to participate in our community feeding ministry outreach.

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• Small Group Meetings (Sunday School, AA, other meetings):

The current guidance on when and how gatherings can take place is based upon the threshold of infection rate.

For Indoor meetings/Sunday School to resume, the 7-day average of daily cases for gatherings that include unvaccinated folks should be:

• • 1.5-2.0 – for everyone except those at high risk; and
  • Less than 1.0 for those at high risk.
  • Our current level is 15.0, so resuming small group meetings may not be feasible for the immediate future.

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As the pandemic continues, we are continuing our efforts to:

 

• Disinfect Central Church prior to every worship service and feeding ministry event using EPA-registered products in compliance with CDC standards to kill germs and reduce the risk of spreading infection, and in compliance with EPA criteria for use against SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19; and

• We have significantly expanded our new medical-grade HEPA-13 air filtration equipment in our Sanctuary, which is rated to remove COVID-19 from the air, which now provides 10.7 complete air changes every hour in our Sanctuary (every 6 minutes)!

• In addition, our Parlor, Church Office, Pastor’s Office, UMYF Meeting Room, Fellowship Hall, and Nursery all offer even higher levels of air changes per hour using HEPA-13 or HEPA-14 filtration.

• (5 air changes per hour is the EPA’s general recommended standard, and the EPA now recommends 8-15 air changes per hour in Churches. )  
  

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Active Air Filtering Measurement at Central Church

Here is some good news!

In order to continuously monitor how effectively our air filters are scrubbing the Sanctuary air for us, our Trustees have added an active air filter meter in our Sanctuary.

The actual COVID-19 virus measures about 1.5 microns in size, but it usually hitchhikes on air-borne droplets exhaled from infected humans to spread throughout a room.  The size of those droplets (classified as fine particulates) is 2.5 microns, so we are measuring for that level of particulates.

Our Sanctuary is disinfected prior to every worship service, so any particulates that are floating around are mainly routine dust and pollen.   (The Medify air filtration equipment that we have in place are rated to remove air-borne contaminants down to 1 micron.)

• During our Sunday in-person worship services, when the air filters are in full use, the Sanctuary air readings hover between zero and 1, except for when we were singing hymns, when it briefly increased a few points before resuming its steady decrease down to 1 ppm, so our air filters are definitely doing their job of effectively scrubbing our air!

• Since our objective is to reduce any air-borne COVID-19 virus (or cold or flu viruses) exhaled by an infected person during a worship service, we are protecting our folks as best we can.

Our thanks to our dedicated Trustees for tirelessly working during the COVID-19 pandemic to help protect anyone who comes through our doors.

Advent Devotional – Friday, December 23, 2022 – Listen to Your Gut

Scripture: Luke 17:21 –

²¹ nor will they say, ‘Lo, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Driving home from a worship event late one evening, in a prayerful state of mind, I came upon an accident that had just occurred.

I am not a rubbernecker — proudly. I make it a point to move past accidents as quickly as possible to keep the area clear. But on this evening, my gut told me to stop. I didn’t stop. I was maybe a half mile away when my gut said STOP. GO BACK.

I pulled over to the side of the interstate. I carefully reversed, backed up and got out of my car.
The accident involved an SUV pulling a travel trailer, and a pickup truck full of young men had stopped and were just pulling the first passenger out of the SUV, which was on its side. It was a teenaged girl. She looked around wildly. She saw the young men. Then she saw me.

She came straight to me at a full run and wrapped her arms around my neck. I murmured to her; I don’t remember the words. She was crying. Within a few minutes other passengers were pulled from the SUV. As soon as the girl saw her mother was okay, she was okay. She needed a temporary maternal figure that night.

That feeling in your gut calling you to push boundaries, to do that with which you are uncomfortable? That’s how I receive messages from the Holy Spirit. Each time, it gets a little easier to discern.

Prayer: God, give us the wisdom to discern the messages of your Holy Spirit. Amen

– Lyn Cosby – Indianapolis, IN

Advent Devotional – Thursday, December 22, 2022 – Labor of Love

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:58 –

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

I’m the planner in our family, the one with to-do lists, and the one who handles everything from vet appointments and grocery store trips, to housecleaning and bill-paying. During the holidays, I manage most of the gift purchasing, the card writing, the food planning and preparation, the social engagements, and the interior decorations for our home.

Last December, major surgery forced me to let go of those duties so I could heal. As I recovered, I listened to beautiful, seasonal songs and hymns. I enjoyed, not one, but three Christmas devotional books and read my Bible daily. I shared my time and attention with friends and relatives on the phone and in person.

I realized something. If my labors during Advent don’t somehow connect me to Christ — His birth, His life, His sacrifice, or His people — then I have missed the point of the season. Like Dr. Seuss’ Whos in Whoville, I remembered that Christmas should be joyfully embraced with or without “tinsel and wrappings” or “trimmings and trappings.”

My traditional holiday preparations aren’t bad or ill-advised unless they eclipse the Nativity. Frenzied busyness reduces the ability of my heart to give, to be patient and kind. The best Christmas preparations help me adore the Lord and reflect His love to friends, family, neighbors, and strangers.

Prayer: Dear God, please remind me in these days to concentrate less on my Christmas customs and more on the gift of Jesus. Amen.

– Andi Lehman – Hernando, MS

Want to Keep Christ in Christmas? Go to Church

There are lots of ways in which one could conceivably convince themselves that they were remembering the true meaning of Christmas.  But in the struggle to find the perfect “Jesus Is the Reason” yard sign, don’t forget the number one way to keep Christ in Christmas.

Go to church.

If I were so inclined, I could find any number of rubrics to let you know which services you are obligated to attend and on which days, but that’s not the point.  Make an effort.  Keep Christ in Christmas.

Go to church.

That’s what Christmas is all about, after all.

It’s not about some vague notions of peace and good will and niceties.  

It’s about a baby born to deliver us from sin and death and hell.  Think about it.  Very God, born of a virgin, the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets.  This baby changes everything, and for all time.

One day, we shall see him face to face.  Until then, we are invited to gather together to hear his Word proclaimed and feast at his Table.  That’s what the whole Christmas thing is about.  That’s why we call it “Christ-mass.”

It’s not about presents.

It’s not about lights.

It’s not about family.

It’s not about food.

It’s not about being thankful for temporal blessings.

All of those things are fine and good, but they are still nothing compared to Jesus.

So go to church. Gather together with God’s people. Participate in the liturgy. Sing the carols. Hear the Word proclaimed. Feast on his body and blood.

Keep Christ in Christmas. Let the truth of the Incarnation thaw your heart and soul.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

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• This weekend, Central Church will have a Christmas Eve candlelight communion service beginning at 7 pm on Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24.  A special piano and organ Prelude will begin at 6:50. 

Christmas Eve Luminaries at Central Church

Mark your calendars, make your plans, and bring your family and friends to Central Church on Christmas Eve to worship the true reason for the season.

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• This Sunday morning, Central Church will have a special worship service beginning at 11 am on Christmas Day, December 25.  A special piano and organ Prelude will begin at 10:50.

Mark your calendars, make your plans, and bring your family and friends to Central Church on Christmas Day to worship the true reason for the season.

Central Church’s Sanctuary decorated for Christmas!

Advent Devotional – Wednesday, December 21, 2022 – Spiritual Grounding

Scripture: Matthew 3: 1-3 –

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ³ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.”

Of the many commentaries I read, one noted the appearance of John the Baptist marked the beginning of Jesus’ ministry to the world. Proclaiming repentance as the first and foremost task to prepare oneself for the coming of the Kingdom, John’s voice was loud and insistent. Urgency filled the air.

Stop! Turn! Open your heart! “Listen to the words of the prophet!” Love has come near. It comes still, now, as close to us as our breath. Not distant, not unreachable. Love is in earshot, in eyesight. Be ready.

It is essential for my spiritual growth—my spiritual grounding—to stop, turn and return to the moment of now. Slowly, scripture and prayer reveal to me that now always is our only moment. The moment before is gone, the moment coming is gone the minute I blink. Keeping in the present moment reveals the movement of the Spirit within me, and it speaks to the one “in me” crying out in the wilderness. Does my repentance, my return, prepare me for MY ministry? Is each moment a ministry? Is that our reason for being?

That the world could touch and see and hear love embodied, Jesus’ ministry becomes my ministry. Unique to me, where only I can offer.  Each moment is a ministry to love and make the pathway straight-to God, with God, for God and all those along The Way.

Prayer: Lord, bless our ministries of love, knowing the Kingdom is ever nearby.  Amen.

– Nancy Severin – Fort Morgan, CO

Advent Devotional – Tuesday, December 20, 2022 – It’s All in the Preparation!

Scripture: Isaiah 40:3 –

³ A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
    Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

“It’s all in the preparation” sounds so simple! A recipe, a prescription? In truth, preparing a highway for the Lord is not so simple. Especially during Advent, the distractions and false calls to “prepare” for Christmas are hyperintense. This year, it is my intention to make more connections by reaching out personally to individuals. It is my intention to slow down and not be swayed to “buy in” to popular commercialism. I want to hear the true message in preparing for Jesus’s birth — our hope — for as much as possible.

Prayer: Dear God, we thank you for the many ways you speak with us. May we hear, interpret, and heed directions to prepare. Every day, help us clear a just path and more fully open our hearts to the hope Jesus’s birth represents. Amen.

– Beth Harlin – Plainfield, IN

Advent Devotional – Monday, December 19, 2022 – Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

Scripture: Isaiah 40:3 –

³ A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
    Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Hearing these words reminds me of the opening verse from the musical “Godspell”. As the actor portraying John the Baptist sings out to those who would become Jesus’s disciples, I am enlightened, and thanks to YouTube, I can listen to it anytime, anywhere. What a world we live in!
You’d think this inspiration would have rubbed off on me by now, since the musical came out in the early ‘70s – but alas, no. I am a world class procrastinator. Even for a season as crucial to our Christian lives as Christmas, I still delay preparations until the very last minute. Every year I say out loud “Next year I’ll do better.”
This behavior is not exclusive to Christmas – every occasion falls victim to my lack of inspiration to do pretty much of anything. And every year in a panic, I end up getting completely wrapped up in all the trappings of the holiday and lose sight of the “reason for the season”. Fortunately, somewhere along the way, I am reminded of the fundamental importance of the tiny baby, born in the humblest of beginnings, sent by God to save us. I realize that the rest of it is so not important. Preparing the way of the Lord has to be within us – to welcome Christ into our hearts, our minds, our lives.

Prayer: Heavenly God, guide our days so we never lose sight of the wonderful gift of your son. Keep us mindful to thank you every day for all your blessings.  Amen.

– Kathi Wise – McLean, VA

Central Church – Online Worship Service – The Fourth Sunday of Advent – 12-18-2022

Central Church’s Sanctuary decorated for Christmas!   On this cold and overcast fourth Sunday in Advent, when the coronavirus prevents many of us from gathering in Central Church’s Sanctuary to worship in body, let us join together in spirit with our online worship service. Today’s online worship service includes a favorite HYMN with lyrics so you can sing along! Our prior online worship services are available in our online library, and can be viewed on demand, and be sure to join us in worship, either online or in person, every week!    AND… Both the video on Facebook and the video on YouTube now have closed captions (if you turn them on) so you can read along with the spoken words during the service!  To activate captions in Facebook, click on the Settings “gear” symbol in the bottom right corner of the image, and then click on the “Off” button to change it to “On” for “Auto-Generated Captions”. To activate captions in YouTube, click on the “CC” icon in the lower right corner of the image to toggle captions On and Off. A brief comment on our new closed caption capability – The closed captions on our videos use voice-recognition software similar to that used on Television broadcasts, and with similar accuracy!  Sometimes, the captions are not entirely accurate, so if you read something incongruous, back up the video a few seconds and listen carefully for what is actually being said.  Also, it takes a while to generate the captions after the videos are published, so if the captions are not available immediately after the video is published, just check back a little later. To begin, simply click on one of the links below to join with the folks who have already made their way into our digital Sanctuary.  You can find this week’s online worship service on both Facebook and YouTube at the following coordinates: Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/100064561097491/videos/1600522090408439  YouTube –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phQpgzpM7Qw (If the video doesn’t come up after clicking on the link, just copy and paste the address into your browser search bar.)

 

Advent Devotional – Sunday, December 18, 2022 – Preparing Room

Scripture: Luke 2: 1-7 –

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. ² This was the first enrollment, when Quirin′i-us was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

I smiled as I laid the rocking horse quilt across the foot of the heirloom, white wicker bassinet under the window of our bedroom. A wooden rocker draped with a crocheted afghan, an upholstered footstool, a changing pad atop the waist-high cedar chest, and a sweet teddy bear completed the nook that was “the nursery”. Space was at a premium in this small, mid-century parsonage as our growing family welcomed newborn Joel home from the hospital.

What space, I wonder, had Mary hoped to prepare to welcome her son, God’s son, into the world, the family, the home? I doubt she envisioned a manger, surrounded and warmed by the stable animals, in an unfamiliar hostel, in a strange town, far from home. Infant Jesus, though, found a home nestled in the cradle of Mary’s arms, nourished at her breast, protected against powerful threats and dangers.

Once the holy infant Jesus was grown, crucified, and risen, preparing a place for him in our hearts, lives and world became even more challenging. Our devotion must be wrapped in active justice and mercy, not only calming lullaby and soothing platitude. Rather than readying a tucked away nook, our engaged hearts, our compelling testimony, our just actions, our merciful deeds can prepare the way of the Lord each day for every broken person and fractured community.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, come, enliven us by your Spirit. Let our words and deeds proclaim our hope in your living presence to a distraught world. Amen.

– Kathleen Overby Webster – McGaheysville, VA

Advent Devotional – Saturday, December 17, 2022 – A Good Cleaning

Scripture: Matthew 23: 23-26 –

²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. ²⁴ You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

The words “prepare” and “extra” often go together, especially now. Leading up to Christmas, countless special events are scheduled, filling our calendars. Stores are chockful of extra merchandisze and shoppers. Company means more food to prepare. Extra cleaning has to be done. There’s a mix of anticipation, excitement, and stress. Yet when Christmas Day arrives, everything works out. Time together with family and friends is what we remember.

For many years, I have felt Christmas isn’t about putting out the “good” dishes or buying a bigger turkey. It’s about helping others in need, preparing a better start for the coming new year. Jesus’ message to the Pharisees reminds us we need to take time to “clean the inside” of our hearts and spirits regularly. Think about it: How can we claim to love God, Jesus, and one another, when our focus is on having a pristine house and buying a bunch of stuff? This Advent, turn your attention from outside expectations to your inner core. Discover the magic of a good cleaning!

Prayer: Lord, help us to take a moment to look inside ourselves. Show us the impurities that interfere with our ability to serve You. Allow Your Spirit to seep into our thinking and being. Wash us clean with your living water. Prepare our hearts to serve You in all we do. Amen.

– Kelly Desclos-Estes – Glen Allen, VA

COVID-19 – Beaver County Metrics – 12-16-2022

COVID-19 Integrated County View:

Here are the weekly COVID-19 statistics for Beaver County, PA as of December 16, 2022, showing Beaver County continuing in the HIGH category.

 

• The Incidence Rate decreased slightly from 96.9 to 88.4 (a decrease of 8.5 , or 8.7%), in the SUBSTANTIAL category.
• The PCR Positivity Rate increased slightly from 15.9 to 16.4 in the HIGH category.

(Allegheny County’s figures continued in the HIGH category during the past week, at 75.7 and 12.8%.)

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The new “COVID-19 COMMUNITY LEVEL” index:

Starting on March 3, 2022, for hospitals and healthcare systems, the CDC is also issuing a new “COVID-19 Community Level“ index that measures the “current potential for strain on the health system” (in other words, the ability of hospitals to take in and treat additional folks with COVID-19.)  

This new index is in addition to the CDC’s “COVID-19 Integrated County View” which they continue to publish each week.

The CDC currently reports that current “COVID-19 Community Level” moved up into the LOW category.  This metric was adopted on March 3, 2022, reflecting on the potential availability of hospital beds for new COVID-19 cases. 

CDC-Recommended actions when in the HIGH level:

• Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Get tested if you have symptoms.
• If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.

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The “Triple Threat”:

Recently, health officials have begun referring to the combination of RSV, COVID-19 and flu as a “triple threat” because they are all circulating simultaneously — and could all fuel a spike in respiratory illnesses in the coming months.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a respiratory virus that usually causes cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, poor appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. 

The virus can spread via coughs, sneezes, surfaces and direct contact, according to the CDC. Most people who get infected experience mild symptoms and recover within a week or two, but the virus can be serious, especially for infants and older adults.

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• At Central Church, in order to look out for our older folks, as well as the unvaccinated or immunocompromised, we are continuing to look to the CDC’s“COVID-19 Integrated County View” to evaluate which protective measures and protocols that we should observe to protect all of the folks who come through our doors for in-person worship or for other reasons, such as to participate in our community feeding ministry outreach.

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• Small Group Meetings (Sunday School, AA, other meetings):

The current guidance on when and how gatherings can take place is based upon the threshold of infection rate.

For Indoor meetings/Sunday School to resume, the 7-day average of daily cases for gatherings that include unvaccinated folks should be:

• • 1.5-2.0 – for everyone except those at high risk; and
  • Less than 1.0 for those at high risk.
  • Our current level is 12.6, so resuming small group meetings may not be feasible for the immediate future.

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As the pandemic continues, we are continuing our efforts to:

 

• Disinfect Central Church prior to every worship service and feeding ministry event using EPA-registered products in compliance with CDC standards to kill germs and reduce the risk of spreading infection, and in compliance with EPA criteria for use against SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19; and

• We have significantly expanded our new medical-grade HEPA-13 air filtration equipment in our Sanctuary, which is rated to remove COVID-19 from the air, which now provides 10.7 complete air changes every hour in our Sanctuary (every 6 minutes)!

• In addition, our Parlor, Church Office, Pastor’s Office, UMYF Meeting Room, Fellowship Hall, and Nursery all offer even higher levels of air changes per hour using HEPA-13 or HEPA-14 filtration.

• (5 air changes per hour is the EPA’s general recommended standard, and the EPA now recommends 8-15 air changes per hour in Churches. )  
  

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Active Air Filtering Measurement at Central Church

Here is some good news!

In order to continuously monitor how effectively our air filters are scrubbing the Sanctuary air for us, our Trustees have added an active air filter meter in our Sanctuary.

The actual COVID-19 virus measures about 1.5 microns in size, but it usually hitchhikes on air-borne droplets exhaled from infected humans to spread throughout a room.  The size of those droplets (classified as fine particulates) is 2.5 microns, so we are measuring for that level of particulates.

Our Sanctuary is disinfected prior to every worship service, so any particulates that are floating around are mainly routine dust and pollen.   (The Medify air filtration equipment that we have in place are rated to remove air-borne contaminants down to 1 micron.)

• During our Sunday in-person worship services, when the air filters are in full use, the Sanctuary air readings hover between zero and 1, except for when we were singing hymns, when it briefly increased a few points before resuming its steady decrease down to 1 ppm, so our air filters are definitely doing their job of effectively scrubbing our air!

• Since our objective is to reduce any air-borne COVID-19 virus (or cold or flu viruses) exhaled by an infected person during a worship service, we are protecting our folks as best we can.

Our thanks to our dedicated Trustees for tirelessly working during the COVID-19 pandemic to help protect anyone who comes through our doors.

Place Your Order for Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Residential households in the U.S. can order one set of 4 free at-home tests from USPS.com.

• Limit of one order per residential address

• One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19
• Orders will ship free starting the week of December 19, 2022

It takes about 30 seconds to fill out the form for the free tests.

You can’t beat free.  Get them now and keep them in stock for when you suddenly might need them.

• Go to https://special.usps.com/testkits to order your free test kits.

Central Church

Advent Devotional – Friday, December 16, 2022 – Small Change in Custom to Prepare the Way

Scripture: Luke 6: 30 –

³⁰ Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again.

When I was a child, my siblings and I convinced our parents to open our Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve. The custom continued into adulthood as we always gathered at our parents Christmas Eve for oyster stew and opening gifts. Another Christmas Eve custom was participating in a worship service. Some years it was simply communion, and other years a longer service, but always worship. The gift of the Christ Child was always integral in our celebration.

After our parents passed and the family grew, we continued to gather on Christmas Eve for dinner, gifts, and worship. One major change happened—the children still have gifts to open, but my siblings now make donations in honor of each other. Our choice has been Society of St. Andrew. It pleases us to know that our donations honor the birth of Christ as well. There is no better way to “prepare the way” than to share the bounty of God’s blessings. We are grateful SoSA is working year round to share God’s bounty with those in need, and we are grateful we can share in this ministry.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, as we mature, we understand that it is more blessed to give than to receive as we prepare the way for Christ. Amen.

– Linda M. Mays – Appomattox, VA

Advent Devotional – Thursday, December 15, 2022 – Make His Paths Straight

Scripture: Isaiah 40: 3-5 –

³ A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
    Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴ Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
⁵ And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

As I write this, my quiet neighborhood is grappling with the after-effects of a mass shooting that killed one and wounded five others. How could this happen here where I live? Perhaps the question is–how could it not? We live in a world torn apart by injustices too numerous to name, with political division so strong our government can barely function, and distrust and misinformation running so rampant neighbors and family members can barely get along.

Isaiah 40:3 commands, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” We are indeed in a wilderness where evil seems to reign, a desert where we are thirsting for God. But what do we do to bring God’s kingdom near? John says we must repent. But simply repenting, then continuing to live as we always have is not true repentance. We must bear fruit.

How do we do this? We must get down on our knees, pray, then follow God’s will. We need to go back to church. We should look out for our neighbors and help them when they are in need. In short, each of us needs to do the things Christ commands us to do. Our Christmas celebrations are meaningless unless we love Jesus enough to do His will.

Prayer: Father, forgive us. Help us to bring your kingdom near.  Amen.

– Regina K. Carson – Chester, VA

An Addition to Our Parlor for Christmas!

This Advent and Christmas seasons see a big addition to our Parlor decorations.

Thanks to a generous donation from our friends in community feeding outreach at Table of Grace, we have a new – and very tall – addition to our Parlor holiday decorations – a new giant Christmas tree, complete with giant decorations!

Our new tree stands well over 12 feet tall, reaching and even towering over the Parlor’s balcony, setting the tone for our supersized hearts during this festive time of year.

Many thanks to our friends at Table of Grace for this large gesture of friendship and fellowship.

And a big thank-you to Josh and Chris for decorating the Parlor and assembling this giant tree, getting it in place on the stage, and somehow decorating it all the way to the tippy top.  No one knows what death-defying antics were necessary to accomplish that task – and, frankly, we are probably thankful not to have the details!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Luminaries at Central Church

An Early Christmas Present at Central Church!

Earlier this Fall, three of our interior heat pumps failed when the compressor on their single exterior unit failed, fouling all four units.  The Mitsubishi units were warranted for 10 years, and failed in Year 14, so we really didn’t have cause to be bitter, but replacing all four units represented a huge cost that emptied piggy banks all around the Church.  (Don’t go looking for loose change under the Sanctuary pew cushions either.  We cleared them out first!)

The new Friedrich heat pump in the Parlor Balcony is working perfectly, pumping 18,000 BTUs of economical heat into our Parlor – just as our old Mitsubishi heat pump did for the past 14 years.

In fact, due to advances in technology and increases in efficiency during those years, our new Friedrich heat pumps are even more efficient, and operate at even lower exterior temperatures, that our former Mitsubishi units.

While 18,000 BTUs is enough heat to keep our steam boiler from coming on during all but the coldest weather, it is not enough to keep the Parlor warm enough for extended, sit-down meetings.  For those events, we will still need to use the steam boiler, but those events are so infrequent that it shouldn’t put too much of a strain on our finances, and, in the meantime, we’re saving money every day that our steam boiler continues to sleep quietly in the basement.

The new 9,000 BTU heat pump in the Church Office, as well as the new 9,000 BTU heat pump in the Pastor’s Office, are also working as intended, taking the dire chill off of those areas and preserving our wall plaster.  All three interior heat pumps are fed from a single, 36,000 BTU heat pump exterior unit mounted about 10 feet off the ground in the alley, out of the way of temptation for most amateur vandalism.

Completing this critical replacement project will save us from falling down a financial rabbit hole of higher heating expenses (by relying on our steam boiler) that would be difficult to crawl out of.  (Our heating pumps save us over $8,000 in heating costs every year [combined gas and electric], while providing us with free air conditioning and dehumidification during the summer!)

So, grab a mug of egg nog (ugh), and make a toast of thanks to our dedicated Trustees for successfully completing this critical heat pump replacement project. 

It’s an early Christmas present for everyone at Central Church!

Merry Christmas!

Advent Devotional – Wednesday, December 14, 2022 – Preparing the Way – “Part Two” – Prepare to Celebrate

Scripture: Psalm 85: 12-13 –

¹² Yea, the Lord will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.
¹³ Righteousness will go before him,
    and make his footsteps a way.

This Advent season, we remember how John the Baptist prepared Jesus’ way before He began his earthly ministry. But Christ will come again! Who will prepare the way of the Lord before He returns? We will! I believe it’s the charge of Christians everywhere. Though we’re not required to don camel-hair garments or eat wild locusts, as Christians, we’re taught to live
according to Jesus’ teachings we find in Scripture. In doing so, we strive for what is good, righteous, and just. Thus, we all help make the path straight for Christ’s return.

Specifically, we love God and aim to please Him, not ourselves, in all we do. We love our neighbors as ourselves, building them up, serving those around us lovingly and empathetically. We live by our desire to be close to our Lord, growing in our knowledge of God, and walking humbly with Him.

We give thanks in all circumstances and pray without ceasing. We testify to the Light by words and deeds, being His arms and legs in the world. We use our graciously given gifts and talents to accomplish these tasks. It’s our responsibility to justly, wisely, and caringly do all we can to bear fruit.

Prayer: Lord, this Advent season, may we focus on the One You sent to save us, and how we can best love and serve one another each and every day. May our collective actions prepare the way and make straight paths for the day Jesus returns to this earth. Amen.
– Julie Erickson – Olathe, KS

Advent Devotional – Tuesday, December 13, 2022 – Prepare to Celebrate

Scripture: Isaiah 40: 3-5 –

³ A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
    Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
⁴ Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
⁵ And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Birthday celebrations are happy occasions. Preparation includes personalized shopping and usually some degree of secrecy. Cards, gifts, food, decorations, etc., are chosen with the honoree’s likes, dislikes, allergies, and lifestyle in mind. Everyone wants to have a good time, of course, but the reason for the party is to celebrate a special someone’s birthday.

Christmas is the celebration of a very special someone’s birthday.  Preparation for that event should definitely include keeping the honoree’s likes, dislikes, and lifestyle in mind. But do we actually know how to celebrate a life full of perfect love, caring and compassion? Can we even begin to understand what it’s like to love unconditionally and work to make all lives better and happier?

The season of Advent gives us time to study, observe, and learn whether our lives reflect the way of the Lord. Prepare to celebrate the “reason for the season”.

Prayer: Prepare our hearts, God, to celebrate things that really matter and people who make our world a better place in which to live. Amen.

– Carolyn P. Maness – Lynchburg, VA

Advent Devotional – Monday, December 12, 2022 – Little Children

Scripture: Mark 10: 14 –

¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

While preparing to write this devotion, it seemed pretty obvious that one aspect of the thought “Prepare the Way of the Lord” is met head-on by a church’s children’s ministry program. Building on songs like “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so” helps these little minds begin to know God is love.

This is in keeping with Jesus’ own words in Mark 10:14 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

Having been blessed over the years to have volunteered with many wonderful volunteers and some of the very best church staff members has allowed me the opportunity to witness the spiritual growth in these children over time.

What better way to help them grow in relationship with our Lord than sharing Bible stories in a simple uncomplicated manner? Then, helping children to see and understand the meaning in those Bible stories, and how those stories have meaning for them and us today.

Prayer: Dear Lord, as children are the future of your church, help us to help children as they begin to build their relationship with you. In your precious name, I pray.  Amen.

– Denny Engle – Gautier, MS

Central Church – Online Worship Service – The Third Sunday of Advent – 12-11-2022

Central Church’s Sanctuary decorated for Christmas! On this cold and sunny third Sunday in Advent, when the coronavirus prevents many of us from gathering in Central Church’s Sanctuary to worship in body, let us join together in spirit with our online worship service. Today’s online worship service includes a favorite HYMN with lyrics so you can sing along! Our prior online worship services are available in our online library, and can be viewed on demand, and be sure to join us in worship, either online or in person, every week!    AND… Both the video on Facebook and the video on YouTube now have closed captions (if you turn them on) so you can read along with the spoken words during the service!  To activate captions in Facebook, click on the Settings “gear” symbol in the bottom right corner of the image, and then click on the “Off” button to change it to “On” for “Auto-Generated Captions”. To activate captions in YouTube, click on the “CC” icon in the lower right corner of the image to toggle captions On and Off. A brief comment on our new closed caption capability – The closed captions on our videos use voice-recognition software similar to that used on Television broadcasts, and with similar accuracy!  Sometimes, the captions are not entirely accurate, so if you read something incongruous, back up the video a few seconds and listen carefully for what is actually being said.  Also, it takes a while to generate the captions after the videos are published, so if the captions are not available immediately after the video is published, just check back a little later. To begin, simply click on one of the links below to join with the folks who have already made their way into our digital Sanctuary.  You can find this week’s online worship service on both Facebook and YouTube at the following coordinates: Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1312030559561729 YouTube –  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhxEF3Z7QlMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhxEF3Z7QlM (If the video doesn’t come up after clicking on the link, just copy and paste the address into your browser search bar.)

Advent Devotional – Sunday, December 11, 2022 – The Way of the Lord

Scripture: Isaiah 40: 11 –

¹¹ He will feed his flock like a shepherd,
    he will gather the lambs in his arms,
he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young.

Little words mean a lot. A friend went on one of those meal replacement diets and gained weight. I asked her about it and she said, “I do just like the advertisement says. I have one shake with breakfast, one with lunch, and eat a sensible supper.” “It’s not WITH breakfast,” I told her. “It’s FOR.”

We often hear the verse “Prepare the way FOR the Lord,” but it is “OF the Lord.” Make the path straight. Direct. Not confusing. Not twisting and turning. It’s the way the Lord goes, directly to the people.

Warren is one of my heroes. A plain-spoken, genial man, he drives around the small town where he lives, looking for people in need. He goes up to them, gets to know them, finds out what they need, and helps them find it. Need food? Warren will stop by the food bank in a nearby city this week for you. Need a wheelchair ramp? He’ll call me and see what our church can do. Need forgiveness? He’ll share the Gospel with you. Need some friends? He’ll invite you to church and bring you if you need a ride. He goes directly to those in need. After all, he’s a follower of Jesus, and that’s the way of the Lord

Prayer: Dear God, help me to make the paths straight this season so that Jesus can go directly to those whom he loves. Amen.

– Michael Henderson – Florence, SC

COVID-19 – Beaver County Metrics – 12-9-2022

COVID-19 Integrated County View:

Here are the weekly COVID-19 statistics for Beaver County, PA as of December 9, 2022, showing Beaver County continuing in the HIGH category.

 

• The Incidence Rate increased from 85.4 to 96.9 (an increase of 11.5 , or 13.4%), in the SUBSTANTIAL category.
• The PCR Positivity Rate decreased from 18.8 to 15.9 in the HIGH category.

(Allegheny County’s figures continued in the HIGH category during the past week, at 93.1 and 11.5%.)

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The new “COVID-19 COMMUNITY LEVEL” index:

Starting on March 3, 2022, for hospitals and healthcare systems, the CDC is also issuing a new “COVID-19 Community Level“ index that measures the “current potential for strain on the health system” (in other words, the ability of hospitals to take in and treat additional folks with COVID-19.)  

This new index is in addition to the CDC’s “COVID-19 Integrated County View” which they continue to publish each week.

The CDC currently reports that current “COVID-19 Community Level” moved up into the LOW category.  This metric was adopted on March 3, 2022, reflecting on the potential availability of hospital beds for new COVID-19 cases. 

CDC-Recommended actions when in the HIGH level:

• Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Get tested if you have symptoms.
• If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.

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The “Triple Threat”:

Recently, health officials have begun referring to the combination of RSV, COVID-19 and flu as a “triple threat” because they are all circulating simultaneously — and could all fuel a spike in respiratory illnesses in the coming months.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a respiratory virus that usually causes cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, poor appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. 

The virus can spread via coughs, sneezes, surfaces and direct contact, according to the CDC. Most people who get infected experience mild symptoms and recover within a week or two, but the virus can be serious, especially for infants and older adults.

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• At Central Church, in order to look out for our older folks, as well as the unvaccinated or immunocompromised, we are continuing to look to the CDC’s“COVID-19 Integrated County View” to evaluate which protective measures and protocols that we should observe to protect all of the folks who come through our doors for in-person worship or for other reasons, such as to participate in our community feeding ministry outreach.

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• Small Group Meetings (Sunday School, AA, other meetings):

The current guidance on when and how gatherings can take place is based upon the threshold of infection rate.

For Indoor meetings/Sunday School to resume, the 7-day average of daily cases for gatherings that include unvaccinated folks should be:

• • 1.5-2.0 – for everyone except those at high risk; and
  • Less than 1.0 for those at high risk.
  • Our current level is 13.8, so resuming small group meetings may not be feasible for the immediate future.

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As the pandemic continues, we are continuing our efforts to:

 

 

• Disinfect Central Church prior to every worship service and feeding ministry event using EPA-registered products in compliance with CDC standards to kill germs and reduce the risk of spreading infection, and in compliance with EPA criteria for use against SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19; and

• We have significantly expanded our new medical-grade HEPA-13 air filtration equipment in our Sanctuary, which is rated to remove COVID-19 from the air, which now provides 10.7 complete air changes every hour in our Sanctuary (every 6 minutes)!

• In addition, our Parlor, Church Office, Pastor’s Office, UMYF Meeting Room, Fellowship Hall, and Nursery all offer even higher levels of air changes per hour using HEPA-13 or HEPA-14 filtration.

• (5 air changes per hour is the EPA’s general recommended standard, and the EPA now recommends 8-15 air changes per hour in Churches. )  
  

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Active Air Filtering Measurement at Central Church

Here is some good news!

In order to continuously monitor how effectively our air filters are scrubbing the Sanctuary air for us, our Trustees have added an active air filter meter in our Sanctuary.

The actual COVID-19 virus measures about 1.5 microns in size, but it usually hitchhikes on air-borne droplets exhaled from infected humans to spread throughout a room.  The size of those droplets (classified as fine particulates) is 2.5 microns, so we are measuring for that level of particulates.

Our Sanctuary is disinfected prior to every worship service, so any particulates that are floating around are mainly routine dust and pollen.   (The Medify air filtration equipment that we have in place are rated to remove air-borne contaminants down to 1 micron.)

• During our Sunday in-person worship services, when the air filters are in full use, the Sanctuary air readings hover between zero and 1, except for when we were singing hymns, when it briefly increased a few points before resuming its steady decrease down to 1 ppm, so our air filters are definitely doing their job of effectively scrubbing our air!

• Since our objective is to reduce any air-borne COVID-19 virus (or cold or flu viruses) exhaled by an infected person during a worship service, we are protecting our folks as best we can.

Our thanks to our dedicated Trustees for tirelessly working during the COVID-19 pandemic to help protect anyone who comes through our doors.

Advent Devotional – Saturday, December 10, 2022 – Planting and Watering

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3: 6-8 –

⁶ I planted, Apol′los watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸ He who plants and he who waters are equal, and each shall receive his wages according to his labor.

I call myself a gardener, which is to say these days I have raised planters in which grow a variety of garden plants. This is a downgrade that accommodates my aging body, while allowing me to pursue my life-long joy as a gardener. Thus, I like to think that preparing the way for the Lord requires similar labors to planting, watering, nurturing, and reliance on God.

I greatly enjoy planting seeds through preaching and teaching. I consider it my main work as an ordained elder in the church. It also can be frustrating, just as it is when I plant seeds in the spring. Once planted, seeds require time to germinate and begin reaching through the soil in search of the sunlight they crave. The planter can only wait; though, the planting season of the Gospel of Jesus Christ never ends.

Then there are times of watering and nurturing, which are required especially once the plant breaks through the surface and grows toward maturity. This is true for spiritual watering once the seeded Gospel message begins to break through the lives in which they have been planted. Watering requires great attention and daily practice. It cannot be too much or too little, but it needs to be sufficient for the fruit to be of good quality and size.

Prayer: Lord of the harvest, grant that whether planting or watering all that we do is of service to you that you might bring a bountiful harvest.  Amen.

– Andy Brock – Winchester, VA

Advent Devotional – Friday, December 9, 2022 – O Come, Let Us Adore Him

Scripture: Malachi 3: 1-4 –

The Coming Messenger

3 “Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. ² But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?

“For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; ³ he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord. ⁴ Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

The carol reads “O Come, Let Us Adore Him,” not “O Come, let us ignore Him.” When we hear the sounds of Christmas bells ringing and see the lights of candles in the windows, our first thoughts are with how much preparation goes into our modern celebrations of Christmas. The curmudgeonly prophet Malachi speaks of a prophet whose message will be “Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming.” John the Baptist would be the one to announce the coming of Jesus, the new King of love and Prince of Peace.

I identify with the little boy, exhausted from a hard day of Christmas shopping and all its rush, noise and shoving. When it came time to say his bedtime prayers he used the Lord’s Prayer with one small change: “Forgive us our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us.”

Christmas without Christ is nothing more than a “holly, jolly holiday.”  Advent calls us to adore Him who was born in Bethlehem’s stable far from home, and to think more broadly about God’s coming not only that holy night, but when Jesus comes again this Christmas to be newly born in our hearts with his light shining in our homes.

Prayer: God, whose Spirit ever works to illumine our darkened lives with the light of the Gospel, prepare our minds and hearts that Christ may dwell in us and ever reign in our thoughts and affections as the King of Love, and Prince of Peace. Come, let us adore Him.  Amen.

– Bill Jones – Waynesboro, VA

Advent Devotional – Thursday, December 8, 2022 – John Came Coughin’

Scripture: Matthew 3: 1-3 –

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ³ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.”

Lucille and Sterling were a beloved couple in a rural church I served. He was a farmer. She was a retired school teacher. Each was very dignified in the best use of that word. They both laughed easily, at themselves and with
others. Together, they operated a country store across the road from their home.

Country stores are, of course, magnets for men who farm. They love to gather after dinner to discuss crops and swap stories. Lucille knew this, and also knew the men’s stories and language could get a little colorful at times.  She told me how she handled this when she’d walk over to the store in the evening. “I always cough a couple of times when I get to the edge of the road to let the men know to change their language,” she said.

John the Baptist was not as subtle as Lucille, but his intent was the same. “Repent!” he barked from the wilderness. Like Lucille, he was letting folks know it was time to change their ways, so that they would be prepared to receive the Lord.

Prayer: God of grace, may we hear the voice of John calling out to us from the scriptures to check ourselves and make certain that no part of our lives keeps us from receiving the Lord this Advent season. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

– Norman Tippens – Hampton, VA

Advent Devotional – Wednesday, December 7, 2022 – Men’s Bible Study Breakfast

Scripture: Matthew 18:20 –

²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

When thinking about the theme – Prepare the Way of the Lord – it seemed that unifying the body of Christ’s church might be a task worth pursuing. Doing this by bringing together a diverse group of opinionated men from different Christian denominations was a good place to start.

We had Christians, young, old and very old, multi-denominational, non-denominational, Protestants, Catholics, and members of different ethnic groups coming together to share a meal in a public place to study Jesus.  What a blessing!

Each week, we used a devotion from a published devotional booklet that contained a Bible verse and a real-life example of the verse. With the Holy Bible as the basis for the topics under discussion in the gathering, things proceeded along pretty well, with only a few side-trip talking points using some of the different Bible translations.

Showing respect for each other as we shared our views helped the get-togethers continue for many years. Remembering Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”… also helped keep us on an even keel.

Occasionally, we would even have a passersby thank us for being there, as they listened in…

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity to gather and spend time
in your word. In your precious name I pray. Amen.

– Denny Engle – Gautier, MS

Advent Devotional – Tuesday, December 6, 2022 – International Fellowship

Scripture: Philippians 4:6 –

⁶ Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

In 1994, Officer’s Christian Fellowship of the USA hosted an international gathering of military Christians in Virginia Beach. We began preparing about 24 months prior to the date. Our executive team had about 5 hours one Saturday a month to coordinate face to face. We followed a process we referred to as “Pray and Plan”. We dealt with everything from speakers,
housing, transportation, promotion, visas… it seemed endless.

When an issue developed, we stopped and prayed as a group. No matter how long the prayer
time, it always saved time in the long run. One example was how to feed a large group of international participants very quickly. A buffet was suggested, but we quickly realized identifying different foods would take too much time.

After prayer, someone pointed out that the “sticky rice” at our venue was excellent. If we put a bowl of sticky rice and hot sauce on each table with each meal, we could serve whatever we wanted. We pressed on to the next issue. In the end, we hosted more than 1100 military Christians from 92 countries. During our Sunday worship, as each one prayed The Lord’s Prayer in their native tongue, it sounded like the babbling of the Holy Spirit before the LORD. Pray, then plan…God will provide the way.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, guide us by Your Holy Spirit to seek first Your will.  May all of our endeavors be in accordance with Your desires.  Amen.

– Johnnie Draughon – Virginia Beach, VA

Advent Devotional – Monday, December 5, 2022 – In the Spirit

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6 –

⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

What is our relation to the Holy Spirit? I believe we are more in the world than in the Spirit when we go to parties, watch all sorts of sports events, and even own a home. Handling the finances and keeping the property in good repair are all necessary things. What about children, their education, church, and other activities? All are important, worldly cares that distract us and compete with being in the Spirit.

Years ago, I was asked to give the message for Laity Sunday. I was not “in the Spirit” then, but I was working on it! As Bishop Good, the presiding officer at my first Annual Conference, was fond of saying: “We’re all going on to perfection!” At the time, I had increased my talking to God, but I was not yet hearing Him answer. God developed a way to encourage me! On very important matters, for which I would fervently pray for a resolution, after a short while, I would feel a wisp of a nudge, somewhere on my upper torso, which I never took for a “no”!

Today, I’m still talking to God, but with a goodly way to go! I’m increasing my efforts now, and someday soon I will shout a loud Hallelujah in the Spirit!

Prayer: Oh mighty Master, help and teach us how to be more in the Spirit and less in the world. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

  – Darwin McAfee – Front Royal, VA

Advent Devotional – Sunday, December 4, 2022 – Get Ready for Christmas

Scripture: Isaiah 40: 3 –

³ A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
    Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

During the pandemic, our church realized that we needed to do something different to remind people of the hope we have in Jesus, safely and joyfully. After trying out a drive-through Halloween event, we made plans for a drive-through nativity with animals, people, and backdrops that were all within the health guidelines.

We didn’t know if people would come or how they would receive it.  For months, we organized the props, taped recordings of Scripture to be played, and recruited volunteers. We set up the nativity around the church property so that people could experience the joy of Jesus’ birth from their cars.  Then, we waited.

That weekend, two thousand people drove through our church property, experiencing the story through sight and sound, and receiving messages of good news. Many of them stopped to tell volunteers about how much it meant to them to “get ready for Christmas” by experiencing the story in a new way. Some of those guests cried as they explained the relief they felt in seeing Christmas even in the midst of the pandemic. A few became part of our congregation and served the next year when we shared the drive through experience again.

Sometimes, preparing our hearts for Jesus involves sharing joy even when it seems hopeless, being light even when it feels so dark around us. For me, Christmas 2020 will always be special because the church decided to do something new, and in the process, experienced the joy of Christmas.

Prayer: Holy God, help us to prepare our hearts for the new joy you want us to experience this Christmas. Make us bold in sharing the good news in Jesus’ name!  Amen.

  – Jacob Sahms – Chesterfield, VA

Advent Devotional – Saturday, December 3, 2022 – Before Texting, Twittering. and Tik Tok

Scripture: Matthew 3: 1-12 –

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ³ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.”

⁴ Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, ⁶ and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sad′ducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruit that befits repentance, ⁹ and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ¹⁰ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

How were important declarations of the Roman Empire spread among the people? A designated official (evangelist) would make a loud proclamation so that all could hear the words that would rule an empire.

In Matthew’s Gospel, we hear John the Baptist’s ringing proclamation that there is a Kingdom coming. It’s close at hand. A time of Judgment is upon us all. Don’t presume your family name or the status you currently enjoy will pull you through. The former ways are so much chaff in the wind, or even worse, destined for destruction. Confess your sins. Turn your life around!

Sobering words. Not your typical, cuddly pre-Christmas sermon. Oh yes, we will be constantly warned of the dwindling number of shopping days until Christmas but will some voice be heard in our commercial wasteland wilderness proclaiming THE NEWS?

John Wesley referenced this text in his society rules as he proclaimed the Gospel, but Wesley neither omitted nor stopped at the wrath of the Judgment.  He realized that John the Baptist was the forerunner, while the greater One to come not only calls us to repentance and confession, but overflows us with His refining Holy Spirit, burns away all our sinful dross, and adopts us as His brothers and sisters in His New Kingdom of Love and Abundant Life.  That is truly Good News… then, now, and forever!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, stir us up to proclaim your Good News in every way we can to our weary, sin-sick world today. Amen.

– William Nash Wade – Strasburg, VA

COVID-19 – Beaver County Metrics – 12-2-2022

COVID-19 Integrated County View:

Here are the weekly COVID-19 statistics for Beaver County, PA as of December 2, 2022, showing Beaver County returning to the HIGH category.

 

• The Incidence Rate increased from 65.2 to 85.4 (an increase of 20.2 , or 30.1%), in the SUBSTANTIAL category.
• The PCR Positivity Rate decreased from 9.9 to 18.8 in the HIGH category.

(Allegheny County’s figures continued in the HIGH category during the past week, at 66.5 and 10.5%.)

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The new “COVID-19 COMMUNITY LEVEL” index:

Starting on March 3, 2022, for hospitals and healthcare systems, the CDC is also issuing a new “COVID-19 Community Level“ index that measures the “current potential for strain on the health system” (in other words, the ability of hospitals to take in and treat additional folks with COVID-19.)  

This new index is in addition to the CDC’s “COVID-19 Integrated County View” which they continue to publish each week.

The CDC currently reports that current “COVID-19 Community Level” moved up into the LOW category.  This metric was adopted on March 3, 2022, reflecting on the potential availability of hospital beds for new COVID-19 cases. 

CDC-Recommended actions when in the HIGH level:

• Wear a mask indoors in public and on public transportation.
• Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
• Get tested if you have symptoms.
• If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.

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The “Triple Threat”:

Recently, health officials have begun referring to the combination of RSV, COVID-19 and flu as a “triple threat” because they are all circulating simultaneously — and could all fuel a spike in respiratory illnesses in the coming months.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a respiratory virus that usually causes cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, poor appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever and wheezing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. 

The virus can spread via coughs, sneezes, surfaces and direct contact, according to the CDC. Most people who get infected experience mild symptoms and recover within a week or two, but the virus can be serious, especially for infants and older adults.

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• At Central Church, in order to look out for our older folks, as well as the unvaccinated or immunocompromised, we are continuing to look to the CDC’s“COVID-19 Integrated County View” to evaluate which protective measures and protocols that we should observe to protect all of the folks who come through our doors for in-person worship or for other reasons, such as to participate in our community feeding ministry outreach.

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• Small Group Meetings (Sunday School, AA, other meetings):

The current guidance on when and how gatherings can take place is based upon the threshold of infection rate.

For Indoor meetings/Sunday School to resume, the 7-day average of daily cases for gatherings that include unvaccinated folks should be:

• • 1.5-2.0 – for everyone except those at high risk; and
  • Less than 1.0 for those at high risk.
  • Our current level is 12.2, so resuming small group meetings may not be feasible for the immediate future.

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As the pandemic continues, we are continuing our efforts to:

• Disinfect Central Church prior to every worship service and feeding ministry event using EPA-registered products in compliance with CDC standards to kill germs and reduce the risk of spreading infection, and in compliance with EPA criteria for use against SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19; and

• We have significantly expanded our new medical-grade HEPA-13 air filtration equipment in our Sanctuary, which is rated to remove COVID-19 from the air, which now provides 10.7 complete air changes every hour in our Sanctuary (every 6 minutes)!

• In addition, our Parlor, Church Office, Pastor’s Office, UMYF Meeting Room, Fellowship Hall, and Nursery all offer even higher levels of air changes per hour using HEPA-13 or HEPA-14 filtration.

• (5 air changes per hour is the EPA’s general recommended standard, and the EPA now recommends 8-15 air changes per hour in Churches. )  
  

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Active Air Filtering Measurement at Central Church

Here is some good news!

In order to continuously monitor how effectively our air filters are scrubbing the Sanctuary air for us, our Trustees have added an active air filter meter in our Sanctuary.

The actual COVID-19 virus measures about 1.5 microns in size, but it usually hitchhikes on air-borne droplets exhaled from infected humans to spread throughout a room.  The size of those droplets (classified as fine particulates) is 2.5 microns, so we are measuring for that level of particulates.

Our Sanctuary is disinfected prior to every worship service, so any particulates that are floating around are mainly routine dust and pollen.   (The Medify air filtration equipment that we have in place are rated to remove air-borne contaminants down to 1 micron.)

• During our Sunday in-person worship services, when the air filters are in full use, the Sanctuary air readings hover between zero and 1, except for when we were singing hymns, when it briefly increased a few points before resuming its steady decrease down to 1 ppm, so our air filters are definitely doing their job of effectively scrubbing our air!

 

• Since our objective is to reduce any air-borne COVID-19 virus (or cold or flu viruses) exhaled by an infected person during a worship service, we are definitely protecting our folks as best we can.

Our thanks to our dedicated Trustees for tirelessly working during the COVID-19 pandemic to help protect anyone who comes through our doors.

Central Church

Advent Devotional – Friday, December 2, 2022 – What Does it Mean to Prepare the Way?

Scripture: Isaiah 40: 3 –

³ A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
    Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

As I write this devotion, I keep hearing the song “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” from Godspell in my mind. I have a Martha mindset, so this triggers many thoughts and actions I associate with hospitality. An Advent task I complete is an inventory of the church linens. Invariably, this leads to a list of items to be repaired, refreshed, or replaced.

A few years ago, I had 50 purificators to make, which are the linen cloths used to wipe the chalice after celebration of communion. I was grumpy about the task. Despite the tools available, I invariably end up with well-pricked fingers and cramps from turning and setting hems with a convent stitch. I shared my discontent with a good friend who recommended I meditate on the fruit of the Spirit as I hemmed. I meditated, and the first piece took one evening. The next piece, my fingers started to complain.

Finally, I set everything down and prayed about what I was doing and why. I was “preparing the way.” I won’t say the pain and cramps went away, but I did find forbearance and peace in the process when I placed the completed items in the linen drawer. Then, when I saw the fresh linens being used on the altar during Advent, I experienced joy!

Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, come! Guide my heart, mind, and hands as I walk through this Advent season. Amen.

  – Kimberly Kertis – Knoxville, TN

Advent Devotional – Thursday, December 1, 2022 – Decluttering As Preparation

Scripture: Matthew 3: 11-12 –

¹¹ “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

^{Most often we clean house for the sake of cleanliness, and on occasion, we clean house and declutter to make room for something new. In 2017, we made the commitment to move to a retirement community into an apartment one-fourth the size of our home.}

^{It did not take long in the “winnowing” process to realize that we were not only “down-sizing” we were “right-sizing”.  It was an epiphany moment; a process of re-thinking priorities and value assessment! The realization? The process, the “right-sizing”, was a freeing experience!}

^{This is the core of the Baptizer’s prophetic message: something fresh and new is on the horizon, and “preparation” is vital, cleansing, and freeing – making space for the newness of Christ to re-enter our innermost spaces –  mind, heart, and soul.}

^{The task of Advent is to live into the preparation, to do the work of “winnowing” cleansing heart, mind, and soul, so that there is fresh space for Emmanuel – “God with us – to enter in anew.}

^{Prayer:  Holy One, nudge us, guide us on the pathway to newness in Christ. Help us to cleanse our minds and hearts so that there is space for your Spirit to enter and thrive. Amen.}

 –  Roger Dowdy – Richmond, VA