COVID-19
We are living in extraordinary times. The speed with which the coronavirus is spreading and the impact it is having on all of our lives is profound. This pandemic has affected our community of faith as well, causing us to have to make difficult decisions about worship and our life together.
We are truly saddened that we may not be able to gather together physically for some time, but trust that we will stay united in faith and spirit. This is a time when the statement “we’re all in this together” rings true as we recognize the deep bonds we share with one another, both here and around the world.
Please know that although I will be working at home during the pandemic, I am available by phone, email, FaceTime, Skype or other ways to connect with you. If there is a pastoral need or you would simply like to check-in or talk, feel free to be in touch with me. I want to assure you that I am holding you close in my heart and prayer as you care for yourselves, your families and one another.
May God’s strength and peace be with all of us in this anxious time.
Rev, Cathie
Pembina Parish Leadership Team: COVID-19 response
As part of our concern for the health and well-being of our church family, and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the wider community, the Leadership Team held a special meeting on March 19th to discuss our response to this health crisis. The following are the decisions made and information confirmed on behalf of our parish in that meeting:
• Sunday worship services at Zion-Calvin and St. Paul’s will be suspended indefinitely until further notice effective immediately. There will no services beginning Sunday, March 22nd.
• All in-person parish gatherings, meetings and activities will be suspended indefinitely effective immediately until further notice.
• Zion-Calvin and St. Paul’s United church buildings will be closed to the public effective immediately until further notice. This includes all groups and individuals utilizing or renting space in both churches.
• Those needing to contact the parish can call the parish office at 204-822-4508 for a message directing them to our Office Administrator Laurie Wiebe at 204-823-3545 or Rev. Cathie Waldie at 204-745-2959 (home) or 204-750-2681 (cell). Please do not leave a message on the parish answering machine. Laurie and Rev. Cathie can also be contacted via email at office@pembinaparish.com or revcathie@pembinaparish.com.
• Rev. Cathie will begin working at home indefinitely until further notice effective Saturday, March 21st She will be available by phone and email and to respond in person to emergency pastoral care visits in hospital, home or Personal Care home. Laurie will also be working at home indefinitely. The St. Paul’s custodian Thong Bouachanthala will continue to check the church on a regular basis. Arrangements will be made for Zion-Calvin church to also be checked on a regular basis.
• A brief worship service will be posted every Sunday by Rev. Cathie on the Pembina Parish Facebook page. Sunday readings and prayers will be posted on the parish website at www.pembinaparish.com beginning the week of March 23rd. Rev. Cathie also intends to send a short daily “Bread for the Journey” reflection by email to those on our parish email list.
• Other options for worship during this time are joining Sunday online worship with our Moderator Richard Bott or joining one of the many churches that are live-streaming Sunday worship services. These can be accessed at www.united-church.ca/community-faith/being-community/worship-online-during-covid-19
• During this time of closure the St. Paul’s Sunday School team will send out lesson plans to the Sunday School children and youth on Fridays for families to use at home. They will also check in with families at that time to see how they are doing. The Zion-Calvin Sunday School will explore possible options for teaching and communication with their children and youth.
• Pastoral care will be co-ordinated through Rev. Cathie, Laurie and the Pastoral Care Interest Group and be done by telephone, email, text and regular mail. Those who know of someone in need of pastoral care are invited to be in touch with Rev. Cathie or the parish office.
• In times of bereavement, families will be encouraged to postpone funerals/memorial services until a later date if possible. Funerals/memorial services will be conducted in exceptional circumstances by Rev. Cathie in accordance with current public health recommendations. The church buildings will not be available at this time.
• Any outreach needs (delivering groceries, dropping off soup, responding to needs in the community) will be co-ordinated by Sue Nelson at 204-822-6357 or sue.nelson@mymts.net. Anyone willing to help with these needs is invited to be in touch with Sue.
• A prayer chain will be co-ordinated by Phyllis Dudgeon. Anyone with a prayer request is invited to contact her at 204-822-1213 or pidudgeon@gmail.com. Anyone interested in helping with this ministry is invited to contact Phyllis.
• Regular church donations for those who are currently not on PAR (pre-authorized remittance) can be continued by using the St. Paul’s mail slot (east side door), by regular mail (Pembina Parish address: 353 Thornhill Street, Morden, Manitoba R6M 1M8) or online through www.CanadaHelps.org or the Donate Now button at the bottom of each page of www.PembinaParish.com
• The Ministry Search process will continue through the Ministry Search team.
• The building discernment renovations at St. Paul’s will proceed at the discretion of the Building Discernment Interest Group in consultation with the Finance Interest Group and the Leadership Team.
• A parish vote to become an Affirming Ministry will be postponed to a later date.
Please note that this list will be monitored and updated as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold.
Communication on these and other changes will be done through weekly News and Notes, parish website www.pembinaparish.com, and email.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our church family at this difficult time. Please remember to care for and support one another as we seek to respond
faithfully to this pandemic together.
Yours in Christ,
The Leadership Team,
Brian Saunderson (Chair), Leslie Bezte (Vice-Chair/Secretary), Earl Gardiner (Treasurer), Karen Dyck/Mary Ann McElroy (Ministry & Personnel reps), Margot Craig, Esther Rothenburger, Kathryn Luger, Rev. Cathie Waldie.
We are truly saddened that we may not be able to gather together physically for some time, but trust that we will stay united in faith and spirit. This is a time when the statement “we’re all in this together” rings true as we recognize the deep bonds we share with one another, both here and around the world.
Please know that although I will be working at home during the pandemic, I am available by phone, email, FaceTime, Skype or other ways to connect with you. If there is a pastoral need or you would simply like to check-in or talk, feel free to be in touch with me. I want to assure you that I am holding you close in my heart and prayer as you care for yourselves, your families and one another.
May God’s strength and peace be with all of us in this anxious time.
Rev, Cathie
Pembina Parish Leadership Team: COVID-19 response
As part of our concern for the health and well-being of our church family, and to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the wider community, the Leadership Team held a special meeting on March 19th to discuss our response to this health crisis. The following are the decisions made and information confirmed on behalf of our parish in that meeting:
• Sunday worship services at Zion-Calvin and St. Paul’s will be suspended indefinitely until further notice effective immediately. There will no services beginning Sunday, March 22nd.
• All in-person parish gatherings, meetings and activities will be suspended indefinitely effective immediately until further notice.
• Zion-Calvin and St. Paul’s United church buildings will be closed to the public effective immediately until further notice. This includes all groups and individuals utilizing or renting space in both churches.
• Those needing to contact the parish can call the parish office at 204-822-4508 for a message directing them to our Office Administrator Laurie Wiebe at 204-823-3545 or Rev. Cathie Waldie at 204-745-2959 (home) or 204-750-2681 (cell). Please do not leave a message on the parish answering machine. Laurie and Rev. Cathie can also be contacted via email at office@pembinaparish.com or revcathie@pembinaparish.com.
• Rev. Cathie will begin working at home indefinitely until further notice effective Saturday, March 21st She will be available by phone and email and to respond in person to emergency pastoral care visits in hospital, home or Personal Care home. Laurie will also be working at home indefinitely. The St. Paul’s custodian Thong Bouachanthala will continue to check the church on a regular basis. Arrangements will be made for Zion-Calvin church to also be checked on a regular basis.
• A brief worship service will be posted every Sunday by Rev. Cathie on the Pembina Parish Facebook page. Sunday readings and prayers will be posted on the parish website at www.pembinaparish.com beginning the week of March 23rd. Rev. Cathie also intends to send a short daily “Bread for the Journey” reflection by email to those on our parish email list.
• Other options for worship during this time are joining Sunday online worship with our Moderator Richard Bott or joining one of the many churches that are live-streaming Sunday worship services. These can be accessed at www.united-church.ca/community-faith/being-community/worship-online-during-covid-19
• During this time of closure the St. Paul’s Sunday School team will send out lesson plans to the Sunday School children and youth on Fridays for families to use at home. They will also check in with families at that time to see how they are doing. The Zion-Calvin Sunday School will explore possible options for teaching and communication with their children and youth.
• Pastoral care will be co-ordinated through Rev. Cathie, Laurie and the Pastoral Care Interest Group and be done by telephone, email, text and regular mail. Those who know of someone in need of pastoral care are invited to be in touch with Rev. Cathie or the parish office.
• In times of bereavement, families will be encouraged to postpone funerals/memorial services until a later date if possible. Funerals/memorial services will be conducted in exceptional circumstances by Rev. Cathie in accordance with current public health recommendations. The church buildings will not be available at this time.
• Any outreach needs (delivering groceries, dropping off soup, responding to needs in the community) will be co-ordinated by Sue Nelson at 204-822-6357 or sue.nelson@mymts.net. Anyone willing to help with these needs is invited to be in touch with Sue.
• A prayer chain will be co-ordinated by Phyllis Dudgeon. Anyone with a prayer request is invited to contact her at 204-822-1213 or pidudgeon@gmail.com. Anyone interested in helping with this ministry is invited to contact Phyllis.
• Regular church donations for those who are currently not on PAR (pre-authorized remittance) can be continued by using the St. Paul’s mail slot (east side door), by regular mail (Pembina Parish address: 353 Thornhill Street, Morden, Manitoba R6M 1M8) or online through www.CanadaHelps.org or the Donate Now button at the bottom of each page of www.PembinaParish.com
• The Ministry Search process will continue through the Ministry Search team.
• The building discernment renovations at St. Paul’s will proceed at the discretion of the Building Discernment Interest Group in consultation with the Finance Interest Group and the Leadership Team.
• A parish vote to become an Affirming Ministry will be postponed to a later date.
Please note that this list will be monitored and updated as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold.
Communication on these and other changes will be done through weekly News and Notes, parish website www.pembinaparish.com, and email.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our church family at this difficult time. Please remember to care for and support one another as we seek to respond
faithfully to this pandemic together.
Yours in Christ,
The Leadership Team,
Brian Saunderson (Chair), Leslie Bezte (Vice-Chair/Secretary), Earl Gardiner (Treasurer), Karen Dyck/Mary Ann McElroy (Ministry & Personnel reps), Margot Craig, Esther Rothenburger, Kathryn Luger, Rev. Cathie Waldie.