What to do during this crisis
- Center for Disease Controls’s steps to prevent illness and protect yourself and others
- Center for Disease Control’s guidelines for gatherings
- Center for Disease Control’s guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting
- COVID-19 Guidance for People at Higher Risk
- Children and Coronavirus: Research Finds Some Become Seriously Ill from NYT
- Coronavirus – Research and Statistics
- Preventing COVID-19 spread in communities
- You have a fever and cough — now what? Click here to read the NPR story
- NYTimes.com: The Worst-Case Estimate for U.S. Coronavirus Deaths
- Bluffton, Ohio COVID-19 Fatality Modeling: An example of what one community may experience
- Advice from Japanese and Chinese doctors
- Tips for Coronavirus anxiety
Resources to help with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis
Central District Conference Missional Priorities
Life Planning Resources (shared by Teresa Dutchersmith):
Coronavirus and Poverty
Six Quick — But Very Important — Points About Coronavirus and Poverty in the US
The Church’s Role
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center webinar entitled Social Distancing, Not Social Isolation – a system approach. May 14 or May 27
Everence offers assistance and relief options during COVID-19 outbreak: Programs designed to provide financial support in the midst of the coronavirus concerns
The CARES Act and your nonprofit or church: Everence released this overview of CARES benefits to sustain your faith community.
Churches and the CARES Act webinar: A free webinar that Christianity Today’s Church Law & Tax group is hosting tomorrow, April 2, “helping congregations and employees weather the cash crunch.”
Supporting you during the COVID-19 outbreak: Visit this new go-to place for Everence resources, which will be updated continuously. Keep this link for the future to access all the latest information and assistance.
Operation Neighbor Care Philly: These Philadelphia churches have banded together to share information to better serve their community during COVID-19. Everence is supporting their efforts.
The Church’s Role in a Pandemic
Community Without Communing: Resources for Virtual Church
The Time to Act Like a Community is Now
Everence – Everence Information for churches – managing coronavirus
Everence Information for churches – managing coronavirus_Spanish
Faith In Place: Faith in the Time of Coronavirus
Mennonite Church USA resources for responding to COVID-19 coronavirus
Mennonite Church USA – Letter from Glen Guyton about COVID-19
The Mennonite Podcast:
In this episode, host Joann Hunsberger discusses COVID-19 with Dr. Dan Nafziger of Goshen, Indiana, where he is chief medical officer at Goshen Health. Listen in as they discuss the new coronavirus, some common terminology used to discuss the pandemic and how it might affect our church community culture. Find it at: https://themennonite.org/
Chaplaincy Innovation Lab shares resources for chaplains encountering coronavirus
10 guidelines for pastoral care during the coronavirus outbreak
Mennonite Mission Network: Hope Series
Holding Worship via Media Sources
Preaching to the Screen: Sharing the Good News Online in the Age of COVID-19 with Bruxy Cavey, Meghan Larissa Good, Lesley Francisco McClendon, Osheta Moore, Brian Quan, Josh Meyer, and Allan Rudy-Froese
Guide to using Webex from Shalom Community
Zoom guide from Chicago Community
If your church is meeting digitally, be sure to keep it legal. OneLicense is making it easy and free to do so through April 15. Click here for more info
Livestreaming Platforms
Streaming and Recording for Your Congregation a comprehensive guide developed by Jonathan Luginbill
For congregations looking to connect virtually, here is information on some of the leading livestream platforms that our churches are using. Most offer limited free accounts and/or free trials.
How to Livestream Your Church Service: A Practical Guide (from The Gospel Coalition)
Zoom Plan options | Tutorials
Sermon.net COVID-19 contingency plan
An An Example of a Sunday worship service from Columbus Mennonite Church
Milwaukee Mennonite Church Easter Sunday
Preparing to Return to In-person Church
- Returning to Church from the Wisconsin Council of Churches and shared by Valerie Showalter
- So you want to go back to church . Written by Doug Luginbill
- Guidance for Reopening Your Church Written by Doug Luginbill
- Reopening the Church: 4 Phases for an Orderly Return by Ken Braddy
- 24 Questions Your Church Should Answer Before People Return by Ken Braddy
- A congregation can get oriented by asking three questions: What, So What, and Now What. This 4-minute video explores those questions, to help churches plan for what’s up ahead.
- Guide to Taking Youth Ministry Online by Angela and Paul Gorrell and contributed by Doug Luginbill
Worship Resources
- Podcast that describes how a retired pastor planned and carried out a Zoom funeral for his wife. Contributed by Doug Luginbell
- From Doug Luginbill: Put Your Finger Here Sermon, Audio Version of Put Your Finger Here, Video Verson of Put Your Finger Here
- From AMBS: Planning Easter and Good Friday worship webinar
- From AMBS: With Hope and Resilience: Resources for living and worshiping together through extraordinary times
- A Word to Pastors_ Lent 5 2020 from Doug Luginbill
- Waterless Foot Washing from Gary Martin
- Community in a Season of Social Distancing– Doug Luginbill
- Talking to Children about coronavirus
- 100 Ideas for Ministry and Ministry Leaders
- Songs of hope for a time of pandemic compiled by Janeen Bertsche Johnson
- Slow Faith Movement Scavenger Hunt from Shalom Community
- Children’s Story about COVID-19 from Aimee Weishaupt (Silverwood)Preaching in the time of Covid 19 by Joni Sancken
- Faith Formation Resources for March 22 from Lora Nafziger (Assembly)
- Let the Children Come by Lisa Weaver
- Making Faith Sense in Strange Times: COVID-19 by Daniel Yoder, Talashia Keim Yoder, and Tami Keim
- Guide for Christian funerals during COVID-19 resource supplied by Michael Crosby
- Wisconsin Council of Churches has a great page of resources for Holy Week and Easter. Suggested by Valerie Schowalter
Learning From One Another
- Deb Byler was interviewed by Linda Shelly from Mennonite Mission Network in a video that is posted online. Visit this link to watch the interview:
- https://www.facebook.com/MennoniteMissionNet/videos/216156493140674/
- Learning from one another – CDC Pastors Share (slide presentation)
- Learning from One Another_ CDC Pastors Share (pdf)
- Pastors ZOOM Conversation 031720
- On not getting used to this by Melissa Florer-Bixler
- Trauma-Informed Care is Wraparound Care in Communities of Faith shared by Catherine Lee
- Tip Sheet for Resiliency from Lydia Brenneman
- Lessons for Ministry in the Midst of Disaster by Matthew Crebbin shared by Clair Hochstetler
- Resource for Christian educators shared by Rachel Taylor
Financial Resources
- MDS, Everence and MCC launch COVID-19 congregational relief fund Read more
- Click here to access information about Small Business Loans for which most churches are eligible. Some loans are forgivable. Suggested by Michael Danner
- Navigating the Next Steps with a Paycheck Protection Program Loan from ChurchLaw&Tax shared by Duncan Smith.
- From Christianity Today regarding the CARES Act and possible support for churches
- Everence offers assistance and relief options during COVID-19 outbreak
- Beyond the Offering Plate 101: An in-depth overview released by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center about online and alternative giving options.
Prayers/Poems
From MC USA:
We pray for people in the U.S and around the world impacted by coronavirus. We pray for comfort for those who have lost loved ones, and for those who have been quarantined and are feeling alone. We pray for healing for those who are sick. We pray for safety, strength and compassion for medical workers who may be overwhelmed caring for those who are battling various illnesses, and workers who are exposed to greater risks.
We pray that our public officials act with compassion and wisdom as they work to contain the virus. We pray for those without access to health care, and for those who don’t know how they will make it if they get sick and can’t go to work. We pray that your peace will guard our hearts and minds so that we are not overcome by anxiety and fear.
God, inspire in us ways to show your love to one another and to ourselves. Guide our hearts and our actions to greater care, kindness and generosity in the midst of these fears and uncertainties.
From Southside Fellowship and Nina Lanctot:
Jewish Hand Washing Prayer:
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Ruach ha’olam
asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitziivanu al netflat yadayim.
Translation:
Blessed are You, Infinite One, Spirit/Breath, who makes us holy
through our actions and honors us as we raise our hands.
Hand Washing Prayer by Nina Lanctot
God, wash from us the disease.
Christ, cleanse us, amidst chaos,
of contamination, contagion, and callousness.
Spirit, strengthen in us the soul of sanity, sincerity, and service.
In Oneness, in Love, in Hope; may it be so.
Amen.
From Mennonite World Conference
We pray for people in the U.S and around the world impacted by coronavirus. We pray for comfort for those who have lost loved ones, and for those who have been quarantined and are feeling alone. We pray for healing for those who are sick. We pray for safety, strength and compassion for medical workers who may be overwhelmed caring for those who are battling various illnesses, and workers who are exposed to greater risks. We pray that our public officials act with compassion and wisdom as they work to contain the virus. We pray for those without access to health care, and for those who don’t know how they will make it if they get sick and can’t go to work. We pray that your peace will guard our hearts and minds so that we are not overcome by anxiety and fear. God, inspire in us ways to show your love to one another and to ourselves. Guide our hearts and our actions to greater care, kindness and generosity in the midst of these fears and uncertainties.
Pandemic
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20
What Congregations Are Doing
Assembly Mennonite
Berkey Avenue (A helpful letter from a sister congregation)
Berkey Avenue Letter to Congregation
Columbus Mennonite
Columbus Mennonite Sunday Meditations, March 15
Faith Mennonite
Faith Mennonite Response March 15 Faith order of worship
Southside Fellowship
First Bluffton
Chicago Community – Meeting Online
Communicating to our congregations about Covid19
