July 6, 2020

Greetings,

As many of you may already know, Spokane County recorded a record 98 new COVID-19 cases for yesterday. This means that the option to move to Phase 3 continues to be out of reach for the time being.  

Along with staff, we have several volunteers helping the team keep the church up and running in a modified fashion as we wait to reopen our church building. This delay, however, does not mean you cannot be actively involved with CHCC!

Here are some thoughts regarding how you can help...

-- Add another voice (your voice!) to the Sunday online worship service by volunteering to record the scripture reading or another portion of the service. (We have instructions on how to do that using your smartphone.)

-- Join Wednesday evening Bible study on Zoom (either via computer or phone.) Our Bible study meets again on July 15th, 6:30.

-- Post encouraging comments in the CONNECT section of the CHCC website. (Please contact the church office to find out how you can have an account set up on our website.)

-- Reach out and call one or two church members every few days to check in and say ‘hello’ (or send a card.)

-- Send an inspirational picture, funny cartoon, etc. to the church office for posting in the Courier.

-- And, of course, keep CHCC in your daily prayers, as well as all those affected by COVID-19.

The pandemic has impacted each of us in different ways, but it is impacting all of us at a time in our history that allows us to reach out and be involved from a distance in ways that were impossible even a decade or two ago. 

Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep the faith! 

Thank you, and God bless,

Pastor Dolores 

A message from GMP Rev. Terri Hord Owens, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ):

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fchristianchurchdoc%2Fvideos%2F245137780079570%2F&show_text

Let’s continue to pray for...

... our sisters and brothers here at Country Homes Christian Church as we await with joyful anticipation the time when we may be together in our building for worship once again. I continue to pray for each and every one of you to remain steadfast in the love of Christ. Continue to pray for one another. 

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)

In Christ's peace,

Pastor Dolores

Greetings,

Today President Trump ordered all states to open houses of worship as essential business, immediately.

We will continue to worship from a distance and follow Governor Inslee's phases of the Safe Start Plan.

We will not be opening up at this time. When we move into Phase 3 the church will reopen for worship.

Stay safe CHCC 

Peace be with each one of you.

Since my last update, we've seen Washington State move into a phased approach regarding Governor Inslee's COVID-19 order. Please see the following link for more information: https://www.governor.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SafeStartWA_4May20_1pm.pdf

Of the four phases of this approach, we are still in Phase One. It has not been determined when we will actually move into Phase Two; this depends on COVID-19 modeling data and trends. With the transition into Phase Two, we will still be unable to meet together for worship services as a full congregation; small group gatherings of no more than five people would be possible, however.

Patience and solidarity are two words that immediately come to mind as we continue within a situation that causes dismay to varying degrees. The intentional spiritual practice of deep prayer as a collective holy church family is surely crucial at this time. We can pray together as we abide in Christ together - within our respective safe places and within the peace of Christ.

The congregation of CHCC continues to be dynamic within the Spirit as we virtually come together in many ways. Our website offers video worship services, scripture readings / meditation offerings, and postings of joys and concerns within our 'member accounts' portion of our website. We also stay connected through the distribution of the Courier and with the offering of online Bible Studies via ZOOM (with upcoming instructions regarding audio participation via your cell or landline phones). As we strive to stay safe and healthy, as well as remain physically distanced, let's also continue (more than ever) to stay connected via phone calls, cards, emails, texts, etc.

From the Gospel of John 14:1 and 15:4, we have the words of Jesus - "Do not let your hearts be troubled.... Abide in me as I abide in you." All will be well because we endure together, and we are not apart from the Living Christ.

Praying with you,

Pastor Dolores

Brothers and sisters in Christ, peace be with you.

We live in the grace of God as we also live in an altered way during this time of COVID-19. Continue to pray for one another.

We still have, at a minimum, several weeks to go as we Stay Home and Stay Healthy. The medical and science communities continue to develop a plan to safely allow us to return to, at least, some normality in our lives and, very likely, at a slow pace. It has now been over six weeks since we have been able to worship together but, eventually, we will do so once again, albeit through careful transition. As I reflect on this, as well as all of the forthcoming activities of Country Homes Christian Church, the transitions will involve much thought and planning. Whatever needs to be done, we will eventually be prepared and organized in a manner that allows us to hold worship services and participate in activities, while also ensuring the safety of one another, our families, and our communities. 

In the meantime, as we protect one another by remaining physically apart, let us continue to stay connected via phone calls, note cards, emails, texts, etc. An additional way for you to stay connected with others within our church community is to create an account on our website. In this way you will be able to visit various other areas of the site, as well as share information via postings to other church members.

I will keep all of you informed as more information is made available as you Stay Home and Stay Healthy.

My heart and prayers are with you,  

Pastor Dolores

DAILY BULLETIN

April 6, 2020

Contact: 

Joint Information Center

253-512-7100

wajic@mil.wa.gov

Recap of Today’s COVID-19 News and Updates

2019-20 School Year: Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal today announced the extension of school closures for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. The order keeps both public and private schools closed in accordance with the governor's original order on March 13. Additional information here.

Numbers: As of 11:59 p.m. on April 5, there are 8,384 cases of COVID-19 in Washington state. Visit our website for cases by county, demographics, and more.

Dealing with loss: The Department of Health published a blog on handling loss and grief during this crisis.

Critical Care Decontamination Systems: The Battelle Critical Care Decontamination Systems underwent a dry run and is expected to be operational to clean used N95 masks this week. Battelle will be reaching out directly to hospitals around the state. View and download a video of the process here. For more information, visit here.

Worker Safety Guidance: Under the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy Proclamation, employers are required to implement a social distancing plan, conduct frequent cleaning and sanitizing, and ensure frequent and proper hand washing. The Office of the Governor, Employment Security Department, and Department of Labor & Industries released Worker Safety Guidance available here.

# # #

Country Homes Family,

As noted in the previous announcement, we are most definitely in the shelter-at-home mode for the long haul - at this point until at least the first week of May. 

There is obviously no church 'manual' for such an event, so continued patience amongst all is most appreciated as we navigate the uncharted weeks ahead, learning to work and communicate even more via phone and online in the virtual realm. This means everything from revamping entire liturgies from “brick and mortar” to online audio/video, to continued coordination with other churches/clergy, to increased efforts by Elders to reach out, to all of us reaching out as we are able, to continued planning for future events (or working around them), to… The list goes on.

The multimedia team and I are working on the audio/video postings for Palm Sunday, Good Friday and, of course, Easter. We will keep you posted as we get closer to these events and others, ensuring that all of our church family can be part of these modified services. 

Stay home, stay healthy, and keep the faith!

As always, praying for you,

Pastor Dolores

Good Evening Friends,

I am sending you this message so you can be aware of the need for: "Stay Home, Stay Healthy." Please see below. I will still be able to receive all calls to the church and all mail to the church. Feel free to call the office, and fellow church members to stay in touch. We will get you any news we know, and we will always be here for you. We are all loved by our church family, and we will get through this together. Stay in touch with emails, cards, letters, and calls.

If you are in need of anything please reach out!

Prayers and Blessings,

Todd

From: Public Health Connection <waDOH@public.govdelivery.com>

Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2020 6:56 PM

Subject: Another month at home, let s emerge healthier

Another month at home, let’s emerge healthier

Our social distancing efforts are beginning to “flatten the curve” here in Washington. Even so, models from the University of Washington suggest that we may see 1,400 deaths from COVID-19 in this state, and it is clear that more people will die if our social distancing efforts stop right now.

That’s why, today, Gov. Inslee extended his “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order for another month until May 4. By staying home, we are keeping our communities as healthy as we can. We are slowing down the spread of the virus and buying more time for the state to build hospital capacity.

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Dear Country Homes family -

Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. 

As you may know, late yesterday afternoon Governor Inslee issued a stay-at-home order in an effort to help curtail the spread of COVID-19 here in Washington State. As responsible citizens of Washington, it is important - it is critical - that we do just that: stay in our homes. Only businesses that are essential to the overall physical health of our community are allowed to remain open. Others, including social, recreational, and spiritual establishments, must close for a minimum of two weeks beginning this Wednesday afternoon (the 25th). 

With this in mind, Country Homes Christian Church will be closed beginning the afternoon of March 25. Todd, our Admin Assistant, will be working from home. All calls to the church phone number will be forwarded to Todd’s cell phone during his normal work hours - Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM. Internet accessibility to the church will remain available.

I will be working from home as well and will be available via my cell phone during my normal office hours of 12 PM - 3 PM, Wednesday through Friday (and, of course, any time when you might feel an urgent need to call). Please contact the church office for my contact information.

Also, thanks to the great support by Lisa, Kathye and others, I will continue to be able to post on the website (chchristian.org) brief Sunday liturgies, as well as additional items (prayers, readings, other church-related information) during the week. You’ll be able to access these via the Reflections link and the About Us/Important Information link. We are also working on other ways to ‘virtually’ connect. (More to come on that).

Additionally, I will continue to check in with you via phone, mailed correspondence, and/or email over the days to come. I encourage you, as well, to continue to check in with one another via phone calls, mailed note cards, and email. Please do not hesitate to contact Todd regarding additions to the prayer chain as well. Also, if you feel particularly overwhelmed, please do not hesitate to contact me, your Elder, and/or anyone with whom you feel a connection. Please, do not be reluctant to reach out.

PLEASE take Federal and State warnings seriously and stay at home in accordance with the current rules/statutes. Doing so minimizes the chance of infection, which in turn maximizes the ability of our health care system to treat those that require critical care. The next few weeks will mean the difference between life and death for many people; we must do our part to help life move forward. 

We will continue to find ways to get through these interesting and, at times, trying days.

We will continue to find ways to rejoice in our lives.

We will continue to worship God.

We will continue as a church.

We will continue.

As we are in the midst of the Season of Lent, we have the opportunity to look at ourselves and one another in new ways - to experience and to be curious about the transition in ourselves, in others, and in society. We will learn, and we will grow. And we will move through these days through the grace of God. 

On Easter day, April 12th, we will celebrate the Christ who rises. Regardless of where we may physically find ourselves, we will spiritually be together. Christ will still rise! In the fullness of our faith, we also rise - and we will rise through this season together. Thanks be to God!

As always, you are in my prayers, 

Pastor Dolores 

Based upon Federal/State guidelines and mandates, all church events continue to be cancelled until further notice. 

Pastor Dolores will be offering scripture readings and reflections in audio format on the church's website for each Sunday (see the ‘Reflections’ link). As always, these can be listened to directly on the website or downloaded to your audio device. She will also be putting together a written liturgy for you to use at home. Our Diaconate team is busy researching ways to make communion possible as we learn to worship in new ways.

Additionally, our terrific tech crew is working on a way to allow for online video broadcasting of Sunday services (with no one in the audience). More to come on that. 

The protection of you - our congregants - and all with whom we interact in our community is foremost on our minds.  We will get through this, and we will grow as a church family in the process. 

In the words of St. Teresa of Avila, the 16th century Carmelite nun and a Doctor of the Church: 

Let nothing disturb you,

Let nothing frighten you,

All things are passing;

God only is changeless.

Patience gains all things.

Who has God wants nothing.

God alone suffices.