Sheltering in place and minimizing our interactions with one another in public is one of the most essential things we can do right now to care for one another.
At the same time, there are many additional steps we can take to demonstrate the love of God, caring for our neighbors in this time.
Here are some ways to help:
Call One Other & pray for each other – one of the most important things we can do is simply check in on each other by phone, text or online, and listen for how folks are really doing, asking how we can pray for each other.
In light of the need to provide for the health of both the church and community, FBC has suspended our in-person gatherings and regular ministries for the time being.
First Baptist Church continues to be committed to living out the love of God in these circumstances by caring for our neighbors, our church family and one another, encouraging each other and remaining connected.
Here’s our current ministry focus right now at First Baptist Church:
Worship
Worship will need to be online for a while; and we are working to establish the easiest ways for people to be able to join us in worship online.
We encourage everyone who is able to join us at 10am and check-in through the comments/chat section as a way of sharing that we have gathered in spirit. The service recording will be available afterward for those who can’t join at that time.
Please note that you will not be able to join the meeting until it goes ‘live’ following the worship service on Sunday.
You may want to try the link anyway to install Zoom on your web browser or to install the app on your phone or tablet ahead of time. Our evening devotional times at 7pm are also a way to check in and test out Zoom before Sunday.
Links to these events will be posted here by Friday; check back soon!
Connection
During this time when we are being discouraged from gathering in person and minimizing our personal contact with others, it’s vitally important that we find ways to stay connected with one another.
Our staff and leadership are developing ways to make sure we can be in communication with all our members, especially those who are unable to connect online.
At the same time, we encourage every member and friend of FBC to reach out to one another, check in on each other and see how things are going, particularly those who may be more isolated. Call, text, send a card or a letter. If you know of someone who is struggling, or who may need some help, do what you can, and let the church know so that we can respond together.
We are also thinking up creative ways that each of us can share and check in with each other online; from sharing a story of where you’re seeing God at work in the midst of this, to sending in silly hat photos… We all need both spiritual encouragement and a good laugh — and sometimes they’re one and the same.
One of our primary ways we’ll have to share information quickly will be via. email; if you would like to stay in touch with latest developments, please email us at: info@fbcblm.org
Discipleship
Our LOGOS program is not meeting in person, but our LOGOS team is hard at work to reach out to our families. We will be posting videos, devotional material, resources, and finding other ways to stay connected.
You can find our weekly LOGOS videos here.
Likewise, our Small Groups and Sunday Classes are not meeting, but we are in the process of adding ways we can share devotionals, resources, and ways to pray for one another.
In the coming weeks, look for Zoom meetings to be posted that will allow us to gather online for Bible study and prayer.
Mission
First Baptist Church remains committed to reaching out to our community to bear witness to God’s love in action and in word.
We continue to partner with Sugar Creek Elementary School, collaborating in providing food packs and other supplies.
Volunteers from church continue to serve at Safe Harbor, Faith In Action, and other local agencies.
We will be posting ways that healthy individuals can care for the community and help folks in a variety of ways, and we are committed to doing what we can to help those who are affected by the indirect effects of coronavirus and its economic impacts.
All of this is a work in progress –
We are working hard to realign our entire way of doing ministry in this time; it takes time, and there will be bumps along the way. Let us know how we can best help you in this time, and please be patient with us in the process!
That said – it is a reminder that *we* – all of us – are the church; and this time presents us a unique opportunity to live that out together. May God bless and sustain each of us in spirit and in body in these days!
One of the ways we plan to stay connected is through a video conferencing platform called ‘Zoom’.
This video-conferencing platform allows us all to gather together online, using your smartphone, tablet or laptop. You can choose to share video from your device’s camera so that others can see you, or you can simply communicate by your device’s microphone and/or typing, using the ‘chat’ feature.
To join Zoom meetings from FBC, you will just need to click on an invitation link that we will share ahead of time through our eLink email, website and Facebook Page.
Note: if you use a desktop or laptop computer, you will need a camera and microphone to participate. Many laptops have a camera and microphone built in.
Landline Phone users: the ‘dial in’ feature described in the third video may not be available due to the high level of use Zoom is currently experiencing.
If you are using your phone or tablet, it will probably ask you to download the Zoom app, following the instructions along the way.
If you want to use Zoom on your phone or tablet, you might want to consider downloading the app ahead of time. You can look for Zoom in Google Play or Apple’s iTunes app store, or follow the links here:
Note – For Sunday, March 29, we will have a longer Bible Study in place of the daily Devotional. It will be hosted at: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6903031915
(you will not be able to join until shortly before 7pm. The meeting will be ‘live’ about 5 minutes early for those who are trying this out for the first time and/or may need to troubleshoot.)
To join Zoom meetings from FBC, you will just need to click on an invitation link that we will share ahead of time through our eLink email, website and Facebook Page.
If you are using your laptop or PC, it may walk you through some steps to get Zoom up and running.
If you are using your phone or tablet, it will probably ask you to download the Zoom app, following the instructions along the way.
If you want to use Zoom on your phone or tablet, you might want to consider downloading the app ahead of time. You can look for Zoom in Google Play or Apple’s iTunes app store, or follow the links here:
This evening, the FBC board, Senior Pastor, Minister of Worship and LOGOS Director met to discuss our next steps in responding as a church to the emerging situation with the coronavirus.
As we prepared to meet, Governor Pritzker issued a statement this afternoon ordering bars and restaurants to close to dine-in customers by the end of day on Monday, March 16. At the same time, the CDC continues to refine its guidelines for gatherings.
In light of our desire to protect those most at risk from coronavirus by following best practices concerning public gatherings, the board has unanimously agreed on the following course of action:
The Celebration of Life for Brenda Azinger will be held at the church Monday, March 16 at 11am, followed by a luncheon.
Beginning tomorrow afternoon, First Baptist Church will suspend all regular programming until further notice.
This includes gathering physically for worship on Sunday, the LOGOS program, our regular small groups, Bible studies and so on.
At the same time, the church office and our ministries will be at work communicating in a variety of ways with the church and community, including opportunities to connect with worship online, receive devotionals and so on. We will be especially mindful of those who do not have access to ways of communicating online, and will appreciate the help of the church in identifying and reaching out to those who may need extra care and support in this time.
The office will remain open during regular business hours to maintain contact with members and friends through our website: www.fbcblm.org, Facebook Page, by phone, email and other means as practical.
Official communications and announcements will come from the church staff as the board and staff work together to keep everyone informed.
Each committee and facet of our ministry is engaged in working to find ways to stay connected and carry out our ongoing mission to encourage one another in faith and to bear witness to the love of God in Christ through our caring for one another in the church and community.
Three things we would ask of our church members and friends at this time:
Be in prayer for our community and especially those impacted physically, economically and socially by this coronavirus outbreak. Prayer is an act of trust in God who is aware and moving in the midst of these circumstances.
Stay connected and compassionate. We will be working to provide ways to connect and encourage one another even as we cannot meet in person. Please consider ways to call and check in on those who may be more isolated, experiencing anxiety or distress in this time. May our times of prayer be opportunities where we allow God to speak and direct us and our hearts toward God and toward others.
Please continue to engage in and support the mission of the church as you are able. We will need everyone’s continued personal and financial engagement and support as we seek to provide ministry care for the church and community. Checks can be sent in to the church, and online donations can be made through the website. We do know that the financial effects of this outbreak are touching many lives – if you are experiencing difficulties or need assistance, please let Pastor Brian know.
One additional note relating to persons or groups and the rental and use of the church facilities outside of our regular ministries:
Any person or group who already has an agreement to rent or use the church from March 18 to May 1, 2020 will be contacted with the notification that First Baptist Church may need to cancel the approval of their event. All other rentals and special services/requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
The church board will continue to meet and evaluate the situation and our response. We will look forward to resuming our regular ministries and schedule as soon as advisable.
Please contact the church office and Pastor Brian with any questions, concerns or needs. Thank you for your prayers, support and understanding.
