All of us in the State of Illinois have been under an official stay-at-home order since March 22. Even the weekend before, clergy and laity teams responsible for worship began to figure out how to continue to worship online.
Read MoreTo pass the time during the COVID-19 pandemic and to connect with her congregation, while providing some comic relief, the Rev. Mary Bohall, senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Mendota, has been sharing videos twice daily on Facebook and YouTube including sharing her dog Tucker’s latest tricks. While there was an influx of views, Bohall says there was little engagement from the community. So, she and her husband Andrew came up with a hair raising idea.
Read MoreThis coronavirus pandemic and social distancing restrictions may be causing increased feelings of anxiety, loneliness, isolation, and other fears for some. The NIC Committee on Accessibility Ministries asks pastors and caregivers: How are you taking care of yourself in the midst of caring for others at this time? First, pace yourself. Second, be your own best friend.
Read MoreWe're all doing the best we can! Happy Easter and congratulations on getting through to Easter Monday! Many of you, both clergy and laity, have been working so hard to present Holy Week and Easter services throughout these challenging and very different times.
Read MoreWe’re starting our second week of “sheltering in place.” Most churches have had at least two if not three Sundays of only online worship or some other means to reach out spiritually to our congregations. We’ve got this week to prepare for Holy Week and then…Easter!
Read MoreChurch buildings closed. Sanctuaries silent. Pews and Sunday school classrooms empty. It’s a surreal scene in churches around the country since the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic turned our world upside down and disrupted our everyday routines, such as going to church on Sunday.
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