From the Newsletter

WORSHIP IN JULY
This summer we are considering the Ten Commandments, and the ways in which they provide healing for the “core wounds of humanity.”
July 4: “Remember the Sabbath”
July 11: “Honor your father and mother”
July 18: “You shall not murder”
July 25: “You shall not commit adultery”

Please contact worship committee chair Bill H. if you would like to be a Scripture reader.

Because of the complexity of worshiping under COVID guidelines, we will not have outdoor worship this summer.

Please pray for Lauren S. and her fiancé Hunter S., who will be married on July 25 at a ceremony in a local park facility.

We express our sympathy to the family of Bob M., who died June 13.

Congratulations to Ashley E. and Caleb R. on their plans for a May 23 wedding!

Congratulations to Jessie S. and Jonathan J. on their recent engagement!

INFECTION PREVENTION
Our Infection Prevention Team (Teresa K. and Peggy M.) are monitoring COVID-19 safety recommendations and current conditions, in order to advise the session on how ensure everyone’s safety. These worship guidelines are subject to change:

Maintain social distancing. If you can’t drive a car between you and the person you’re talking with, you’re too close.
Please sit at the ends of every other pew, with no more than three people in a pew unless you’re all from the same household.
If the sanctuary is full, we have overflow seating in the fellowship hall, where the service will be simulcast.
If you are feeling, ill please do not come to church.
Wear a mask when coming to worship. You can wear your own, or use one provided at the church.
Restrooms available for those who need them. Please use the cleaning products in each restroom to sanitize the restroom when you are done.
Please touch as few surfaces as possible, and avoid going into some parts of the building.

We are collecting used footwear of all kinds for CHOSEN (Christian Hospitals Overseas Securing Equipment Needs). CHOSEN will in turn send them to another mission organization, which will give them to entrepreneurs in developing countries. CHOSEN receives money for every pair of shoes we donate.

You’ve been watching, and we noticed! The pandemic conditions have shown that there is a real interest in live-streaming our worship services, even after the restrictions have been lifted. In order to protect the privacy of those in worship and those whose names may be mentioned in prayer, virtual worship will only be accessible to members of the church’s Facebook group. Only the sermon portion of the worship service will be posted on YouTube. We are also ensuring that we comply with all copyright laws with our live-stream. If you know someone from out of the area or someone who is unable to attend worship physically, invite them to join our group and worship with us virtually!

During the pandemic conditions, you will continue to be able to participate in worship by phone if you do not have Internet access. Join us at the beginning of the worship time
by calling 605-468-8003, access code 627725#.

Updated address and phone lists are available in the church lobby. You may request a digital version by emailing OldUnionChurch@gmail.com.

PRAYER CHAIN
The Prayer Chain is a group of church members who share prayer requests during the week, using email and the telephone. If you have a prayer concern, please let any of the Prayer Chain members know. If you’d like to join the Prayer Chain, please let the pastor know.

The New Wilmington Mission Conference will meet virtually this year, and it’s free to participate. Visit nwmcmission.org to learn more and to register.

GARAGE GIVEAWAY
PRISM (Pittsburgh Region International Student Ministry) will hold its Garage Giveaway to welcome international students to our area, but this year will the event will be a bit different. They are only accepting non-upholstered furniture (small desks, tables, chairs), lamps, and kitchen appliances. They are not accepting “soft” items such as towels, sheets, or pillows. Please only donate items in good working condition, and place them in the conference room.

NEW SOUND SYSTEM, PLUS…
The session approved a proposal to replace our out-of-date sound system in the sanctuary, and to add the capability to live-stream our worship services. We have been using temporary equipment for virtual worship since the beginning of the COVID restrictions, but this will enable us to continue to live-stream in the future much more easily. The total cost for this project is $18,485. Session approved the use of approximately $11,000 from the memorial fund, and we have applied for a total of $3,000 in grants from the synod and presbytery. If you would like to make a contribution to help us with the final $4,000, please mark your contribution “sound system.”

Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com