Welcome to PFM Worship – Gathering Remotely – Message from Pastor

“Hope Has A Name”

Hello Friends!

I’d like to welcome you to Plainfield Friends Meeting and our online worship service.  Although we are unable to worship together in person, we can still gather together to pray, read scripture, and worship God in new and fresh ways. 

The Coronavirus pandemic is affecting all of us – every person, every business, and every church – whether it’s working now from home, schools closing, finding enough groceries or toilet paper (who knew toilet paper would be the first thing to be hoarded?!), loss of income, being unable to visit loved ones in nursing facilities and hospitals – and – whether or not we actually contract the virus – we are all impacted and find ourselves dealing with stress and fear – and we find ourselves seeking to find new routines and rhythms of life. 

In canceling our worship services and activities here at the Meeting House, our concern is for the well-being – both spiritual and physical – of our congregation, our families, and the greater community we are called to love and serve in the name of Christ.

Our Ministry & Counsel Committee, along with our Clerk, Bill Heald, and I – are evaluating the situation each week as we make decisions about holding worship services and other things, and our goal is to continue to communicate with you, keep you updated, and we are working to provide you with some resources for times of devotion, prayer, and personal time of worship. 

So check your email, our website, and our Facebook page regularly.   We ask for your patience, your prayers, and your understanding – as we all find ourselves in unchartered waters. 

As Friends, we believe that our Meeting House – our building – is not the church – it is “us” – you and me – we are the church, we can continue serving Christ and caring for our neighbors. 

We are faced with some difficult challenges in the days ahead of us, and we find ourselves scrambling to find new ways to be the church, and not just attend church. 

It is my prayer that God will meet every one of us in a new and fresh way – as we meet together in a new and unique way. 

I know this is a little strange to be worshiping in your home – whether you’re watching online or reading the written version of messages.  It’s quite different for me as well. 

I encourage you to take some time Sunday morning to listen to this week’s message, to read and reflect on the scripture reading, and to spend some time in prayer – praying for each other, for your family, your neighbors, those who are ill, for store clerks, and for those who are attempting to lead and protect us.  I, too, value your prayers.  Please know that I am praying for you each day.

There is a song titled:  Hope has A Name – and his name is Jesus.  I like that phrase – Hope has a name – Jesus.  Today – I invite you into God’s presence to find rest, to live in God’s peace and to find hope in Christ in the midst of our chaotic world.