This post is shared as a COVID-19 resource on our resource page at www.abc-usa.org/coronavirus. Visit this page to find helpful resources and information, and see regular updates from American Baptist regions and national partners.
April 7, 2020
Dear Pastor and Church Leaders,
Thank you for your creative ministry. I am deeply impressed by the skill level, care, and foresight you are providing to your congregations and friends. For many of us, the learning curve is steep. By God’s grace and the help of family and friends, we’ve been able to make headway in the midst of this storm.
Thank you again to Pastor Shelli Good for her presentation at our last Thursday Evening Zoom Meeting.
Here’s her power point presentation: Stress and its Effects
Here are some articles for your consideration:
Your brain won’t work as well. Tips for spiritual leaders during COVID-19
That discomfort you’re feeling is grief
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Coronavirus COVID – 19 Zoom Meeting
Thursday Evening, April 9, 2020 7:00 pm
Holy Thursday Service
On Thursday evening, April 9th, we will hold our next Zoom Meeting. I invite you to a join me in online worship as we remember the institution of the Lord’s Supper. If you have planned a Holy Thursday online service, I pray that God will mightily bless your service and ministry. If you haven’t planned to be in an online service, please join in worship with your American Baptist Churches of Maine family. Since, this will be an online worship service, be sure to have on hand the elements, the bread and the cup, so that we can take communion together.
I look forward to being with you for this unique online worship service. Please be in prayer during this trying season for your local church, the churches of your association and for the American Baptist Churches of Maine. We have an opportunity to make a difference in our communities for Christ.
Please join me for this important online worship opportunity. To join this meeting, click on the following link. The meeting begins April 9, Thursday Evening at 7:00pm: https://ministrelife.zoom.us/j/6240881018 Meeting ID 2511. If you wish to enter this meeting by phone, please call +1 (669)9006833, and use meeting ID 6240881018.
With new security measures in place by Zoom, you may have to use the meeting ID number to join and you may have to be invited into the room. These are small measures but helpful.
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Here is a link for an order of worship that will be used during our Holy Thursday Service on April 7, 2020. Be sure to have the elements of communion on hand for this service.
Holy Thursday Service for April 7, 2020 ZOOM meeting
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Acting General Secretary, Jeff Woods
Please see the following link for a video message from Dr. C. Jeff Woods posted this morning, which we invite you to share this week.
https://www.abc-usa.org/2020/04/a-video-message-from-acting-general-secretary-dr-c-jeff-woods/
*************Important Information for Your Church*************
The “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” or the “CARES Act”), known as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is now law. The ABCOM office will bring you the latest updates on this important piece of legislation. This legislation may benefit your local church.
Here is an update and overview of both the PPP Cares Act grant/loan and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster loans
Injoy Stewardship Solutions Cares Act Webinar and Calculator Tool
The Small Business Administration has posted the Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
Remember to talk with your local bank about how to apply for a PPP grant/loan, Local banks should be prepared to answer your questions; the start for applications was Friday, April 3, 2020.
Carroll Conley, Christian Civic League, provides helpful and important information in an open letter to churches “Summary of Governor Mills Emergency Declaration’s Impact on Local Churches“.
ABCOM’s Website, ABCOM.org, continues to list resources for pastors and congregations: Resources for Churches and Church Leaders