Friday, July 10, 2020

The WORD for the day:

To You, O Lord, I will lift up my soul.
O my God, I trust in you;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.
Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your path.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I will wait all the day.  (Psalm 25:1-5)

The coronavirus is hitting West Virginia harder than ever.  In the first sixteen weeks the average new cases was 183 per week.  In the last week there were 775 new cases confirmed in West Virginia in one week.  For that reason and a CDC announcement that church services were the second most likely places to get infected, we are still not announcing a date to re-launch in-person worship services here at Poca UMC.  This chart shows the figures for Putnam and our five surrounding counties:

County                          Cases up to July 3                 New cases July 3 to 10

Putnam                                     59                                           18
Cabell                                      136                                           44
Jackson                                    143                                             6
Kanawha                                  324                                           48
Lincoln                                         8                                             2
Mason                                        19                                             4

I saw my cardiologists again this week and I am scheduled for another cardio version on July 15 in an effort to get my heart back into rhythm.  I welcome your prayers.  I am quarantined til the procedure, so Sandie Bills will lead the live streamed Worship Service this Sunday, July 12, at 11:00 A.M.  Sandie is a Lay Speaker and our Worship Chairperson.  You may participate in the service by internet at pocaumc.com or on YouTube.

We learned today that our annual Charge Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, at Poca UMC; or if our leaders should prefer because of the coronavirus, it could be by Zoom meeting.  I will be in touch with the Committee on Nominations and Personnel.

Almighty God, You created us in Your own image.  Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression.  And, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice remembering that Your Word teaches us we are our brother’s keeper to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ our Savior.  Amen.

–Pastor John