ABINGDON BAPTIST CHURCH

UPDATE: 

May 23 10:00AM

                    


Our church building may be closed for in-person attendance of worship services and other activities, but our church has been and remains open, alive, and well. From the outset of the current crisis on March 15, we have found new ways for the church, the people of God, to gather via live-streaming worship, ZOOM Bible study classes, and other events.


Friends, the church is not a place but a people. In this time, we have been called to gather as the people of God in new ways. For many of us these new ways of gathering have required difficult adjustments, but they have also opened new avenues of ministry and reaching out beyond the boundaries of our building. We are reaching more people with the gospel and Spirit-led worship each week in these new ways than we did in the past. This is to the glory of God as He helps us make lemonade with the lemons of life. However, it is still important to most of us to gather in-person for worship and other activities.


Our Deacon Board has wisely appointed a team to study the timing and means of our re-entry into our church building for in-person gatherings of the church. This Re-Entry Team is comprised of myself, Parke, Tony Roberts, Mike Overstreet, John Berry, and Steve Lowe. We have been meeting to review our options and to formulate recommendations for the Deacon Board to consider. We will make our first report at the next Deacon Board meeting on June 11. Understand that your staff and leadership look forward to the regathering of the church in our building once again in the near future. However, please also understand that we will move forward with our re-entry plans with prudence, patience, and great care and concern for the health and safety of all of our members and our community.


Until we are able to gather again in-person, thank you for your continued support as you participate in live-streaming worship on Sunday and other ZOOM and FaceBook activities throughout the week. The church office continues to be open Monday through Thursday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Friday  9:00am - 12:00pm. Trina will be in the office if you need to drop something off. Please call before stopping by. Our pastors will be in and out of the office. Voicemail messages left on the church office phone (276-628-8126) for me (ext. 32) or Parke (ext. 24) will be immediately forwarded to our cell phones. We appreciate your continued financial support as you give your tithes and offerings to enable our shared kingdom work. Check out our online giving options on our church website.


Be safe and healthy, and let us know how we can better serve you. We have a sure and present hope in the resurrected Christ who lives in us, His church, and works through us to the glory of God.


UPDATE:

May 6, 3:00PM


There is a lot of talk these days about reopening our state for business and other activities. I know that many of you are wondering about the possibility of reopening our church facilities and restarting our in-person participation in worship services and other activities. At this time, your church staff is discussing options for reopening with our deacon board, other church leaders, and also with local community leaders. In addition, we are consulting with national level sources and resources for their input. Options for reopening will be a major topic of discussion at our ZOOM deacon’s meeting next week. We hope to share with you more details related to our reopening after that meeting. However, whatever we do will be done with prudence, patience, and great care and concern for the health and safety of all of our members and our community.


Until we are able to meet again in-person, thank you for your continued support of Abingdon Baptist Church as you participate in live-streaming worship on Sunday and other ZOOM and FaceBook activities throughout the week. We also appreciate your continued financial support as you give your tithes and offerings to enable our shared kingdom work. Check out our online giving options at https://www.abingdonbaptist.org/giving/.


The church office continues to be open Monday through Thursday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Friday  9:00am - 12:00pm. Trina will be in the office if you need to drop something off. Our pastors will be in and out of the office. Voicemail messages left on the church office phone (276-628-8126) for me (ext. 32) or Parke (ext. 24) will be immediately forwarded to our cell phones. Please continue to refrain from stopping by the office just to visit. Instead, give us a phone call, facetime us, or drop us an e-mail. We are here and available to you. We all must continue to do our part to reduce the spread of the virus. Be safe and healthy, and let us know how we can better serve you. We have a sure and present hope in the resurrected Christ who lives in us and works through us to the glory of God.


Pastor Bill


UPDATE:

March 21, 12:00PM


The church office will be open Monday through Thursday 9:00 - 5:00 and Friday  9:00-12:00. Trina will be in the office if you need to drop something off. Our pastors will be in and out of the office. Voicemail messages (276-628-8126) for our pastors will be immediately forwarded to their cell phones. Please refrain from stopping by the office to visit. We all must do our part to reduce the spread of the virus. Give us a call. We enjoy talking with you.



UPDATE:

March 17, 10:00AM


All Scheduled services and activities at the church are cancelled until further notice due to required coronavirus precautions. The church office will not be keeping regular hours. Our staff is telecommuting. Voicemail messages (276-628-8126) for our pastors will be immediately forwarded to their cell phones.



UPDATE:

March 13, 10:00PM


After further consideration and consultation with expert resources, it is the determination of our Abingdon Baptist Church leadership team that we take the following additional actions in support of mitigating the effects of COVID-19 on our church and community:


  • Sunday school is cancelled for this Sunday, March 15.
  • Sunday morning worship for March 15 will be available by live-streaming on the church's Facebook page (@abingdonbaptistchurch) beginning at 11am. If you would like to attend in person, you are welcome. However, we recommend that senior adults and those with vulnerable health conditions stay home and participate via live-streaming. You may give your offering via the church website or mail.
  • The trustee election scheduled to take place after worship this Sunday will be postponed to a later date. More information on the rescheduled date will be forthcoming.
  • Sunday Table and Student Ministry activities for Sunday evening March 15 are cancelled.
  • Our Wednesday meal and all activities are cancelled for March 18 and 25.



March 13


Church family, 


By this time, you have most likely received much communication concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In this communication, we want to share ways to mitigate its impact on both you and our community of faith. Below are some measures we can take together to maintain good health and safety for us all during this uncertain time. 


Things you can do to maintain your good health and that of others: 

  • Do not panic. Remember, God is sovereign and is with us in all the chaos and illnesses that life brings our way. 
  • Pray for those with the virus, health care workers treating them, and families whose loved ones have died. 
  • Stay home when you are sick except to receive medical care. 
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. Wash as long as it takes to sing the “Birthday Song” twice. 
  • Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, and immediately throw the used tissue in the trash. 
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands. 
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces using a solution containing at least 60% alcohol. 
  • Masks are not recommended for use except by those who have the virus. 
  • Contact neighbors and friends who may not have cell phones or email to receive communications, such as this one, from the church. Make sure they are okay and understand what is going on in our community. 
  • If you are at risk (e.g., compromised immune system, older adult), consider staying home from services and activities. Do as you feel led by the Lord with consideration for your health. Participate prudently. 


Things your church is doing to maintain good health for us all: 

  • We have increased the sanitization of commonly touched surfaces (e.g., countertops, doorknobs). 
  • We will place hand sanitizer and tissues around the church for your use when in the building. 
  • Your church staff and deacons are actively monitoring the situation and looking at recommendations from government and health organizations for necessary changes to our church gatherings and activities. 
  • We will keep you informed via the communication chain through which you received this message concerning updates and changes to our plans. 
  • Please call the church office or Pastor Bill, if you have questions or need more information. 


Impacts to our community gatherings: 

  • At this time, we will continue to hold our Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday night services for those able to attend. 
  • We are working to live-stream our Sunday morning worship service via the Internet. More information on this option for participating in worship will be coming soon via this communication channel. 
  • We will upload the Sunday morning sermon soundtrack to the church website on Sunday afternoon. 
  • Our Wednesday programming for children will follow the Washington County school system schedule. If school is out, our programs will not meet, and there will be no Wednesday evening meal. 
  • When welcoming others at church, please avoid hand contact and hugs. Even fist bumps and elbow bumps are out for now. 
  • We will not pass offering plates, but plates will be placed by the exits. Please place your tithes and offerings in these plates. 
  • Remember that you can give your tithes and offerings online at www.abingdonbaptist.org/giving/. You can also mail your check via the postal service. Remember that your church will continue to have operating expenses, even if services are curtailed or cancelled. 
  • At this time, the Wednesday Lenten gatherings of the Main Street Churches are cancelled for at least the next two weeks (i.e., 3/18, 3/25). 


With love and faith in God to see us through this crisis, 


Your Abingdon Baptist Church staff and deacon board