Cokes Chapel Survey
for
In-Person Gatherings
Please Respond to this 5 minute Survey. We want to hear from you!
Dear Cokes Chapel Family,
Over the past three months we have continued to be the church in many locations. As we have sheltered-in-place and prioritized both self-care and the care and concern for our neighbor, we have experienced what it means to be a faith community in a new and unfamiliar way. We are grateful for your cooperation during this difficult time. We are also encouraged by your love and care for one another, as well as your patience as we figure things out together.
A Health and Welfare Team has been gathered with the purpose of discerning God’s direction for Cokes Chapel as we move toward in-person gatherings in a way that focuses on the health and safety of our faith community and those connected with us. We understand that as we begin to reopen, each of us is different, with different needs, different concerns, and different circumstances, and therefore, each individual and/or family must discern for themselves what is best for them. Furthermore, we understand that not everyone will be equally comfortable with gathering in-person at the same rate and that some will attend sooner than others. Please let it be clear—the date and time that a person or family chooses to return is NO reflection on their level of faith, their commitment to God, or their commitment to the church.
Since returning to in-person gatherings involves your health and safety, we value what you are thinking about this situation. We are asking each person to complete a brief survey to help us best understand the expectations and needs that we as a church have for the upcoming weeks and months in ministry. (Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BHJPLMD ) Please complete this survey by Wednesday, June 17th.
Considering all factors and in our best efforts to “Do No Harm,” the Health and Welfare Team has discerned that our initial gatherings for worship at Cokes Chapel should take place OUTDOORS. We believe that this is the safest way to gather as a larger group at this time.
Please know that resuming a healthy and vibrant fellowship that is as safe as possible will be a process that unfolds over time. Outdoor worship is the first phase of our gathering together. Considering the needs and expectations for our in-person gatherings will be an evolving process that will involve continual evaluation.
Thank you, Cokes Chapel Family, for your grace and your prayers as we move through this process together! God is with us as we seek to be God’s people! May we honor God in the ways that we show care and concern for one another!
With Love,
Kim
Kim Reindl
Phase I Health and Welfare Team Coordinator
Health and Welfare Team Members: Kim Reindl—Phase I Coordinator, Bob Hatch—Lay Leader, Karen Seyler—Trustees, Brenda Hanes—Worship, Cliff Seyler—Hospitality, Brian Smith—Worship, Paul Snyder—Safety Committee, Carma McCallie—Safe Sanctuaries, Jennie Underwood—Medical Professional, (Also, Amanda Dempsey—Occasional Medical Advisor)
Only 5 Minutes! 10 Questions. Complete by Wednesday , June 17th
Please Click Below for Survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BHJPLMD
WORSHIP INFORMATION
Continue to join us each week on Cokes Chapel Facebook for Sunday morning worship! You will receive an invitation by email with a link to connect!
This Sunday, June 14th Join us as we worship on line with
Guest Preacher, Rev. Susan Landry, District Superintendent
Scripture – Acts 10:1-33
Sermon – “Collaborators for Christ”
NEW SERMON SERIES STARTS JULY 5TH -26TH at 9:00 & 11:00
Some of the most intriguing stories in the Bible have to do with heat. Fire and the presence of God make for lasting impressions in both the Old and New Testament. Plan now to be with us for exploring how God gets our attention. We may not be able to escape the heat of summer, but we can experience the fire that comes from being in God’s presence!
It’s going to be HOT in Newnan on Sunday Mornings, and I don’t mean the weather! Dynamic stories of God are waiting for us to discover! Our return to worship (outside!!), albeit different, will be awesomely special and will enhance this series in ways we would never have dreamed! Look for coming news on our return to worship on Sunday, June 28.
Series: Sundays, July 5th through July 9th
Many of us are asking “What Can I Do?”
Many of us have great concern on how to address the ongoing issues of racism and justice. Here is a great way to begin to take part! I won’t be able to march, but I will be signing up to be a virtual marcher.
Each of us can pray, seek our own path to bring love and peace for and with our brothers and sisters who have experienced discrimination. I hope you will join me in praying and at least, virtually, stand with those who need our support. See your invitation below from Bishop Sue.
Peace, Pastor Lisa
6/8/2020
North Georgia United Methodist clergy and laity are invited to join Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson and the Conference Committee on Religion and Race for a peaceful, prayerful march on Friday, June 12, to witness to our commitment to stand united against racism.
To participate, gather at Central UMC in Atlanta at 10:30 a.m. Participants must wear face masks and adhere to 6 feet of social distancing for the duration of the march. Marchers will depart Central UMC at 11 a.m. and end at Atlanta First UMC. Those who are physically unable to march but would like to attend are invited to meet at Atlanta First UMC.
Those who are unable to attend in person, are invited to join in prayer and register as a virtual marcher at https://northga-reg.brtapp.com/UnitedAgainstRacismVirtualMarcher.
United Methodists stand against racism and on Friday we will march against racism.
6/9/20. A Message of hope:
A Call to Repentance and Pledge from The Bishop and Cabinet
.png?width=500&height=300) Dear People of the North Georgia Conference of The United Methodist Church:
We believe that every human being is a sacred creation of God, made in the image of God, with gifts uniquely given to share with the world. All are equally valuable, precious in God’s sight. But, since the very beginning, when Cain killed his brother Abel, we have jockeyed for superiority, wealth, power, and status.
Through the ages, race has been used to divide and conquer. This country, for much of its history, identified those who are White as enslaver, and therefore superior, and those who are Black as enslaved persons, and therefore inferior. This construct has permeated our culture, our politics, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our educational systems, our financial systems, our churches, and sadly, our very souls.
Enslavers often perceived the enslaved persons as less than human. Indeed, even our Constitution provided that only three out of five male enslaved persons counted as people (the women did not count at all) when determining legislative representation. At the heart of history’s greatest atrocities is the oppressors’ conviction that their victims are not fully human.
The enslaver’s mindset of domination and dehumanization is all too alive and well in the psyche of this nation. Denial of due process, imposition of cruel and unusual punishment, lynchings, mass incarceration: inhumane treatment was and is all too often the experience of Black people in the American judicial, penal, and law enforcement systems. The incidents of the past few weeks have shed new light on its horrors:
Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was hunted down and killed in our state by three White vigilantes;
Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black first responder/EMT in Louisville, KY who was shot at least eight times in her own home by officers serving a “no-knock” warrant; and
George Floyd, who died when a police officer pinned his neck to the ground for 8 minutes and 46 seconds after he was already handcuffed, despite his pleas that he could not breathe.
The case of Ahmaud Arbery lay dormant for over two months, and likely would never have been prosecuted had an incriminating video not come to light. This video, and the video of George Floyd’s cruel death, demand that we listen to the pleas of Black people, who have tried for years to tell us of these injustices but have been belittled or ignored. Injustice has been excused, minimized, tolerated, and even applauded.
Injustice is also alive and well in the life of our Church. Racism permeates our system, which was born from a polity that institutionalized separation of white churches from black churches. The inequality of that history was transferred wholesale into our Church, with no real repentance and few mechanisms in place to address the inherent imbalances in resources and opportunities.
We acknowledge the deep pain that this sinful history of church and state, magnified by the egregious events of the last two weeks, has inflicted upon our Black clergy and laity.
We confess that Black clergy do not have the same opportunities for advancement as White clergy, and that White leaders have used Black leaders to gain influence and maintain their power structures.
We lament that many churches still balk at receiving Black pastors.
We acknowledge that we have established many new white churches but few black churches, and that resources have not been equitably distributed.
We, your Bishop, Extended Cabinet, and Conference Chancellor, call the North Georgia Annual Conference, and The United Methodist Church, to a repentance that bears fruit. We have grown weary of statements and ritual actions that do not lead to change. Intent without impact is impotent. We therefore pledge to take the following actions:
- Knowing that only God can change a human heart through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will lead the Church in prayer and in practicing the spiritual disciplines that make time and space for the Spirit’s work. We will call our churches to greater spiritual maturity trusting that, as the Holy Spirit perfects us in love, it will banish racist attitudes and make us more like Christ. It will also spur us to action, compelling us to work together to abolish institutional and systemic racism.
- We will refuse to allow the Church to dismiss abolishing racism and racist policies as “too political” in order to avoid taking action. We call upon the Church to better balance personal piety and social holiness. The Early Methodists invested their blood, sweat, and tears in a relentless movement to abolish slavery in the British Empire. We, their spiritual descendants, act squarely in the Methodist tradition by working relentlessly to dismantle and eradicate the insidious evils in our culture born of the enslavement they so detested.
- We pledge to lead the clergy and laity in North Georgia in educating ourselves regarding racism, white privilege, and the history of systemic racist policies in United States history. We must help everyone understand that being kind to everyone and seeking to love everyone does not mean that one is not a participant in a racist system or has not received benefits from this system.
- We will allocate Conference funds to support anti-racism efforts and address the inequalities inherent in our system. We will designate funding for the Conference Commission on Religion and Race and work in partnership with it to fulfill our goals.
- We will lead, in partnership with the Conference Commission on Religion and Race, advocacy efforts to support legislative policy and work in the public sphere to root out and address institutional racism in every aspect of our society.
- We will require all clergy coming into our Conference to participate in anti-racism training and demonstrate how they are implementing what they have learned.
- We will require clergy and laity serving in any Conference position to participate in anti-racism training.
It is our fervent prayer that we can live into the perfect unity Jesus prayed for in John 17, and that we will abide by Jesus’s new commandment in John 13:34-35: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The Bishop, Extended Cabinet, and Chancellor of the North Georgia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church
Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, Jane Brooks, Quincy Brown, Brian Clark, Bernice Kirkland, Susan Landry, John Pinson, Greg Porterfield, Alice Rogers, Jessica Terrell, Doug Thrasher, Terry Walton, Richard D. Winn, Sr., Phil Schroeder, Dana Everhart, Keith Cox, Keith Lawder, Bill Martin, Donn Ann Weber, Jim Thornton, Rodrigo Cruz, Michael T. McQueen, Sybil Davidson, Hal Jones, Blair Zant |
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We are going to try to make our food pantry more available to people in our community. Someone will be at the pavilion each Monday morning 9:30-11:00 to distribute prepared bags of food. Please spread the word to anyone you know who might need this service.
We will need to refill our shelves. Please drop off your donations of food in the bin under the pavilion. Thank you for your support as we seek to help folks in our community. The current pantry needs are:
spaghetti and spaghetti sauce canned vegetables (other than green beans and corn)
peanut butter and jelly boxes of cereal
canned meats crackers
baked beans dry beans
egg noodles rice
macaroni and cheese
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE REPORT
Committee on Finance-As Finance Chair (Vivian Snyder), I apologize for my error on the Financial Snapshot last week. I have no real excuse. The correct information is below:
Financial Snapshot for April and May: Your treasure is where your heart is.
Revised projected budgeted expenses for April, May and June – $18,571.14
Total April funds deposited to General Funds – $19,082.30
Total May funds deposited to General Funds – $20,747.30
As of June 10th funds deposited to General Funds – $16,896.29
Current bank balance: June 9 = $90,282.65
We must give a shout-out to Brenda (Office Adm), Velda (Financial Sec) and Marcia (Bookkeeper) for their efforts to keep the deposits up-to-date and accurate. Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity.
We have been asked to analyze restricted accounts (Charitable contributions whose use is restricted by donors. The church has no discretion in the management and disbursement of such funds) and designated accounts (Funds set aside from general funds for a specific use or purpose i.e. $500 moved monthly from general funds for a specific purpose (to increase Trustees Capital Improvement #2295 Account or contributions for a specific solicited purpose i.e. Wesley Woods)
BUILDING USE AND ENTRY
Please remember to re-lock all doors that you unlock. This is God’s home, please treat it as your own.
Cokes Chapel Childcare is now using the Worship Center for rooms to accommodate our social distance requirements.
Due to our Child Safety Policy, until further notice, Monday-Friday, no entry allowed through the worship center doors between 6:00 am and 6:30 pm. No exceptions. Should you need to access the Worship Center, please check in through the CCCC office to gain entry.
INTERGENERATIONAL, YOUTH, & CHILDREN’S DISCIPLESHIP
MINISTRY MESSAGE: INTER-GENERATIONAL AND YOUTH MINISTRY, June 10, 2020:
This week’s Inter-generational Sunday School lesson focuses on the book of Job. This story raises the age old question of theodicy—meaning, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” This lesson will engage us with the wrestling of deeper questions and invite us to imagine the view of reality from God’s perspective.
If you would like to be included in the email list and receive the lesson each week, please contact Kim Reindl at kim.reindl@gmail.com. Each lesson includes commentary to help enlighten your study, questions for thought and reflection, as well as an optional activity that can be done at home with children and/or youth.
In Children’s and Youth Ministry, plans are being made for summer programming. This is a whole new world of reimaging how we can keep young people engaged in faith formation and connected with the faith community while changing the ways in which we gather. Developments are underway for a modified offering of Kids Mission Camp (more information on this to come). Also, in Youth Ministry, plans are being developed for more creative gatherings through technology, as well as ways for our young people to safely serve others during their summer break.
God is at work all around us! May we hold each other by heart and lift each other by prayer as we journey together, and apart!
With love,
Kim
(Kim Reindl, Director of Inter-generational, Youth & Children’s Discipleship; kim.reindl@gmail.com)
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PRAYER TEAM
Cokes Chapel Prayer Team is praying for all of you. Your requests, concerns, and praises are important to us. Please let us know if you need anything or have a special prayer request. I am available and happy to pray with you by telephone or just be a listening ear. Please join us in daily praying for God to heal our world. Claim it in the powerful name of Jesus Christ and give thanks to God for all things. Contact Debbie at DebbieCarter30263@charter.net or 678-233-4980.
IN OUR HEARTS & PRAYERSCURRENT
Betty, sister of Carole Smith
Dylan, grandson of Carole & Larry Smith
Mitchell Flynn, Sr., father of Mickey Flynn
Carolyn Huckaby
Dick Vermilyea
Betsy, daughter of Margie Jones
Nancy Lenard
Ann Navin
Van Askew
John Harrison, brother of Jason Harrison
Mike Monts, brother of Jennifer Hickman
Mr. Paulus, father-in-law of Ernie & Brenda Haines
ONGOING PRAYERS
Jim & Lara McCarthy and Jim’s mother Joyce
Stan Smith, Marcia Smith’s husband
Jerry Freeman
Roger Harkins
Cera Carter
Mick Moore
Jake Thomas, brother-in-law of Lorraine
Burt
Pastor Wayne Ellis & Family
Jones Family, Howard & Margie, etal
Glenn Etheridge (Pastor)
SEE HOMEBOUND BELOW Prayers for one another and our country for comfort, peace, freedom from anxiety, depression and fear. May God surround us and protect us during this difficult time. |
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Show our Shut-ins some Love! A note from you would brighten their day and make a difference. You don’t even have to “know” them, just sign the card, “your Coke’s Chapel Family”.
Consider sending one card each week to rotate through the list, and let the Cokes Chapel love shine out!
Marie Allen 355 Millard Farmers Industrial Blvd. Apt. 212 Newnan, GA 30263
Jerry Freeman 28 Sweetwater Place, Sharpsburg, GA 30277-1882
Jerry & Del Lenox 45 Soliel Ct. Sharpsburg, GA 30277-2307
Mick Moore 4661 Highway 34E, Sharpsburg, GA 30277-3509
Merlene Smith 25 Newnan Lakes Blvd.c/o Benton House Newnan, GA. 30263
Claudette Schunk 519 Perkins Rd. Apt. 222 Palmetto, GA. 30268-2365
Joyce Taylor 152 Riva Ridge Ln Newnan, GA 30263-6713
Al Warren 14 Hampshire Ln Newnan, GA 30265-6058 |
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Cokes Chapel UMC Childcare Jr. Mission Camp:
Backpack Buddies