These are certainly unusual times, but God is with us. Love, hope, and faith have not been cancelled. May you know God's presence and peace surrounding you this day and in the days to come.

Pastoral Update, Tuesday March 17, 2020

Hello all,
 
I hope that this email finds you well and whole in this unusual time as we’re getting used to social distancing, kids home from school, and major disruptions to our routines.
 
The CDC continues to recommend social distancing measures at this time in order to slow the spread and the reach of the new virus, COVID-19. At the urging of Mid-Kentucky Presbytery, our Session has voted to suspend worship and all other in-person activities of the church until Saturday, April 4, 2020. It is painful and difficult to be apart, but it is my hope that by doing so we are caring for each other and our community.
 
As we are reminded in Romans, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. God is still with us and calling us to discipleship. Even when we’re physically apart, the Holy Spirit unites us as one community! Even when we can’t go to church, we are the church! These days call for creativity and intentionality, but luckily creativity is one of the specialties of the Holy Spirit. Here are some ways we can continue to be church together:
 

1. Worship: We gathered on Facebook Live this past Sunday, and it was great to interact with you all! If you missed it, the recording is available on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/etownpres/) But it is also posted on the homepage of our website, www.etownpres.org. We will send an update later this week with an online worship update for this Sunday.
2. Study: Since we are unable to gather for our Lenten soup supper on Wednesday nights, I will hold a time of prayer and Bible study at 7:00 pm through a platform called Zoom. Zoom is a video-conferencing app that allows us to be more interactive than on Facebook Live. Also, there is a call-in feature so that anyone can join from their cell phone or even a landline.  I will be sending a separate email with extensive instructions about how to use Zoom, and that email will include the link to join the call. I am also recruiting “tech deacons” who will be available to help you figure out the technology!
3. Prayer: if you would like to be a prayer partner during this time to reach out to on the phone, please contact me or Jan Swope, our Deacon of Healing and Wholeness. We will be matching people who can support one another through prayerful presence and caring.
4. Care: call each other to check in. Write a card, a letter, or even make some artwork. If you’d like to help with our efforts to care for one another, let me know. Have other ideas or know of other needs in the community? Let me know.
5. Give: continue to support the church as you are able. You can mail in a check or contact Christine to set up bank drafts. These can be scheduled or set up to only be done when you instruct Christine to do so. We are working on getting online giving set up through the Presbyterian Foundation and will let everyone know when it is available.

 
As always, if you have any pastoral concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. While I am heeding the advice to not make in-person visits (except in emergencies), I am more than happy to connect and pray with you by phone.
If you get sick, let us know.
If you need help with errands, groceries, getting prescriptions, etc., let us know.
If you need someone to pray with you, let us know.
If you have prayer concerns, send them to the office. We continue to maintain the prayer list and will be sending it out later this week.
If you need toilet paper, let us know and we can share!
 
You are in my prayers, and you rest, always, in the limitless love of God.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1
 
In Christ,
Pastor Chelsea Benham

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The Heart of Kentucky
Men's Chorus "Spring Show" 
​SATURDAY, APRIL 25TH AT 7:00 PM
​ AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH....
  
...Benefiting the Living Waters for the World
Guatemala Project!

Liturgical dance performed by FPC youth and Sherry Barnard, who choreographed the piece; featuring the choir singing "I Will Lift Up My Eyes to the Hills"

Save these dates:
May 30th
June 27th 
July 25th
August 29th

MADD Camp - Music, Art, Dance and Drama
(Summer Day Camp)
Details coming soon!

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First Presbyterian Church, Elizabethtown, KY

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH  
1016 PEAR ORCHARD ROAD  
ELIZABETHTOWN, KY
OFFICE PHONE:  270.765.7663
OFFICE EMAIL:  ADMIN@ETOWNPRES.ORG

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Our Mission Statement:  
We are called in obedience to Jesus Christ to encourage people on their spiritual journey,
to inspire people to grow closer to God,
​and to share God's love with our whole world.

Encouraging   Inspiring   Sharing