Friends,

This evening the Session of Mount Zion Presbyterian Church voted to resume in-person sanctuary worship on Sunday, July 5, with our customary 8 am and 10 am services.  Until that time, our "virtual" online worship will continue as it has since mid-March.  Some form of virtual worship will continue after we re-enter the Sanctuary.

Our staff is expected to resume regular hours, pending any contrary civic guidance, as of Monday, June 22.

There are several details that have yet to be settled.  Our Re-entry Task Force will be meeting again in person at 7 p.m. on June 22.  Many discussions about cleanliness and procedures have occurred, and will continue.  The Worship Committee will be handling several details concerning the worship services proper, including the question of communion.  The Session has yet to decide about rentals in the Annex, pending double-checking with our insurance company.  

Other issues need to be resolved, and will be.  In the meantime, thanks to all concerned for your leadership during a very unusual time.  In the midst of a serious period such as this, with our Session having to deal with unexpected issues, please remember that God always provides the growing edge.  God will provide areas of potential growth in ways to serve the Kingdom as we head into the future.  Resuming public worship is a very emotional issue, but the changes our world has experienced recently have opened the door for innovation, for us to follow the Spirit's leading.  

God bless, and thank you.

Pastor Mike

Resumption 

Our Sunday Service can be watched LIVE on our website and on Facebook on Sunday morning starting at 8:00 am.  

We now have videos of church services, messages and devotions available on the LINKS  tab on the home page.  Click on the LINKS  tab and select the item you want to see.  

Dear Friends in Christ,

With some sadness, but with confidence that it is the right decision, I report to you that our Session has decided public worship and on-site church activities will be suspended at least through May 31. Previously the Session had decided to remain open, but the situation has shifted since that decision was made. Our worship is now on-line through Facebook (see the link below). Like a lot of churches, we are going to be learning some things "on the fly".

We will have a short Sunday worship service, and possibly daily prayer and meditation (as Molly Tenuto has posted the last two days), available on our Facebook page. You may go to https://www.facebook.com/mtzpresbychurch to see our worship service each week.  You can also continue to find the audio recordings on this website. We have applied for the ability to receive on-line giving and donations as well; directions should be available here soon. As always, you can still mail in your donations and contributions. The church's mission and financial commitments continue.

At this writing, Decatur Memorial Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital have implemented policies that make pastoral visits unlikely except in the direst of circumstances. Their policies do vary slightly, and like the rest of us, they are adapting to changing circumstances day by day. For pastoral needs, please feel free to contact Pastor Mike Wakeland at 217-428-2339 or Parish Visitor Gloria Marshall at 217-412-2254. If you are coming by the church and wanting to make sure it is staffed, you may wish to check with the church office at 217-864-2528 or Pastor Mike.

We are headed for a time of "physical distancing" but not "social distancing." We are a church family. We will do everything we can to meet one another's needs, to combat loneliness through the telephone and social networking, and to look for creative ways to adapt to a new time. Remember: "Perfect love casts out fear." (1 John 4:18)  Christ's people rise to these challenges.

Peace be with you--

Pastor Mike