Greetings Church and Community,

I have great news!  As much as we all have enjoyed Worship on the Lawn, I am excited to announce that we will begin to hold Worship Services in Grace Hall starting this Sunday! 

Why Grace Hall and not the Sanctuary?  I understand the desire and I also long to Worship in the Sanctuary as well.  BUT, we are still in the middle of a global pandemic and I want to make sure we keep everyone safe and healthy and Grace Hall provides us ample space to social distance.   

We will take the same precautions for worship in Grace Hall as we did for Worship on the Lawn.  We ask that you wear your mask at all times, your temperature will be taken upon entry, and we ask that you limit fellowship to social distanced fellowship. 

Worship in Grace Hall will have a similar flow as Worship on the Lawn.  We have both tables and chairs set up in Grace Hall and encourage you to sit where you feel most comfortable. 

I invite you to bring a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage to worship along with your mask and a spirit of worship!  Let us make Grace Hall warm and inviting for ALL!

Do Good…

Pastor Zach 

Membership Directory – Please contact the Church Office if you didn’t receive one last week.  Keep in touch with one another.

New Phone Tree – It’s coming out soon!!  We will email everyone, and mail to those without email addresses. Call the church office if you would like one mailed to you.

Emails – Check your emails for up to date information and ways to stay connected.

Grace’s Facebook page – If you are on Facebook, check out our page (CheyenneGraceUMC) to keep up with opportunities to gather via Zoom for prayer time. Soon we will offer other small groups.

YouTube – Recorded videos will be posted on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/CheyenneGUMC).

Zoom – We will have prayer gatherings and other meetings via Zoom.  Zoom is a platform to connect in video and phone calls. Church emails will include a Zoom link. If you are going to use your video on your computer/tablet/phone, just click on the link. When you use it for the first time, Zoom will need to get connected on your electronic device. Just follow the instructions.
If you are going to call in, just call the phone number provided and then type in the meeting id, which will also be provided.
Don’t know about Zoom? Contact Rev. Laura, Melissa Martin or Dave Orr for more information.

The church still needs your financial donations. We know for some of you, this is a difficult time financially. However, if you can still make a financial contribution, please either mail a check to the church or donate online:  http://www.cheyennegraceumc.com/giving/.  You can also Text-to-Give by texting the dollar amount to 307-209-9908. It should walk you through the process.

Pam Pallak is coordinating drivers who can help deliver items to those who are homebound.

Our church has a Member Aid fund. If you or someone in the church needs assistance, please contact Rev. Laura.

Family Promise is still helping families in this difficult time.  Our Family Promise is currently housing up to 3 families in local hotels.  They need support in the following ways, as shared by Lori Kempter, Executive Director:

• Be kind & pray.  During this difficult time, Family Promise cannot underestimate the importance and impact of simply being kind to one another and praying for our neighbors.
• Give supply donations. They are receiving donations of the following: milk, eggs, meat, paper products, baby wipes, cleaning supplies, fast food gift cards, grocery gift cards, and gas gift cards. Call the Family Promise office to arrange dropping off donations (307-772-8770).
• Give financially. This transition is increasing costs for Family Promise of Cheyenne. Motel rooms cost $700 per week/per family. Housing 3 families for a minimum of 2-3 weeks costs $4,200-6,000. Donations can be made on the website: www.FamilyPromiseofCheyenne.org or mail to Family Promise of Cheyenne, 2950 Spruce Drive, Cheyenne WY 82001.

OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE

We need your help!!  Blood Donations are needed at the time in Cheyenne – ALL BLOOD TYPES!  Friday is Cheyenne Day of Giving at the Kiwanis Community House in Lions Park from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  As of Tuesday afternoon, there was 22 opening for donors.  Not only will the blood donated help save lives, but donated blood will be tested for COVID antibodies and those who test positive may be able to save a life for someone who needs convalescent plasma therapy,  All Donors must be well and healthy and wear a mask to donate blood.  Please help spread the word and bring a family member, co-worker or your neighbor to help.  For appointments please call 877-258-4825.

Cheyenne Day of Giving will be Friday, September 25, at the Kiwanis Community House in Lions Park from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  They will be collecting canned food, personal hygiene items (toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, lotion), baby items (diapers, wipes, lotion), no longer needed prescriptions, old eye glasses.  Go on line to [email protected] for more details.  The event will observe current health guidelines.

There also will be a Day of Giving Blood Drive at the Kiwanis Community House from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.  Make a difference this fall for a patient in need.  Every donation helps up to 3 patients.  Appointments are suggested, walk-ins will be welcome.  Call 307-6385-2300 or go online to vitalant.org to make your appointment.  Social distancing and masks will be required for donors.

The Cheyenne Farmer’s Market has been relocated since August 1.  It is now held at Frontier Park   Face masks and social distancing are being encouraged for the event which will continue through October 3.  The market will be held in Parking Lot B at Frontier Park off 8th Avenue.  There will be only 1 entrance on the North Side of the lot and accessible through Lot C off Carey Avenue across from the Botanic Gardens.  There will be handicap parking available next to the entrance.  Hours are 7:00 am to 1:00 pm.  The market, which is a fundraiser for Community Action of Laramie County, is an annual event that typically offers fruits and vegetables, honey, pastries, baked goods, meat products, gourmet coffee and a host of other products to the shoppers.

Donate Blood at the Kiwanis Community House in Lions Park from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.  To schedule an appointment, call 307-638-3326 or visit vitalant.org.

How to Address Church Decisions in COVID-19.

The Mountain Sky Conference has created a resource to help church leaders determine how to decision when and how to move into the future.

• When do we worship together again?
• What is required to keep us all safe?
• What will worship look like when we do?

The Facilities and Safety Teams will begin working through the Study Guide provided by the Annual Conference, diving into the issues affecting our decisions. There are 5 Modules that the Team will work through, and all church leaders and members are welcome to participate as well.

Our first Zoom meeting working through Module 1 will be on Tuesday, June 2, 6:30 pm.  You are welcome to participate.

We want to follow John Wesley’s rules:  Do No Harm, Do Good and Stay in Love with God. We believe this Study Guide will help us be faithful.

Please contact Rev. Laura Rainwater, LuAnne Cook-Ludwick, or Brian Martin for more information.

Family Promise Assistance
Lori will Family Promise has asked if anyone can help, they are in need of diapers and wipes and grocery cards due to the coronavirus.  If you can help, please call the church office or Family Promise at 772-8770 so arrangements can be made to drop off your donation.  Thank you!

Family Promise Help Needed
As Family Promise is helping more families outside our program, we are in need of supplies for those families. The following are items we are taking as donations right now-milk, eggs, meat, paper products, baby wipes, cleaning supplies, fast food gift cards, grocery gift cards, and gas cards. Please call our office to arrange dropping off donations since our office is only open by appointment 307-772-8770.

Help End Human Trafficking
See something, say something!!!  Call the anonymous hotline at 888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to “BeFree” (233733).  Human trafficking is here in Wyoming.  Let’s raise awareness to end this 21st century form of slavery!

Missions
The Grace Giving Grace Table is collecting undies & socks for the Cheyenne community youth in February and March.
Coins collected in February and March will go to UMCOR.

Lay Equaliztion Delegates to Annual Conference
If you are interested in attending the annual conference as a Lay Equalization Delegate, please talk to those who have attended in the past:

• Pam Pallak
• Brian Martin
• Wanda Denton
• LuAnne Cook-Ludwick
• Dr. Michelle Aldrich
• Rev. Laura

They can give you information on what to expect at the conference.
The annual conference will held in June in Gillette.

Pam Pallak is our delegate to the annual conference, as elected at our circuit charge conference.  Several of you have attended in the past as a Lay Equalization Delegate.  In short, each district should send an equal number or lay and clergy delegates.  Because we have retired clergy in our district, we need to send more lay delegates.  Because Annual Conference this June will be in Gillette, more lay members are asking to participate.  The Wyoming Leadership has agreed that people can nominate themselves to serve as a lay equalization delegate.  This will be approved at the Wyoming District gathering March 28 (locations to be decided soon).  If you are interested, please let Rev. Laura know so that she can send on your information.  It’s possible that everyone who would like to serve can, but we won’t know until later in March.  Any questions, please contact Rev. Laura.

We are no longer accepting ink cartridges to recycle!!
We are no longer accepting ink cartridges to recycle.  However, if you something that you would like to recycle, we have several empty drawers by the northeast door.  Let the office know and I will put a label on it for you.

Check out monthly newsletter, Grace Notes.

Grace Notes is our monthly newsletter. In it you will find notes from the pastor and church leaders. You will find up-to-date information on upcoming events and read testimonies of the impact our church makes.