June 27, 2020

Our Dear Friends,

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High." (Psalm 92:1)The Message puts it this way: "What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks, to sing an anthem to you, the High God! To announce your love each daybreak, sing your faithful presence all through the night, Accompanied by dulcimer and harp, the full-bodied music of strings." (Psalm 92:1-3)

Well, well, well!!! I was preparing this email yesterday but just as I was about to send it the news came about a new outbreak of the virus in our region...and that news changed things! This morning I met with our church board and discussed the current situation. It appears that many churches in the area are not holding services tomorrow - even though they were opened last week. Added to that is the "mandatory" regulation that in all public places (including places of worship) everyone must wear a mask. This certainly presents a problem for those leading worship and speaking. With these factors in mind it was decided that we postpone meeting on Sunday, June 28, 2020. We will monitor the situation and make further decisions week by week (or day by day or hour by hour or minute by minute or second by second!!! :) - you get the idea!!!). Please pray that we can meet real soon!

This is a huge disappointment to say the least! We were so looking forward to re-launching church and moving  ahead little by little. A team of volunteers met with me this past Tuesday to chat about best practices, etc. They were all ready to go for Sunday morning! The church is prepared with consideration to sanitizing stations, masking, distancing with markings on the church pews and floor space, signage, etc. We will still keep all of this in place for when we re-launch. We'll see about next Sunday. Your understanding and patience is deeply appreciated. A big thank you to all who volunteered - we will still need you later!!! :)

ONLINE CHURCH - It was planned that live streaming our church services would begin this Sunday @ 10:00 a.m. This will have to be postponed for a couple of reasons:


(1)    We have not received the technical equipment needed to do this.

(2)    Our wifi at the church is not powerful enough to broadcast via live streaming. So it is our intention to record the church services and make them available as a pre-recording later on Sunday...perhaps by 1:00 p.m. We will revert to live streaming as soon as we can. We'll keep you posted on that.

For this Sunday, June 28, 2020 a video has been recorded and it will be available on YouTube any time after 7:00 a.m.  Please visit our webpage for the link www.evangelnapanee.com<http://www.evangelnapanee.com>

KIDS' SUNDAY SCHOOL & VBS - Please note that Kids' Sunday School will be available to view this Sunday. Also, VBS has been pre-recorded and will be presented by Tanya and her team for the week of July 6 - 10. There is still time to register your children by visiting our website www.evangelnapanee.com<http://www.evangelnapanee.com> or calling the church @ 613-354-4281.

2020 GRADUATES - This year has certainly been very different for graduation celebrations than at any other time. We are so sorry for all the grads who did not get to be with their classmates for such a significant occasion. We "planned" to honour them on Sunday, July 5, 2020. The date may change now depending on when we are back at church again. Please let us know of those in your household who are graduating from Grade 8, high school, college or university. You may email me directly by simply replying to this email or call the church office. If the church is opened on July 5, we would be delighted if the students can be there. If not, we will still mention their names in honour of their accomplishments.

PRAYER NEEDS - The prayer needs list continues to grow: a young man facing surgery, Rose-Marie (surgery soon), Tim, Lori (taking treatments), Laura, Olivia, our seniors who are shut-in, Pat, Franz (recovering from surgery), Bonnie (in the hospital), Angela, Shawn (seeking employment), Ken's niece, Robbie (taking treatments), Allan (taking treatments), Elizabeth, Linda (physical and spiritual needs), Matthew, David, Rebecca, businesses and business people, new pastor, unspoken needs, online church, Kids Sunday School and VBS (coming July 6 - 10). There may be others that we should add to this list. Please let us know if that is the case and we will gladly include them.  Be sure to send an email or telephone us should you have a need. You may reach us at office@evangelnapanee.com<mailto:office@evangelnapanee.com> or 613-354-4281. There are lots of prayer needs and they all include both the spiritual and physical!

We rejoice this week...Larry Wilson and I had opportunity to visit a man this week and, before we concluded our visit, this man gave his life to Christ!!! WOW!! The angels in heaven are rejoicing over this! Please pray for him. He is experiencing some health issues and we assured him that our congregation would pray.

PASTORAL SEARCH - I met with District personnel this week  for a debriefing on the recent CHAT survey we completed as a congregation a few weeks ago. We are planning a weekend with the leadership at Evangel for July 17 and 18. Please pray that this will go ahead as planned since this step is necessary as we move ahead. We will certainly keep you updated. Thank you for your continual prayers.

ZOOM PRAYER MEETING - Each  Monday at 6:30 p.m. we host a ZOOM prayer meeting. We look forward to seeing you online. The link to join us will be sent in plenty of time for you to join.

BIBLE READING - The Bible reading assignment for the month of June was the Book of Psalms. This was an encouragement to you, I'm sure! Here is a new challenge for the month of July - you are encouraged to read some of the "Minor Prophets." The following will be a total of 32 chapters...one extra for July: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah. The challenge is to read at least 1 chapter per day. Hopefully you are taking the time to spend in the word of God. The word of God will certainly strengthen you in your daily walk with God.

SUMMER MUSIC - Deseronto Pentecostal Church (Pastor Dan Rooney) approached us to request the use of Evangel's parking lot for each Sunday evening @ 6:30. Our church board readily agreed to this proposal. There will be singing groups presenting gospel music beginning on July 5, 2020 and concluding the last Sunday in August. You are invited to come along each time and enjoy.

ADMINISTRATION - Office hours are now back to the regular schedule: Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Tithes and offerings are tracking well and that is because of your faithful commitment. Thank you for your diligence.

PRAYER FOR OUR NATION AND BEYOND - A call for unity in North America...

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ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING - We still anticipate the annual business meeting for Sunday, July 12, 2020  following the morning service. If this has to be changed we will certainly inform you. The bulk of the meeting will be to accept the 2019 financial statements, reports and elect church board members. Please mark this date in your calendar and thank you for giving it your attention.

Be blessed good Friends! We look forward to seeing you real soon. Continue to pray and stay close to God in these trying times - very trying times, aren't they! We are praying for you!

Cal Anthony (Rev.)