COVID-19 Response

March 27, 2020 1:00 PM

Hello Friends,

Do you remember how the first Easter began for the Disciples? They were huddled together in a home. Sound familiar? Luke 24 says when the women returned from the empty tomb, the eleven remaining disciples were together in one place. While it isn’t what we had planned, celebrating Easter from our homes is, in a sense, returning to our roots.

Much like that first Easter, we may not expect the blessing and wonder heading our way, but rest assured, Easter is coming. The greatest day of the year, Easter is unbridled hope, a true and lasting testament that sin, mourning, and evil will not stand. On Easter, death dies, fear falters, and life springs anew, eternal. While we won’t be able to responsibly gather in person this Easter, we will celebrate together with great joy that Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed. Sunday, April 12, Ebenezer will offer six opportunities for the Easter worship celebration: 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 AM along with 12:00 and 6:00 PM. Not only do I hope you will join in worship, but I pray you will also invite your friends and loved ones to tune in as well.

Our team is working on a couple of fun and creative ways you can be invitational which we’ll share with you next week. Also, please plan to tune in for Palm Sunday online services at 8:15, 9:45, 11:15 AM and 6:00 PM. On Good Friday, April 10, we’ll worship at noon and 7:00 PM. All services can be accessed by going to live.ebenezerumc.org.

Like you, I am saddened we won’t see each other face-to-face on Easter. Distance may separate us for this season, but the power of Christ to unite us is far greater. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Take heart, for God moved heaven and earth to prove his love for us. Yes, Easter is coming.

In Christ,
Pastor Rob

March 19, 2020, 12:00 PM

Dear Ebenezer Family,

Over the past week, all of us have had our routines and rhythms disrupted or completed disbanded. We are certainly in new territory, but we are in it together. It is not lost on me one bit that we are currently in the season of Lent. A season that calls for self-denial and self-reflection. A season that asks us to walk closer with Christ. And even though our regular patterns of interacting and doing ministry must be adapted, our purpose as God’s church never changes. We must adapt the methods but maintain the mission.

I’m thankful that so many of you were able to join us for church online last week. We will continue gathering online only for worship. Ebenezer Church online will be available at all service times at live.ebenezerumc.org on March 22 and March 29. Below is a tip sheet highlighting the features of this service. Click here to downloaded this document.

Our office remains closed, but there is a staff person available to take your calls (540-659-1349) between 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM during the week. Please let us know if you have any needs we can help with. In case of a pastoral emergency after hours, please leave a message and a member of our Congregational Care team will reach out to you.

Additionally, as the Ebenezer Preschool follows Stafford County School’s guidelines, they will be closed until April 15. We are working on additional ways to stay connected as a community and to support each. I invite you to join me daily, Mon-Fri, at noon on our Ebenezer Facebook page for prayers.

I am reminded of God’s Word spoken through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 40:28

Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

    the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

    his understanding is unsearchable.

God is with us. God will always be with us. And we will always be here for one another.

Blessings and Peace,

Pastor Monica