Dearest Friends,
These are challenging and stressful times. None of us have been trained in how to manage a a pandemic, much less an outbreak of this sort, and all of us are looking for answers. As your pastor, I wanted to share with you some information and thoughts about the next couple of weeks, especially as major events have been cancelled and schools have been closed due to the concern about the spread of COVID-19.
First: Our concern is for your safety and well-being. Do what you need to do to ensure you can stay well. This is a strange sort of Sabbath, and it will demand a new approach to how we all prioritize things.
Sunday Worship Services: We will have our worship services in the multipurpose room at Villa Flores on Sunday, March 15 and Sunday, March 22. We are anticipating rain both weekends, and encourage those of you who are able to do so to stay home. We understand that not every member of our congregation has this option, so we will be gathering at 10:30 am with pre-wrapped food, hot coffee, and a warm welcome. Gatherings of more than 250 people are not recommended, but because we are smaller in number, we believe we can be safe and mindful of how we interact so as to be safe.
We will Live-Stream our worship service on Sunday via Facebook, which you can find on my personal page and on the Los Angeles First UMC page: https://www.facebook.com/LAFirstUMC/
We will be working on additional ways to record and share the worship service outside of this platform. If you are worshipping from home, we invite you to join us in a hand-washing and prayerful ritual to begin our time. My colleague and dear friend, Rev. Kara Root, wrote a beautiful reflection about the potential for prayer while you do: https://faithandleadership.com/kara-k-root-20-second-gift-washing-your-hands
Phone tree: In order to stay connected without being isolated, we are working to create a phone tree for interested members. Savannah Southern-Smith will be assisting with the creation of a phone tree so that we can keep in touch with each other. Please send an e-mail to office@lafirstumc.org if you would like to be included.
Testing: Thanks to California Rep. Katie Porter, the CDC has a provision in place for all COVID-19 testing to be free, regardless of insurance coverage. The California Department of Public Health has a wonderful page of resources and answers to important questions here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/ncov2019.aspx
If you are feeling sick, you are encouraged to call your healthcare provider or Local Health Department to request testing for COVID-19. The information to find those offices is here:
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCLHO/CDPH%20Document%20Library/LHD_CD_Contact_Info_ADA.pdf
Hand-Washing Stations: Hygiene is a critical factor in staying safe and preventing transmission of the virus. Dr. Aysha Khoury helped to demonstrate proper hand washing techniques for us on Sunday. You can find that video here: https://www.facebook.com/LAFirstUMC/videos/663976901078429/
Additionally, if you or your neighbor is houseless and looking for a place to find laundry, showers, restrooms, support, and services, the ReFresh Spot is now open 24 hours a day.
https://hhcla.org/refresh-spot.html
The St. Francis Center will remain open and serving the community, but with modifications. You can learn more here: https://www.stfranciscenterla.org/import-update-regarding-st-francis-center-program-modifications-and-covid-19-preparedness-plan/
The Los Angeles Unified School District will close for two weeks beginning March 16. Superintendent Austin Beutner shared an announcement this morning, which will affect 734,641 students, 26,635 teachers, and 33,635 staff. The number of parents and guardians affected are innumerable. There will be Family Resource Centers opening on Wednesday, March 18 from 6 am-6 pm on weekdays with trained professionals. Children will be able to “have a warm meal, engage with their peers, and pursue their different studies.” For more, you can read the announcement here: https://achieve.lausd.net/latestnews
Cal-Pac Annual Conference News: Bishop Grant Hagiya has issued a helpful statement and created a special webpage to keep the community informed: "I would like to make you aware of calpacumc.org/publichealth as the central location for all of the information and resources that the California-Pacific Conference has to share in responding to COVID-19, including links to the websites of regional or state departments of public health where guidance for non-profit or religious organizations may be provided frequently.”
Mental Health Awareness: The stress and uncertainty of this time can take a toll on your mental health. This is just as critical as any physical symptom. Please do not hesitate to prioritize your mental health. The Association for Suicide Prevention has a very helpful resource for this: https://afsp.org/taking-care-of-your-mental-health-in-the-face-of-uncertainty/
It’s important to note that we are not helpless in light of current news events. We can always choose our response. If you are struggling, here are some things you can do to take care of your mental health in the face of uncertainty:
Separate what is in your control from what is not. There are things you can do, and it’s helpful to focus on those. Wash your hands. Remind others to wash theirs. Take your vitamins. Limit your consumption of news (Do you really need to know what is happening on a cruise ship you aren’t on?).
Do what helps you feel a sense of safety. This will be different for everyone, and it’s important not to compare yourself to others. It’s ok if you’ve decided what makes you feel safe is to limit attendance of large social events, but make sure you separate when you are isolating based on potential for sickness versus isolating because it’s part of depression.
Get outside in nature–even if you are avoiding crowds. I took a walk yesterday afternoon in my neighborhood with my daughter. The sun was shining, we got our dose of vitamin D, and it felt good to both get some fresh air and quality time together. Exercise also helps both your physical and mental health.
Challenge yourself to stay in the present. Perhaps your worry is compounding—you are not only thinking about what is currently happening, but also projecting into the future. When you find yourself worrying about something that hasn’t happened, gently bring yourself back to the present moment. Notice the sights, sounds, tastes and other sensory experiences in your immediate moment and name them. Engaging in mindfulness activities is one way to help stay grounded when things feel beyond your control.
Stay connected and reach out if you need more support. Talk to trusted friends about what you are feeling. If you are feeling particularly anxious or if you are struggling with your mental health, it’s ok to reach out to a mental health professional for support. You don’t have to be alone with your worry and it can be comforting to share what you are experiencing with those trained to help.
We are in this together, and help is always available. If you’re feeling alone and struggling, you can also reach out to The Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741 or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
God is our refuge and strength, a present help in time of trouble. Please remember that your life is precious, and our commitment to Christ’s call is through loving God and our neighbor, as we love ourselves.
This is a season of patience and resilience. This Lenten journey is unlike any other, and I pray that in our time of solitude, we will be able to connect more deeply with the faithful ways in which God remains steadfast. We need God’s guidance. We need one another’s help. We need the Spirit’s care.
What a beautiful thing to know we share these needs, and can help be the solution together.
If you have specific needs or questions, please don’t hesitate to ask me. We will do our best to address them.
With hope and prayers,
Mandy
Rev. Mandy Sloan McDow
Senior Minister