Please continue to give your regular contributions during this time as our church will still need to meet it’s financial obligations. You may give online here.
If you have any needs or require assistance during this time, we want to continue to care for you. Please let us know by contacting a pastor or the church office.
770-435-3231 | info@smyrnafirst.org
The coronavirus pandemic continues to challenge every institution and we’ve lately seen the public school system come to the decision to shift it’s focus away from returning to on-campus education. Decisions like this always catch our attention and make us take another look at the data before us (mandates and regulations put forth by our government officials, CDC guidelines and recommendations, and shared wisdom from other churches in our area). At this time, we remain committed to our Yellow 1 response plan and will continue on-campus Worship Services and approved small-group gatherings. Here is a brief update on where we think we’re going in the coming days.
We are overwhelmed with the patience and kindness we have received from the church during this time. Despite wildly different viewpoints on the pandemic response in the world around us, the church has demonstrated a measure of maturity and calm that is indicative of the Spirit’s work in our midst. Let us all continue to communicate carefully with one another as we plan to Regather and resume our ministries to the glory of God. We are testimony to the world around us. Let’s be faithful as we show steadfast resolve to love each other and maintain unity in the bond of peace.
Beginning this Sunday, June 21, we will meet in-person for worship. We will hold two worship services to accommodate social distancing. No other programs will meet at this time.
8:30am Worship Service
10:45am Worship Service
Choose one of these services to attend.
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday School will not meet in-person during June or July. Details for in-person Sunday School meetings will be released by the end of July.
Sunday School teachers will organize a time for classes to hold Zoom meetings. Please communicate with your class teacher for those details.
While we are still separated for Sunday School, you are urged to take part in Gathered, our 12 week study on the church. You may download materials for the study by clicking here.
Children’s and Student Curriculum
Children and Students will continue to view Sunday School online or through Zoom Meetings. Students will hear from Charles Denis about the details of their Sunday School meeting.
We will return to online services for tomorrow’s worship. There will be no Drive-In Service on May 10. Enjoy Sunday School and the Worship Service via YouTube.
We are working toward coming back together for in-person services and as soon as we have a plan in place, we will let you know the date and details of our first service back together. It’s nice to know that the day is drawing closer. We’ve missed being with you so much!
The Drive-In Service was a huge success and everyone enjoyed being “together” even if it was just in our cars. It was so good to see your faces. The weather was just beautiful which made it all the more enjoyable. Check out the schedule below for the next two Sundays.
May 10 (tomorrow) – Online Services Only
May 17 – Drive-In Service
Last week we heard from government officials that restrictions would be loosened and that our state could start opening up. Well, that creates a lot of questions. We were asking the same questions you were. Does that mean we can start worshipping together again? When do we begin? What restrictions are still in place?
This pandemic creates lots of opportunity for confusion. But we believe in a God of order and want you to think and act with as much confidence as is possible. So, we have worked to create a Ministry Response Plan that will update you on how our church will minister. It is based on three levels: Green (all clear), Yellow (caution), and Red (everybody stop). Here is a reference guide of all the levels.
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| Use this quick reference guide to our church’s basic response to the pandemic. For a larger view of the document, go here. |
Smyrna First is currently operating at Yellow 2. This means the church offices are still closed and all ministries remain online with the exception of holding drive-in worship services (more on that later). The current level of response will be posted on our website at www.smyrnafirst.org/coronavirus. You may visit there for any updates and we will keep our response level current.
We are looking at certain markers to help us decide on what actions are best. Those markers are Government Restrictions or Orders, CDC Recommendations, Science Based Information on the Virus, and Shared Wisdom from churches and religious organizations in our area. Basically, we are listening to the government and scientists and exercising biblical wisdom shared with other believers in our area. Your pastors have spent hours talking with other leaders, both religious and government, to make the best decisions possible. After hearing from Georgia Baptist Convention leaders and the Governor’s Office, we have come to understand that while government orders have been lifted on many areas to allow some freedoms, we must still exercise great wisdom with that freedom. To quote Spider-man’s Uncle Ben, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” We do have the power to meet, but we must be wise and understanding and use caution because we are still in the very middle of a global pandemic. Experts are telling us that Covid-19 cases are still on the rise and that cases won’t plateau for another week or two.
For this reason, we are going to move slowly in implementing any plans to “return to normal”. The lives of our church and our community are far too valuable for us to make hasty decisions and there is wisdom in caution. Keep reading for some action steps we are taking to help everyone think more clearly about ministry in the coming months.
Church leadership has made the decision to clear our calendars for the months of May and June. This means that anything previously scheduled for those months has been removed. The changing nature of our culture and society due to coronavirus means that we will not be rescheduling these events. Instead, we will begin to schedule new events that will meet the standards of safety and wisdom these days require. We are doing this because it is an extremely low probability that anything currently on our calendar can be fully executed or even planned for with clarity.
Take VBS for example. The likelihood that we can gather hundreds of children and volunteers together every day for a week in June is a low probability. Science tells us that the virus won’t be eradicated by then and no vaccine will be available. The government isn’t confident that organizations should even be opening public restroom facilities, which makes meeting for hours on end difficult to say the least. On top of all this, how many parents will want to send their child into an environment of increased exposure for an entire week? Shared wisdom is showing us that many other churches are already restructuring VBS in ways that will answer these concerns and yet continue to provide avenues for ministry that will allow the proclamation of the gospel to children. Therefore, we are clearing our calendar and going back to the drawing board to come up with a ministry that is viable and effective. And we are doing that across the board.
We have not made any decisions on the July calendar as of now. We plan to make a call on what to do with July by the beginning of June.
Most of our summer programming is centered around CSK and Student Ministry. Here are a few brief answers to common questions:
Smyrna First works hard to provide you with opportunities to grow in the truth, engage in the mission, and connect to your community. Your pastors and staff care deeply about our church calendar and clearing the months of May and June was not a decision made lightly. However, the end result will be clarifying for you as you try to plan and will clear the way for us to design ministry that meets the need of the day.
We are not setting a date for when we can return to in-person gatherings at the church. We are watching the markers and planning carefully so that we can return to in-person gatherings as soon as we can while still providing safety all attending. Once we are confident in our ability to keep people reasonably safe while holding in-person services, we will schedule it and look forward with great joy and anticipation for that time!
For now, we are continuing with providing an online service as a resource for you to worship privately at home. Tomorrow will look the same as the past few Sundays. But…!
We will be holding Drive-In Church on May 3 at 10:45am in the West Parking Lot. Look for more details next week for what to expect, but we are thrilled to be able to gather together in this way so we can at least see your faces. We are staffing this service by asking people personally to serve. So, if you haven’t heard from us, plan on joining us for worship with no additional duties, even if you normally serve on Sundays.
Since we can’t gather in person, it is impossible for us to hold our quarterly church conference this month. Our Leadership Team has posted a report that includes our financial records for the quarter in the Member Care Portal on our church website.
We sincerely hope we can meet in July. Any business we would have covered in this conference will be moved tentatively to the July meeting.
All on this list have recovered or are recovering. Other members have been sick, but not confirmed to have Covid-19. We continue to urge caution as you minister to one another and socialize with each other. Keep following CDC and government guidelines of social distancing, sheltering in place, and self-quarantine if you suspect you have been exposed.
We have a supply of food resources for our members who may need assistance with food shortages due to financial hardships or simply cannot get out to pick up groceries.
If you have information on those in our congregation who are sick or in need, please let us know by replying to this email, calling the church office at 770-435-3132, or emailing us at info@smyrnafirst.org.
We have learned that Eddy Futrell was carrying the COVID-19 virus at the time of his death. Eddy was in the church building on March 10 for a prayer meeting and again on March 11 for a Bible study. All members who had contact with him at those times have been notified. He and Patti were not in the March 15 service as they had already begun self-quarantine at that time. Additionally, they were not at church services on March 8 due to being out of town.
Eddy did everything possible to protect himself and his church family in the days leading up to his death, following all known protocols at that time. Continue to pray for Patti Futrell.
In the early hours of March 24, 2020, Eddy Futrell, beloved member and deacon of First Baptist Church of Smyrna, went home to be with the Lord. In the evening prior, Eddy had communicated to the deacons by email that he thought he likely had contracted the COVID-19 virus and was to be tested by doctors on March 25. He asked for prayer.
These are unprecedented times, and we understand that many of you may have questions regarding the spread of this virus. While we do not know with absolute certainty at this point that Eddy was infected with COVID-19, for the sake of church health and safety, it is wise for us to operate as if he did carry the virus. Church leaders have spoken to the CDC and Cobb County Health officials this morning and both have recommended to simply follow the protocols posted online.
Eddy first presented symptoms on Friday, March 13 and he and Patti began sheltering in place immediately and had no outside contact from that point. Eddy was last in the church building on March 10 for a prayer meeting and again on March 11 for a Bible study. All members who had contact with Eddy have been notified. The CDC recommends sheltering in place for 14 days following possible exposure. While that time has passed since Eddy last had contact with any of our members, we would encourage everyone to watch for symptoms and report them if they do present. A Cobb County Health Official spoke with our Executive Pastor this morning and has assured the church that all precautionary measures were handled accurately.
The results for Eddy’s possible infection of COVID-19 will take 5-6 days to return. We will update the church body as we have more information.
Eddy’s wife, Patti, wants the church to have access to these details so that you can take the proper precautions. Please pray for her as she grieves the loss of her husband of more than 40 years and as she is continuing to take the necessary health precautions associated with the possible exposure to this virus.
But just because we can’t meet in the building, doesn’t mean we can’t worship. Tomorrow morning, join us online for Sunday school and Worship Service. You can sing praise at home and study God’s Word. It isn’t nearly as good as being physically together, but it is precious to worship nonetheless. We’re excited to join you tomorrow!
Worship Service
Sunday School
Tonight, make sure you:
Get more updates here on how we’ll be ministering during the shut-down.
What does this mean for you?
In the days to come, many of us will face circumstances unique to this generation. There will likely be less material things to go around. We pray that God would use this time to purge our lives of the things that do not matter and fill us with the care and concern of the kingdom. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) God continues to use everything in the material world to bring about his purposes. He is not bewildered, confused, or frustrated. Let this time remind you that though we boast in our strength and think we are immune to trouble, the Lord shakes our confidence in ourselves with a breath.
Pray for one another. Pray for the most vulnerable among us that God would protect them from infection of COVID-19. Pray for those who will become sick to recover. Pray that the world would be brought to revival. Pray for our community.
Trust the Lord and seek him. Be strong and courageous.
