Country Park 3rd Ward Family,
I have received several questions from members of the Ward so I thought I would send out a group email addressing these, as some of you may also have these same questions.
1. If my immediate family (siblings, married children and their spouses, etc) are here on Sunday (to worship and study with us) but are not members of our ward or unit can I still administer the sacrament to them or have them help administer the sacrament?
If family is at your home, you can administer the Sacrament to them. Other priests or Melchizedek priesthood holders not in our ward can assist if they have a current Temple recommend. Otherwise, they would need a certificate from their Bishop (their presiding high priest) to administer an ordinance outside of their home ward.
2. How can I pay tithing or fast offerings to the church if there are no Sunday meetings?
This is a great question given the fact that next Sunday is Fast Sunday. I encourage all members to create an account on the church's website, if you have not already. On the website, you can go to "donations" and submit a tithing or fast offering donation online. If you are unsure how to do this, please ask your ministering brothers or sisters to assist you. If you do not feel comfortable doing this online, you can either mail the donation to me or contact a member of the bishopric and we will be more than happy to come and get it from you. Because of current distancing guidelines, the Aaronic Priesthood holders will not be going door to door on Fast Sunday.
3. How can we minister when we are supposed to maintain physical distance?
The church has recently sent out these suggestions:
- Pray for your families and individuals by name. Then act on promptings from the Holy Ghost as you consider ways to help others feel loved, included, and important.
- Consider a virtual visit. Video calls can provide some face time and fun.
- Talk with your ministering companion. He or she likely has some great ideas.
- Be a source of joy, optimism, comfort, and peace. Share a scripture via text. Or visit HearHim.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and consider sharing one of the picture quotes or images of Christ.
- Call. Let them hear the sincere love and concern in your voice. "I miss seeing you! How are you dealing with everything?" Assess their immediate needs. Do they have food, shelter, supplies?
- Listen to them and validate their feelings. Respond with compassion and understanding.
- If immediate needs exist, identify ways you can safely help, and relay any concerns to ward leaders.
The Ward has media tools that can help us stay connected. I know that many are struggling with isolation. Please use the Ward Facebook page and frequently visit the Ward Blog. Have Virtual visits. Also, download and use the "Gospel Living" app. We can share ideas and uplifting messages with the "circles" tool in this app. We need to be lifting and strengthening each other. Share ideas and activities for homeschooling, outdoors, etc.
Finally, there is an URGENT need for volunteers at Welfare Square. Due to the many recent events, many Senior Church Service Missionaries at the Welfare Square Bishop’s Storehouse and Home Storage have been selected to stay home. However, the Welfare Square Bishop’s Storehouse and Home Storage needs to continue to operate and meet a very high volume of patrons with an anticipation of growing needs. The time where the help is still needed is from March 23 through May 2. There are between 1 and 3 shifts per day, running from 3 - 4 hours per shift. There is a Google Doc spreadsheet which members may click on to select a shift. If you have the time and are in good health please consider signing up through the following Google Doc link.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cW4sgj6G-0M5Iwkwl0n2I6OSn9hKLNP58_9VA_A-jYU/edit#gid=2090711893
Thank you once again for all you are doing for those in our neighborhood.
Bishop Reese Davis
