March 12, 2020
Dear Central Family:
Over the course of the last few weeks, our staff has been closely following the reports related to the COVID-19 virus. Today, members of Central’s leadership team and several medical professionals gathered. We prayed,
we reviewed the most immediate information available and we spent extensive time in discussions about what our church’s actions should be considering the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is with heavy hearts that we have decided to cancel all live worship at the Dickson Street campus and the Genesis campus for this Sunday, March 15. We pray that this action will result in reducing the
possibilities of transmitting COVID-19 within our church family and community.
We will offer a live stream worship experience that will be led by our pastoral
staff and worship leaders at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday morning. We encourage you to connect on our website at https://centraltolife.com/. Just click the “Watch Live” icon on the homepage.
In addition to in-person worship services being cancelled, we want to clearly communicate that all the following are also cancelled:
- Family Conversation event scheduled for March 15
- All Sunday school classes (all ages)
- CSM on Sunday evening (March 15)
- All classes, rehearsals, events, and meetings scheduled to be held at Central next week Monday-Saturday. (March 16-21)
- Celebrate Recovery at the Genesis Campus (March 18)
- All Wednesday Mid-week events (March 18)
- CSM Mexico Mission Spring Break Trip
Our Central Children’s Academy and WISE Kids ministry will follow the schedule of Fayetteville Public Schools. If Fayetteville Public Schools close, those ministries will also suspend services.
We are still evaluating our Community Meals program schedule. A determination on that will be made over the weekend.
Our church office will be running on a limited and abbreviated schedule next week. Exact hours and staffing levels are yet to be determined; however, we anticipate many of our staff working
remotely.
We will continue to monitor this quickly evolving situation and provide you with an update next week.
We also continue to be grateful for your financial support of the ministries and mission of Central. Since we are unable to meet in person, please know that you may still make a gift to Central by going to our website at https://centraltolife.com/give/. You may also choose to text your gift to 479-802-3343. Or you may mail a gift to: Central UMC, Attn: Finance Office, PO Box 1106, Fayetteville, AR 72702.
In these times of challenge, we encourage you not to lose heart. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” II Timothy 1:7. Know that our staff will
continue to lift each of you…the members of the Central family up in prayer and that despite our inability to gather together in person, we pray that God will find ways that the people of Central can be in ministry with one another and our community in the days ahead.
Grace and Peace!!
Dr. Jan Davis
Senior Pastor
Dr. Steve Pulliam
Executive Pastor
Brian Swain
Executive Director
