Please read the latest news about First Church closures from Pastor Nanette and Moderator Larry.

We are writing again with an update about additional measures we will be taking at First Church in response to the latest recommendations by public officials and the Center for Disease Control to combat coronavirus (COVID-19).

Come, Come, Everybody Worship…

We will not worship together in person until further notice. That said, we will still have church! We are the church no matter where we are and we’ll just gather for worship in a different way: on Sundays at 9:30am and 11am our weekly Celebrate and Festival services will stream live (please see special worship times for Holy Week and Easter) and we’ll gather at kitchen tables, on living room couches, in laundry rooms – wherever we are – to pray together, hope together, sing together, and be renewed together.

Please join us on our website at www.akronfcc.org/live/ or on our Facebook page this coming Sunday. Copies of the order of service will be available in both places to download ahead of the services. If you miss worship, you can always find the message on our website.

In Anxious Times…

Our pastors are available during this time to talk and pray with you and for you, remotely. Please don’t hesitate to reach out: Senior Minister Nanette 330.253.5109 x100; Associate Minister Antigoné 330.253.5109 x101. We are also working with our Care Team to check in on our elder and homebound members. Please let us know if you have concerns or questions or would like to assist in supporting others. Let’s stay connected via social media, phone, and text as we pray and care for one another during this time.

Food Pantry and Love Truck…

Following recommendations from the Foodbank, both the Feeding Hope Food Pantry and the Love Truck plan to continue to meet the community’s need for food – an increasing need as people lose hourly work, children are home from school, and food insecurity in our community escalates. They will do this in a vastly different way though, a skeleton crew of volunteers handing out pre-packed foods so that clients do not congregate and social distancing is maintained. If you are willing and able to support these ministries during this time, please donate at www.akronfcc.org/support/donate/

All Other Group and Ministry Activities or Meetings…

Per our last letter on Friday, March 13, all other groups, meetings, and ministry activities both on and off-site have been postponed until further notice. This now includes our Wednesday Lent Commune services and our Friday PB&J Ministry. We will work with our various Board chairpersons and Ministry Team facilitators to arrange for essential meetings to occur via Zoom. Please expect to receive individual notifications regarding those meetings.

Church Office Remains Open…

A skeleton crew of staff continue working diligently to keep our building clean and sanitized. Other staff are working remotely. We are here to support you, so please feel free to reach out by phone or email.

How Much is Too Much…

We encourage you to try to find a balance in the way you spend your time. Educating ourselves can lessen fear and anxiety as we are then better equipped to take precautionary measures. At the same time, exposing oneself to too much of the 24 hour television news cycle or online media, where sensationalism and bias can easily creep in, can generate anxiety and heighten fear. We encourage you to set yourself tasks for the days if you have more free time now, and take time to read scripture, listen to uplifting music, pray or meditate, and reach out to family, friends, and neighbors. Visit our Facebook page to share and learn of more inspiring ideas.

In faith,
Rev. Nanette Pitt, Senior Minister, and Larry Becker, Moderator