Pepperell, Mass., population 12,000, is about an hour northwest of Boston and has what Pastor Stephen Witmer described as a “rural vibe.” Although not as isolated as some towns, it still fits the small-town stereotype: “White steepled church on the town green … . One post office, one elementary school, one library, one grocery store, one hardware store … . One of everything.”
Still, the pandemic has touched his town.
Among his own congregation of about 250 at Pepperell Christian Fellowship, some have had pay cuts, three have lost parents to COVID-19, and many have expressed anxiety about the pandemic. Along with physical separation, Witmer said political controversy over the pandemic has affected his congregation, and it concerns him: “If we’re not unified in the gospel … I could really see splintering and fracturing that would come.”
In a recent email, one woman from Witmer’s congregation told him she was “terrified” about the virus and struggled to see God’s hand in the situation. Another congregant worried about government overreach. Witmer said the best thing he can do for these people is “reorient” them to the needs of their small community and ask them where they’re spending most of their time and effort. Instead of being frustrated with something a governing official says, “Pick up the phone and call 10 people,” Witmer suggested.
Pepperell Christian Fellowship has found other ways to help its small congregation refocus on serving:
- One woman in the congregation came up with the idea of running a socially distanced Easter scavenger hunt. The goal: Find all the letters in an unknown, Easter-themed phrase that organizers posted outside several congregants’ homes. To win a prize, participants drove around to find the letters and then rearranged them into the correct phrase: “He is risen.”
- Witmer and the elders went through the church directory and each claimed a certain number of people to check on. They then contacted each person to see how everyone was doing. By now, they’ve gone through the directory a couple of times, calling, texting, and emailing every attendee.
- A woman at the church didn’t have a camera or microphone on her computer. Although she could see and hear the rest of the congregation during Zoom calls, they couldn’t see or hear her. So a younger, more tech savvy attendee bought an external camera and installed it for her.
- In June, the church plans to kick off a Chronicles of Narnia book club for both children and parents. Starting with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, participants will read a book a month and discuss via Zoom. Discussions will include the life of C.S. Lewis and the books’ Biblical themes.
Comments
VolunteerBB
Posted: Sat, 03/21/2020 03:36 pmA terrible picture of the owner of the restaurant with her hair not tied back in a food prep kitchen. Yuck!
Soapbxn
Posted: Thu, 04/02/2020 06:43 pmGiven she is the owner it is possible she does not even work in teh kitchen but was asked to pose for the photo. Giving benefot of the doubt. Still, she likely should have thouht of that!
Soapbxn
Posted: Thu, 04/02/2020 06:43 pmThis is greatly encouraging!!! Thank you for gathering such uplifting information! :-)
JimVC
Posted: Wed, 04/08/2020 11:30 amThe third item in the April 7 update should refer to the country, Kenya, rather than to its capital, Nairobi.
Web Editor
Posted: Wed, 04/08/2020 02:51 pmThank you for pointing out the error. We have corrected it.
Varenikje
Posted: Wed, 05/13/2020 01:46 amIn the article talking about PPE being sewn by people, "sewers" should be "seamstresses," right? Like isn't a sewer where waste water goes?
The article says, "Members of Sewers of Southwest Wisconsin have made thousands of masks for local hospitals, nursing homes, and first responders."
MD
Posted: Fri, 05/15/2020 04:08 pmMy uncle and aunt in Ireland planned a ZOOM meeting today for my spread-out family to celebrate the 75th birthday of his brother, another uncle who has Alzheimer's. The family get-together included my birthday uncle, his loving care-giver wife, their kids and grandkids in Tennessee, his siblings in Denver and Ireland, cousins, spouses, nieces, and nephews from Denver, east and west Tennessee, Ireland, and the UK. All sang a very ragged, hilarious Happy Birthday song together - THREE times! - as various family members logged on. We enjoyed a half-hour "together" such as we have not had for years! I am so pleased my Irish uncle thought of this, and I want to pass the idea on to other families.