March 20th, 2020

What a week it has been! On Wednesday of last week, a Chapel Hill COVID-19 Task Force met for the first time. Within a few days, the world shifted and we’re all living in this new reality of social distancing and sheltering-in-place. Keeping up can be exhausting and concerning.

Please know, first, that we are praying for you all and missing your presence in our lives. Your church Pastors and staff are working hard to determine the best ways to be the church in the weeks ahead. Things are changing constantly, but the God of eternity is faithful and steadfast!
Here are some things that we know today:

• Pastors Chad and Janet are alternating in creating a short video devotion on the Chapel Hill Facebook page each weekday. Please watch for some words of help and hope. The Facebook page will be one of the most up-to-date places to find information as things progress.



• We will worship together digitally this Sunday! Join in at 10:30 a.m. on the Chapel Hill Facebook page (@TheHillBC) for our Facebook Live worship service! Many thanks to the Brevitz family tech team, who have worked hard to facilitate this in such a short time frame. If you’re not available at that time, you may view it later in the same place.



• As of this date, we are maintaining office hours on Monday – Thursday, from 9 – 4. We are now closed on Fridays. Following CDC Guidelines, you are welcome to come in to pray in the Worship Center or Meditation Room, take a book or movie out of the Library (a great advantage when Willard is closed), pray with someone or just check in with actual humans! We’ll do this as long as we are able, allowed, and everyone is healthy in the office.



• A reminder that all in-person Bible studies, classes, interest groups, meetings, etc. are cancelled until further notice. We are working on setting up some digital meeting means that will be available. Stay tuned!



• You are the church too! Are you connecting with those that you usually see on Sunday and with others as you think of them? A phone call or email in this time of isolation is important. We’re working on forming some CH phone circles to make sure everyone is in the loop – and should have those in place within a few days.



• Do you have a prayer concern for the Chapel Hill community? Please call the office or email: chumprayers@thehillbc.com



• You are welcome to call the Pastors anytime with emergencies. You are also welcome to call, text or email the Pastors (preferably between the hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) to connect, ask a question or pray together. If one of us does not answer, please call the other. (We are going to have to self-impose self-care and days off in this 24/7 situation).
  • Pastor Chad Parmalee (517) 281-0362
  • Pastor Janet Wilson (269) 317-5591



• What can you do to help?
  • Pray without ceasing.
  • The Lakeview Food Pantry is in need of some extra volunteers. If you are willing to be a part of the Chapel Hill team, even for a limited time, please call Johanna Durrett at 269-209-7263.
  • We are in need of plastic grocery bags for Weekend Food for kids. This program is continuing in a different way, but the need is still very present. Please drop these off at the church office during open hours.
  • Consider a donation to the Chapel Hill Persons in Need fund. We anticipate an increase in requests for assistance of all kinds and want to continue to be able to respond. The Persons in Need fund continues to be our first source of help for immediate financial challenges.

May you be safe, healthy and remember God’s blessings in every moment! Pastor Chad and Pastor Janet

March 13th, 2020

Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

As the previous notice stated we would, we are bringing an updated status based on the latest available information. Bishop Bard has recommended that all United Methodist Churches in Michigan suspend public meetings through the end of March. This means Chapel Hill will not meet for worship on March 15, 22, or 29, unless the status of the situation changes. Notices for this weekend have been posted on WMMT and WBCK as per our normal cancellation process. We are also suspending all group gatherings at the church including but not limited to, Bible Studies, crafting groups, and support groups for the same time period.

Church exists for community. The Chapel Hill staff and volunteers will be formulating plans to communicate with one another in an effort to maintain community. We plan to make phone contact with those among us who are not connected via the internet. We are also working on ways to bring devotions, prayer and messages via the internet. We need to continue to be in prayer for and with each other as a community and within our community.

I am directly asking you to make extra effort to reach out to those who you would have normal contact with on Sunday morning. Just check in, say Hello, and share life together. While public gatherings are discouraged, some of you may choose to gather with friends and family. When this happens, please mimic the early church by sharing prayer, and times of devotion for where two or more are gathered, Jesus has promised to be with us.

Pastor Janet and I would like to maintain pastoral contact, as well. As always, if there is a pastoral care emergency please feel free to reach out any time. If you would like prayer or need support in any other way, please call Pastor Chad at (517) 281-0362 or Pastor Janet at (269) 317-5591. We would appreciate limiting nonemergency calls to between the hours of 9 am and 9 pm.

Please be in prayer as often as you can. We will get to the other side of this health emergency with God’s help. Faith is where we turn when there is fear. Continue to lean on God and each other in the weeks ahead.

Updates will come as the situation develops. The Michigan United Methodist Church web site contains updates directly from Bishop Bard.

Thank you all for your continued prayers. Be blessed and be a blessing,

Pastor Chad