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UPDATE: Sunday, May 09, 2020

RELAUNCHING IN-PERSON MINISTRY

UPDATE: Sunday, May 09, 2020

 

Life these past few weeks have been quite different for all of us. At Mount Hope we have had to make many changes to accommodate social distancing as a response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our communities. We are thankful for how you've adjusted to this new normal along with us. This unprecedented situation has allowed us to connect to our community in unique ways and to experience your generous care for one another. We thank God for each and every one of you!  
 
We would like to give you a quick update on our ministry plans for the near future. As communities in New England make plans to phase into normal life, we are doing the same here at Mount Hope. As a Pastoral Team, we are considering how to safely and wisely reopen our doors to our community. While we do not have a date for when this will happen, we would like to reassure you that we are working towards the goal of in-person ministry. 
 
The conversation to reopen is happening on multiple levels: within our Pastoral Team, the Deacon and Elder Boards, and a thoughtfully assembled Relaunch Team. The Relaunch Team is dedicated to the safe relaunching of our ministries at both locations. Additionally, as Pastors, we are consulting with our AG Ministry Network and other local churches.
 
The decisions made by our Team will be based on a number of factors, including our physical health and safety, in conjunction with the recommendations of our local and national authorities.
 
In March, after spending much time in prayer and conversation, we decided that the responsible action was to transition to online ministry to ensure the safety of our communities. Our decision to relaunch is being made with that same diligence. We we will plan to resume in-person gatherings based on our ability to provide a safe environment for all to gather and worship.
 
Please stay tuned for updates from our Relaunch Team as we work toward this goal. 

 

 
 
 
UPDATE: Sunday, March 22, 2020

UPDATE: Sunday, March 22, 2020

 

As of now, we will be suspending all our in-person gatherings and will be meeting online indefinitely. Following is our Online Schedule. Please click on the link to launch our Zoom meetings at the times mentioned.
 

CURRENT ONLINE SCHEDULE FOR MOUNT HOPE CHURCH

 

Daily Morning Devotionals // Monday - Friday @ 8am - Join Here

Daily Evening Devotionals // Monday - Friday @ 9pm - Join Here

 

Mid-Day Gatherings: 

Parents Gathering // Monday@ 12pm - Join Here

Pastors’ Round Table Sermon Discussion // Tuesday @ 12pm - Join Here

Prayer Meeting // Wednesday @ 12pm - Join Here

Ignite Youth Collective // Thursday@ 12pm - Join Here

Kids’ Adventure // Friday @ 12pm - Join Here

 
If you have been impacted by the COVID-19 virus, please know that we are here for you. Please click on the button below to let us know how we can serve you or if you would like to help meet the needs of others. More information about opportunities to help will continue to be provided so we can share the love of Christ with those in need.
 
Contact Us
UPDATE: Monday, March 16, 2020

UPDATE: Monday, March 16, 2020

 

The following ministries will be supended for the next couple of weeks.
Precepts Bible Study (Burlington), Watchmen Men's Group (Burlington), Pick-up Co-Ed Volleyball (Burlington), Mid-Week Ministries (Burlington), Faith Journey Women's Bible Study (Belmont), Pick-up Co-Ed Basketball (Burlington), Moms Of Preschoolers (Burlington), and Junior Bible Quiz (Off Campus).

 

If you would like prayer, assistance of any type, or would like to help those in your community, please click the button below to contact us!
Contact Us
UPDATE: Friday, March 13, 2020

UPDATE: Friday, March 13, 2020

 

Our Pastoral Team at Mount Hope Church continues to monitor the situation around the global and local spread of the COVID-19 virus. As we do this, we are seeking the Lord's guidance in making wise decisions for our church. Out of love for God and for others, our Pastoral Team has decided that for the next two Sundays (March 15 and 22) we will move our Sunday Service online and will not gather at either of our locations.  Along with Sunday mornings, we are suspending our Mid-Week ministries as well.  Following CDC guidelines, this applies to any ministry that gathers with 25 or more people in one meeting space. 
 
This is not a decision we have made out of fear, but faith that is prudent. Sickness and disease are facts of our biological existence in a sinful world. No matter what may come, the Lord remains our refuge and strength, "an ever-present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). To trust in the Lord in times of trouble is to experience and bear witness to the power of Christ. Even with the impact that this virus has had globally and in our communities, we are confident that our God is still in control.
 
And so, we keep perspective and do our part to stay healthy, keep our communities safe, and help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. While this virus may not affect most people in our community, we are mindful of our attendees who are immunocompromised at varying degrees and those who are in the most at-risk demographic. By moving to online-only, we’re not only caring for the most vulnerable among us, we are potentially reducing the risk of an infected person among us leading to a quarantine for everyone.

For the next two Sundays, we welcome you to join us online at 10am. Join us from your living rooms by using this link: mounthope.org/live. During the stream, our Pastoral team will be online, and you may utilize the chat feature to pray and worship with us. Our sermons will be uploaded to our Messages Page by Monday afternoon and may be accessed at any time.

 HOW YOU CAN REACH OUR PASTORS AND STAFF
During these times of uncertainty, our commitment to you stands unwavering. As your Pastoral Staff, we will continue to be present during the week for any needs you have! If you have a need, (Pastoral, need for supplies, or for general help), please contact us directly. You may reach us at the church office at 781-272-1014. Please leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible. If you would like to reach us directly, our emails are as follows:
 
Additionally, you may also reach our Ignite YC Student Ministry Director, James Girouard at [email protected] and our Kids Adventure Directors: Donna Favini (Burlington) at [email protected] and Melissa D’Agostino (Belmont) at [email protected].
HOW YOU CAN LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Circumstances like these are where we have the opportunity to display the love of Jesus to those around us. Take a moment and look around you. Who are those people in your life that may be thankful for a helping hand during this time? Offer to run errands for those who have high-risk health concerns or send a note of encouragement. While our tendency is to go into a self-protective mode and isolate, we can show others that they are not alone. How the church loves well is important. Challenge yourself to encourage someone today. Sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is reach out and let someone know we care. Beyond that, if you are aware of any community initiatives that Mount Hope can support, please contact us.
Mount Hope's Response to the spread of COVID-19 // March 12

 

 

RESPONSE: Thursday, March 12, 2020

 

In response to the growing public concern surrounding the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to assure you that Mount Hope Church is aware and mindful of the impact it has on our local communities. The Pastoral staff at Mount Hope Church have spent the past few days in prayerful consideration of the best practices on regarding the health and well-being of the Mount Hope community. As is with any other event that has a public impact, we are closely following the advice of local and national authorities, as we determine our necessary response as a church.

 
As of this post, the guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the State of Massachusetts are NOT impacting our normal operations or ministries. We will continue to hold our Sunday Services and Mid-Week Ministries at both of our locations. Church leaders are consulting with medical personnel within our Mount Hope Community to gain insight and wisdom from their expertise.
 
As mentioned in our services on Sunday, as people of faith we do not respond in fear to the things of this world because we know God is in control.  However, we also ought to make wise decisions in how we approach matters like these. Our commitment is to maintain a healthy environment at both of our locations in Belmont and Burlington.

WHAT WE ARE DOING AS A CHURCH

  • CLEANING AND SANITATION: All “high-touch” surfaces at our facilities – door handles, light switches, rails, tabletops, etc. – are sanitized regularly.
    • Hand sanitizer bottles and dispensers are located near all restrooms and in various spots around the facilities.
  • COMMUNION: We will temporarily switch to individually packed Communion packs. This will ensure that the only person touching your communion bread and juice will be you! Everyone engaged in serving communion is asked to wash their hands prior to serving.
  • TITHES AND OFFERINGS: Instead of passing the Offering Bags and Buckets as we typically do, we will move them to the back of the room. In Belmont, we will have a box in the back of the sanctuary, where you may drop your Tithes and Offerings after service. In Burlington, we have members of our Hospitality Team posted at each door leading out of the sanctuary. They will have buckets where you may drop off your Tithes and Offerings after service. We also want to remind you of our other methods of giving, including our online giving page, through your bank’s Bill Pay option, or by texting your amount to 84321.
  • FOOD HANDLING: During our Sunday Services, we will temporarily suspend the serving of baked goods – donuts, muffins, etc. Instead, we will switch to individually packed snacks in our Fellowship Hall in Belmont and the Common Grounds Café in Burlington. All Mount Hope Staff and Volunteers engaged in serving or preparing food are asked to wash their hands prior to handling food.
  • KIDS ADVENTURE SERVICES: Our KA Directors, Donna Favini and Melissa D’Agostino are reviewing best practices with all teachers, who will in turn communicate with our children and their parents.
    • During our Sunday Services and Mid-week Ministry, the iPads used for Kids Adventure Check-In will be wiped after each person uses them.
    • All surfaces are wiped down before/after kids enter/exit the rooms.
    • Children are required to wash their hands before eating their snacks.
  • IGNITE YOUTH COLLECTIVE: Our IYC Director, James Girouard is reviewing best practices for our students, including all activities within our facilities and off campus. He will update the students and parents as needed.
  • STREAMING OUR SERVICE: Both our locations will live-stream our worship services on Sunday Mornings. You may find it by visiting our website. Our sermons are uploaded to our Messages page by Monday afternoon and may be accessed at any time.
  • EGG HUNT: The primary goal for our Easter Egg Hunt each year is to reach our arms wide and welcome our friends and neighbors into Mount Hope so that they might experience God’s love in a tangible way.
    • With the heightened concerns around COVID-19 and the recommendations of public health officials, it has become clear that this year our Egg Hunt will not reach this goal. This year’s Easter Egg Hunts are cancelled at both our Burlington and Belmont locations.
    • We appreciate everyone who has worked diligently and donated toward this event.  If you have any questions about your donations, please contact the church office.

WHAT YOU CAN BE DOING

As with any normal flu season, we ask that you follow these "common sense" guidelines for keeping yourself and others healthy:
  • Wash your hands regularly
  • Cough or sneeze in the bend of your elbow
  • Eat healthy and drink lots of fluids
  • Regard safety and travel advisories issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which can be found here. You may also keep follow advisories from the State of Massachusetts by clicking here.
  • Use wisdom and stay home if you are sick and do not attend worship, other church activities, work, or school until symptom-free and fever-free for at least 24 hours.
    • Please self-isolate if you have recently traveled to areas with significant exposures or have been in contact with persons who may have been exposed to the virus.
    • Please inform us as soon as you are aware of such exposure. You may reach us by calling us at 781-272-1014.
  • If you have high-risk health conditions, use discretion in attending worship services/gatherings. 

HOW YOU CAN PRAY

 

Paul in his letter to Timothy, writes: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." When facing matters of this magnitude, it is easy for us to operate and to respond in fear. We may even forget that we have a God who is fully in control at all times, who hears our prayers, and responds to them. Instead of living in fear, we should be confident in our God’s ability to protect and sustain us in such moments. Here are few other ways you may be praying during this time.
 
  • Pray that we will trust Him to help us navigate this season of uncertainty. Pray for peace, freedom from fear, anxiety, and panic in our communities.
  • Pray for wisdom for Governmental Leaders, the CDC, researchers, and other strategic places to respond wisely and appropriately.
  • Pray for the protection of Doctors, Nurses, other Medical Personnel, and First Responders, who risk their lives to protect ours.
  • Pray for those who have already been impacted by the virus. Pray that God may bring them healing.
  • Pray for those who have lost their loved ones. Pray that God may bring them comfort as they grieve.
  • Pray that our Nation and the World would turn to God for wisdom and for healing. May God’s name be lifted through it all.