Newsletter Summer 2020

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THE FOUNDRY CHURCHFive years! We just celebrated five years as The Foundry Church on March 8th and less than a week later we were disbursed from the church building and into our homes. Some saw that as an attack on the church, by the enemy, but others saw it as an opportunity.

I’ve found that often perception equals reality. But in this time, I don’t find that to be true. We were driven from within the four walls of the church to within many walls of our homes to become, what I feel, God’s idea of the church was supposed to intrinsically be.

We were called to be followers of Christ who have people that follow them as they follow Him. For you, it may be your spouse, it may be your children, it may be your roommate, it may be your work mate. But you’ve seen that there is someone looking to you for guidance as you follow Christ Jesus everyday. You are a leader and you have followers. What an honor! What a privilege! What a sobering and heavy reality.

People are always watching. People are always wondering. People are always thinking, “How will _____ respond to this? What will ______ say? What will ______ do next?” (insert your name in the blank). YOU are the road sign, the light, the voice on the journey of life and faith that leads them to or from Jesus. Who you are, how you respond, and what you say to others matters.

My challenge to you, as it has been since the beginning, is to be agents of peace. This peace, as Jesus said, it’s not as the world gives, but as He gives. (John 14:27) We are to be a people that share the Peace of Christ with others as we follow Christ with our whole heart.

So, as you have become an even greater example (good or bad) of Christ Jesus, continue to make every effort to become a great example of who Jesus really is. I feel the next five years will be better than the last because we’ve personally, individually, grown so much throughout this season. Keep being The Church! We’re praying for you. We’re here for you. We love you, Fam.

Love & Prayers,

Pastor Justin

WHERE LIVES ARE FORMED

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Church from Home

Church has looked a little differently over the last few months. We’ve been live streaming every week and asked you to share photos of you and your fam tuning in!

COVID-19 and The Church Update: We wanted to keep you up to date and answer some of the questions you may have regarding the church re-opening date and what that will look like. Here’s a list of the tentative dates and info that we’d like to provide at this time:

Re-open Date: May 31st Service Times: 9 & 11am

• We will be following CDC protocols. • If you are sick or have a compromised immune

system, please stay home and watch the service online at 11am.

• If you are 65 and older, the State also urges you to stay home and watch the service online until the situation continues to improve.

• If you are uncomfortable to return at this time, we completely understand and support your decision.

• Wash/sanitize your hands and wear a face mask upon entering the building.

• Be prepared to practice proper social distancing by being seated every-other-row with your immediate family members only. (No hugging or hand shaking)

Family Ministry/Nursery: We WILL NOT offer these until July 12th.

Foundation Youth Ministry: Youth will be able to resume the first week of June as well with proper precautions & protocols. Zoom will be utilized for those who may not be able to attend.

Connect Groups: We will resume in-person Connect Groups the first week of June. We will also still utilize Zoom for those who may not be able to attend.

Summer Events: All large events (i.e. Church Picnic, Kid’s Day, Pool Party) will be cancelled.

***Please stay connected and gracious with us as these plans may change.***

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Rev on the Run

Pastor Justin has been “on the run” the last few weeks

visiting our church family in Morgantown and the

neighboring communities. We are so thankful to have a

Pastor who cares so deeply for his congregation.

Connect Groups: What a difference it has been gathering virtually in smaller groups over the past couple of months. Even within a different time, we’ve seen growth still happening within the leaders and participants of Foundry Connect Groups. Praise God!

We have THE BEST leaders. They have such hearts that desire to spend time with you and walk with you through all that life throws your way. I often hear feedback from our leaders as to what they are walking through with the folks in their groups, makes my heart proud…THEY are being The Church. You guys are wrestling with deep theological thoughts and life’s trials and you’re journeying them together. That’s what community is about—doing life TOGETHER.

We’re excited to announce that we will be resuming in-person Connect Groups the first week of June. We will also still offer the Zoom option if you’re not able to attend in person. If you haven’t found a Connect Group yet, head over to our website and click on “Connect Groups” under the “Get Connected” tab. We’d love to see you in community!

Operation Christmas Child Update:  I just want to say how much I miss seeing your smiling faces every Sunday.  I wanted to share with you what God has laid on my heart around Operation Christmas Child (OCC).  My heart has been very heavy around the children and families that are currently struggling to put food on tables and paying bills. As of March 2020 for the state of WV the unemployment rate was at 6.1% and I see that going up over the next few months.  God keeps speaking to my heart about the hardships that are happening in our community.  So I really think we need to pivot our donations another way to assist our community members. For 2020, I’m going to place a hold on OCC donations. I don’t have all the details worked out on ways we can support our community but you can be assured that I will communicate once plans have been reached. I believe that we might be able to re-purpose some of the donations or keep them for next year. For any donations that you may have picked up during this time, please feel free to add them to the donation bin at the connection desk.  Debbie Lee

OCC Leader

Pastor Justin & Kara

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Foundry Love Week

Love Week looked a little different this year as well! We had many opportunities planned that fell through. But we went back to the drawing board and found ways to show love to our community with the newly suggested social distancing guidelines. We loved seeing photos on social media of our Foundry Fam showing love to our communities!

Foundry Kids Update: This past semester in Foundry Kids we had a great time and there is much to be celebrated! Classes on Sundays are growing in the Word and kids are excited to be with their friends. We had our very first “After ‘church’ Party.” It was a huge success with all the kids who participated. We ate lunch together, played games, did a craft, and watched a movie on the big screen in the sanctuary! We will definitely plan another in the Fall, so be watching for those details.

In the midst of the quarantine, kids are still growing and learning the word through online lessons at home. We are thankful that our curriculum makes it easy for parents to do at home with their children! If you do not receive the Foundry Kids emails and would like to be added to this group you can email our Kids Director at kara@thefoundrywv.com We are definitely looking forward to being together again when it is safe for us to do so.

This SUMMER starting July 12th (tentatively), we are trying something different in Foundry Kids. Sundays during July and August will be structured similar to a VBS event. In order to have enough volunteer help we will have Nursery and Toddler class together. Pre-k/K and Elementary will meet together as well. But, they will begin together in the Elementary class and then split into groups and visit different rooms for each station. Stations will be Teaching, Game, Snack and Craft. Both pick up and drop off of this class will be in the Elementary room. We’re excited to try a new curriculum and class structure for the summer, it’s sure to be a fun time!

Since all large all-church events are cancelled for the summer we are hopeful that we can plan a big celebration in the fall. This will be subject to the current state of the spread of the virus. We are looking forward to Move-up Sunday on August 23rd during 2nd service. Kids that are moving up to the next class will be celebrated in service with an award and sundae bar after.

Kara Myers Foundry Kid’s Director

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Prayer Ministry Update: Foundry Fam, our leadership and prayer team are still having the weekly prayer meetings at 10:30 a.m. prior to our 11:00 a.m. service via a Zoom conference call.  If you have anything you need prayer for, feel free to fill out the Prayer Request/Prayer Answered form on our webpage:  https://thefoundrywv.churchcenter.com/people/forms/1484

Your prayer request will only be shared with our church leadership & prayer team. If you would like your prayer request to be posted on our Facebook Prayer Group, the form has been updated to include a checkmark box to indicate so. If checked, someone from the Prayer Ministry team will post your prayer request on the Foundry Facebook Prayer Group.

Have you had a prayer request answered? We want to hear from you! Nothing builds up our faith more than to hear testimonies of answered prayers. If you have had an answered prayer, fill out the Prayers Answered section on the Prayer Request/Prayer Answered form and let us know. If you would like your answered prayer to be posted on our Facebook Prayer Group, the form has been updated to include a checkmark box to indicate so. If checked, someone from the Prayer Ministry team will post your answered prayer on the Foundry Facebook Prayer Group.

We did receive one praise report from Nicole Emrick: My family was quarantined due to Coronavirus but they’re no longer showing symptoms and feeling healthy! We know the Lord is answering our prayers so be sure to submit your answered prayers to us.

Pat Riggie Prayer Ministry Leader

Coming Soon: “The Table” of The Foundry Ladies Ministry: We’re excited to welcome you to an authentic and all-inclusive opportunity in which women in all stages of life can come together, to share experiences through learning, growing, and discipleship. Be on the lookout for more information to come! Come, sit at our table!

Community Engagement Team Update: In February, we started recruitment for a new team here at The Foundry, The Community Engagement Team. The vision of the team is to come together to prayerfully investigate Jesus' words and the church's strategic role in loving, reaching, and serving our community. Response to the team has been great. A team of people of all ages and stages started coming together---and then the pandemic hit---putting our first in person meeting on hold. At this time, I am still prayerfully considering how we will move forward while we are now all at home. In the meantime though, getting to know one another, caring for one another and getting the word out on ways we can engage our community have been the priority.

Jodi Grunau Foundry Ladies Leader

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***More practical ways to engage on next page***

Pantry Plus More

PPM is currently supplying food for kids and families who are food insecure by putting together food boxes and delivering them to families while school is not in session. There are a couple of ways you can help with this: • Volunteer:Volunteers are needed for packing boxes and making deliveries. Covid safety precautions are

taken for all volunteers.

• Donate food- you can take non-perishable food donations to their location at 9 Rousch Drive in Westover at anytime.

• Donate masks- If you are home bound, you can make masks to donate to the boxes that go out to families and also to volunteers.

• Donate money- Each box going to these families cost $30. Every dollar helps PPM to buy food from the local food bank at a reduced cost, so a donated $1 goes much further when given directly to the organization.

Some of you may be asking, "What are some practical ways I can engage my community during the pandemic?" Here are some needs and ideas I have put together. 

• Check on your neighbors. • Support local businesses and restaurants by utilizing their curbside pick up or buy

gift cards for future use.  • Send cards to local nursing home residents.  • Thank a healthcare worker in your life! Ask how they are doing and offer to pray for them.  • Donate Blood. Contact your local American Red Cross.  • Donate food, supplies, money and your time- here are few opportunities

Community Engagement Team Update: (Continued) I have been encouraging team members to think about community engagement in these circles while most of us are at home. Think about how you are engaging your family, your neighbors and co-workers, your Foundry Family and then the greater community.  There are unique ways and special time we have now been given to the people in these circles that we wouldn’t have "normally" had and I believe Jesus wants to use this time to show His love in new ways. God's empowering each of us to become missionaries to these circles around us.  We have started a Facebook group to get the word out to one another on ways to continue to support our community and to foster community with one another. If you would like to join the group or share a need that you or the community has, look up "Foundry Community Engagement Team." And if you are interested in being part of this team, please reach out to me on Facebook or email me at k.jmyers@yahoo.com. 

Karla Myers Community Engagement Leader

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Mylan HealthRight and The Friendship House Mylan HealthRight (341 Spruce St.)and The Friendship House (231 Walnut St.)  are looking for donations for the homeless that are being housed in local hotels and tents. Here is a list of items that work well to be given to them. All items can be dropped off at the Friendship House backdoor between the hours of 9-11am or back door of HealthRight, 8am-3pm, Monday-Friday.

• Tuna Packs

• Cereal /Protein Bars

• Trail Mix

• Peanut Butter

• Canned Pasta

• Canned Soup

• Cheese Crackers

• Peanut Butter Crackers

• Vienna sausages

• Beef Jerky

Christian Help

Christian Help is gathering home cleaning supplies and tools for individuals and families transitioning to housing.  

• Dish Soap

• Cleaning Rags

• Toilet Brushes

• Buckets

• Glass Cleaner

• Brooms

• Trash Bags

• Mops

• Dusters

• Laundry Soap

• Degreaser

• Etc.

Donation Drop Off: • 8am - 4pm Monday, Tuesday,

Thursday • 9am - 2pm Friday • Or call to make arrangements:

Colleen (304) 296-0221