4310 Highway E, New Haven, MO 63068 573 237-5837
From New Haven we are located 8.7 miles down Highway E off Route 100
Whether you are exploring historic Christianity or looking for a church home, you are warmly invited to join us this Sunday. We exist to glorify the God of all grace, to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to be sent by the Holy Spirit as witnesses and ambassadors of God's glorious Kingdom. Come and be a part of a growing worshiping and serving community of faith.
Sunday School: 9:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship: 10:15 am
St. James Evangelical Church where
the Word of God is heard and
practiced in the lives of God's people.
Since we will not be meeting for a few weeks, the above video is a very simple eight minute Sunday School lesson for kids and grown ups. It works its way through the Bible starting with Genesis 1.
To my favorite people,
Over the course of the past week or so the recommendations on how we are to gather as a body of people has changed rapidly. The first recommendation that I heard was to limit gatherings to under 100 people, then that was modified to under 50 people, and as of this writing (March 19) that number has been reduced to 10 or less. Based on these recommendations, the elders and deacons have made the decision to suspend all activities at church of 10 people or more until we are told otherwise.
I have never pastored a church through a pandemic before so this is all new to me. I do realize that there might be some who feel we should meet anyway. That we need to have faith. I understand your sentiment, I hate, hate, hate the idea of stopping our corporate worship. Doing so presents a huge problem for us as a church. Worship is more than just a gathering of people, or simply an obligation, it is the Christian man or woman’s highest privilege. God Himself calls us to worship. But at the same time the Bible also calls us to obey our civil magistrates. Not to mention that Jesus calls us to look out for the health and well-being of our neighbors. To not do what we can to stop the spread of this virus would not be loving or kind.
All this being said, we will continue our worship through the only means that I can think of without going against our government’s recommendations. Starting this Saturday (March 21) I plan to hold a very small worship service (immediate family only) in my home. Then Saturday night or early Sunday morning, I will post the recording of this service on YouTube. There will be links to the service on both the St. James Evangelical Church website (http://www.stjamesevangelicalchurch.com/) as well as the church Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/St-James-Evangelical-Church-133487956693744/?ref=bookmarks). For those of you who do not have access to the internet we plan on making CD audio recordings of the service and the deacons will drop them off to your mail box. I encourage everyone to gather your household together to watch and worship together. Hopefully you will be richly rewarded in ways that we can’t imagine right now.
We are more than a church; we are a family. And family looks out for one another. I know that being cooped up day after day can be a trying and at times depressing experience. Because of this the church elders will call each person in their care group at least once a week to see how you are doing. Don’t be too proud to reach out to them if you are hurting or in need of help or want to hear from your pastor. We are here and willing to be of assistance. Each elder will be praying for those in their care groups as we struggle through this extraordinary time.
Lastly, the church cannot survive without funds to do so. So, let us resolve to not let this time of separation become a financial crisis for our church. If you are able, please continue to give your tithes and offering to the church. We plan on giving each household envelopes addressed to Mike Martins (our financial secretary) so you can send your offering directly to him. I do realize that some of you will be affected financially by this time of self-quarantine and you might not be able to give what you normally would. It is my prayer that others who are able might be willing to step.
We will resume our regular worship services as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will keep you posted on any developments that come along. The single most important thing that we can do as a church at this time is prayer! If anything good comes out of this crisis, I pray that it makes us a people that are steeped in prayer!
Remember that Christ still reigns from his throne. He still rules, come what may, so trust in him. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
God Bless You All,
Pastor Tom
Over the course of the past week or so the recommendations on how we are to gather as a body of people has changed rapidly. The first recommendation that I heard was to limit gatherings to under 100 people, then that was modified to under 50 people, and as of this writing (March 19) that number has been reduced to 10 or less. Based on these recommendations, the elders and deacons have made the decision to suspend all activities at church of 10 people or more until we are told otherwise.
I have never pastored a church through a pandemic before so this is all new to me. I do realize that there might be some who feel we should meet anyway. That we need to have faith. I understand your sentiment, I hate, hate, hate the idea of stopping our corporate worship. Doing so presents a huge problem for us as a church. Worship is more than just a gathering of people, or simply an obligation, it is the Christian man or woman’s highest privilege. God Himself calls us to worship. But at the same time the Bible also calls us to obey our civil magistrates. Not to mention that Jesus calls us to look out for the health and well-being of our neighbors. To not do what we can to stop the spread of this virus would not be loving or kind.
All this being said, we will continue our worship through the only means that I can think of without going against our government’s recommendations. Starting this Saturday (March 21) I plan to hold a very small worship service (immediate family only) in my home. Then Saturday night or early Sunday morning, I will post the recording of this service on YouTube. There will be links to the service on both the St. James Evangelical Church website (http://www.stjamesevangelicalchurch.com/) as well as the church Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/St-James-Evangelical-Church-133487956693744/?ref=bookmarks). For those of you who do not have access to the internet we plan on making CD audio recordings of the service and the deacons will drop them off to your mail box. I encourage everyone to gather your household together to watch and worship together. Hopefully you will be richly rewarded in ways that we can’t imagine right now.
We are more than a church; we are a family. And family looks out for one another. I know that being cooped up day after day can be a trying and at times depressing experience. Because of this the church elders will call each person in their care group at least once a week to see how you are doing. Don’t be too proud to reach out to them if you are hurting or in need of help or want to hear from your pastor. We are here and willing to be of assistance. Each elder will be praying for those in their care groups as we struggle through this extraordinary time.
Lastly, the church cannot survive without funds to do so. So, let us resolve to not let this time of separation become a financial crisis for our church. If you are able, please continue to give your tithes and offering to the church. We plan on giving each household envelopes addressed to Mike Martins (our financial secretary) so you can send your offering directly to him. I do realize that some of you will be affected financially by this time of self-quarantine and you might not be able to give what you normally would. It is my prayer that others who are able might be willing to step.
We will resume our regular worship services as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will keep you posted on any developments that come along. The single most important thing that we can do as a church at this time is prayer! If anything good comes out of this crisis, I pray that it makes us a people that are steeped in prayer!
Remember that Christ still reigns from his throne. He still rules, come what may, so trust in him. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
God Bless You All,
Pastor Tom
