We share Holy Communion in our online services the first Sunday of the month, and we invite you to join us at home.

Before the time of the service, you will want to prepare some bread — a slice or a small loaf of any kind of bread. In some parts of the world, tortilla, rice cake or cassava are used as this element, which is defined not as a wheat product but as the most common food of the people. Let it be something that you by yourself, or with others in your house, may break and share. Prepare a cup or cups of juice — perhaps grape or cranberry — or whatever you have on hand. We believe that Jesus makes the common things holy!

Set these elements in the living room or kitchen or wherever you experience worship electronically with the FHC community. Perhaps you want to put them on a lovely cloth or fabric that reminds you of a special time or a person deeply connected with you in the communion of saints. Perhaps you will light a candle or place a flower or plant or the photograph of someone you wish to bring into the circle of faith beside the bread and the cup.

Thank you for your preparation.

There are now two new ways to give during this time when we can’t physically be in church to pass the offering plate.

By text. Text “Give” to 651-240-6681 (without the quotation marks). You will receive a response with a link to set up your donation and payment information. Select the account where you want the donation to go (plate, pledge, food shelf, etc.) and enter either your bank routing information or credit card number.

Via our new eGiving Portal. Go to https://www.elexiogiving.com/app/giving/falconheightschurch and follow the directions there. You will also find donation buttons at the top of the FHC home page and in the footer area at the bottom of each page on our website.

More info on text giving:

• In case of a mistake, text “Refund” within 15 minutes to reverse the transaction.
• To modify your giving account information, text “Edit” to the same number, 651-240-6681.

Giving by either method will link to your annual giving statement. You can set up recurring donations or pledge payments as well as one-time donations.

Many members of our congregation already give their pledges through electronic funds transfer (EFT). Whichever method you prefer, remember: Even though Falcon Heights Church is operating off-site during the COVID-19 pandemic, the church still needs your support to continue our ministries and pay the bills. Thank you for your support!

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the incredible and immense work food shelves have taken on at this time, the March FoodShare Campaign has been extended through April 30.

Our FoodShare recipient, the Department of Indian Work, cannot accept food deliveries at this time. In speaking with them, we found that the best way to support them financially is to visit their website HERE and click the “DONATE” button at the top. On the donation page, you will be able to specify the Department of Indian Work as the recipient of your gift.

If you choose to donate through their website, please email Chuck Gramith at [email protected] with the amount you donated so that we can keep track of FHC’s overall giving.

Updated March 26, 2020

By Rev. Rick King — What a difference a week makes—along with an irresistible force like the coronavirus.

Things have been changing so fast, I want to update you on steps we’re taking at Falcon Heights Church to protect against community spread of the virus, keep us connected to God and each other, and care for those in our congregation who are in the more vulnerable groups.

Virtuous virtual

We’re discovering that we actually can get used to using online video calling and live video streaming technology, and it doesn’t feel unnatural! One Facebook Live worship service down, who knows how many to go? We had been talking about livestreaming our Sunday service and doing some meetings via Zoom sometime in the future, but we’re up and running with these much faster thanks to COVID-19. I’ve led two Bible studies on Zoom, the Executive Board met on Zoom Tuesday night, and I’ve done two pastoral care visits on Skype. In addition, our church has a free conference call account available in addition to Zoom, where we can host a large group on a single phone call. Watch our Sunday morning live stream

Buttoned-up building

Tuesday night, the Executive Board voted to close our building to all church and community groups until at least April 6, in compliance with orders for social distancing to prevent community spread of the virus. This is subject to change, so watch the TAB newsletter and social media for further information.

Office Manager Shannon Kaiser and I are working remotely in the meantime. The best way to contact both of us is email: Shannon – [email protected]; Rick – [email protected]. I will be stopping by my office periodically throughout the week to check mail delivery and voicemails, but not keeping regular office hours at the church.

Online office hours

Want the comfort of a face-to-face conversation with your pastor? Need counseling, but want more than just a voice at the other end of the phone line? I will be holding office hours on the Zoom videoconferencing platform at my normal walk-in times of 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, so sign up for a half-hour Zoom visit HERE and you’ll be sent the link and an access code to join the call at the time. OR if you prefer, you may simply sign up for a half-hour phone call.

Other steps we’ve taken

Shannon is maintaining a list of what some of you have already offered to do for others (run errands, watch kids while you get out, help you get set up with Instacart delivery from Cub Foods, etc.), and keeping track of needs you express. Charleen Prill, Linda Owen and I, along with Lynne Bradbury and the Membership Ministry Team, are teaming up to call everyone in our database to check on how you’re doing, what you need, prayer requests, etc. And Shannon is adding to the TAB a list of suggested activities, sort of a “survival guide” during our period of confinement. Read this week’s TAB

Not your usual Holy Week and Easter

We’ll continue doing Facebook Live webcasts of our worship Service at 10:30 (links at the top of the TAB, under “This Sunday”). To make this sustainable beyond a few Sundays, we need a couple of quick learners or people experienced with Facebook Live to get orientation from Noah Keitel, who is the primary caregiver for their kids AND a website developer. We’re also looking for donations for purchase of some basic equipment for producing this each week. Noah was good enough to use his own in the early stages, but we need our own at the church.

Communion on Palm Sunday, April 5, will be virtual as well. We’ll ask you to use whatever you have on hand for the Bread and Cup, and take communion in your home or wherever you are, together. Specific Holy Week and Easter plans are still in development, but this year we are not having in-person worship for these holidays.

Stay tuned for more information about worship and other adaptations to our present circumstances. And thanks for being a loving, flexible, connected faith community!

Love,

Rev. Rick

Sign up to spend an April evening or overnight hosting families without shelter through Interfaith Action’s Project Home. New Life Presbyterian Church in Roseville will host these families.

Evening hosts greet guests, serve a snack (provided), converse with guests, and play with the children from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Overnight hosts continue with guests until lights out, then sleep in a separate room (beds provided). In the morning, they awaken guests and serve a light breakfast (provided). They will be serving from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays and to 9 a.m. weekends.

Learn more and sign up