Update – May 22, 2020
As we continue to monitor the current guidelines from the CDC and the Shelby County Health Department, our ultimate concern is for the overall safety of all of our congregation. While we are exploring options as to when to meet together again and what that will look like, we will be continuing our current practice until we feel it is safe to reassemble.
We will still have our services online, with a worship service and Bible classes for all ages on Sundays, and our Adult Summer Series and children’s Bible classes online on Wednesday evenings. Distribution of Communion supplies will continue on Thursday afternoons at 1:00 PM at the church building. Our Thursday Prayer Meetings via Zoom will also continue. Please use these resources as you praise God and study the Bible with your families in your homes.
If you have any needs of any kind, spiritual or physical, please contact one of your shepherds or ministers by phone, text message, or email. We are here for you, and we will be happy to talk with you and pray with you. And if you know of others who have needs, let someone know about those as well.
We are thankful to God for our wonderful church family at Bartlett Woods. We all long to be back together, but we also value the health and safety of every member. Continue praying for one another, thanking God for the many blessings we have received.
Update – April 24, 2020
Several have asked about when we might resume worship services and activities at the Bartlett Woods building. Although some businesses are being allowed to open under certain conditions, the Shelby County Health Department guidelines still currently limit gatherings, including worship services, to a maximum of 10 people. While we look forward to being able to gather together again, we still value the health and safety of our members. We also understand the importance of following the guidelines and orders issued to protect that safety. The elders are constantly monitoring the situation to determine the best course of action. Please continue serving our great God in whatever way that you can where you are, and continue to pray for all of our church family, our government leaders, our healthcare workers, and all those affected in different ways by this virus during this time.
Update – April 2, 2020
In accordance with the CDC, federal, state and local guidelines and in our best efforts to do our part in stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we have extended the suspension of all services and activities at the Bartlett Woods building through April 30.
We will continue to offer our worship services and Bible classes through the online format. We will also be adding a few items:
- We will offer communion sets for your family at the building on Thursdays from 10:00am – 11:00am. Drive up to the multi-purpose building canopy and someone will be there to safely distribute to you without you having to get out of your car. Please only take what you may need for the next 2 Sundays. This will continue while supplies last. (There is a shortage of these in the market).
- The building has been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, therefore, access is being restricted to only staff, ministers and elders. (Entry codes have been temporarily disabled).
- Live online video conference prayer times are being planned. Further information will be sent via email.
Even though we are prevented from being together physically, let’s remain committed to be spiritually unified! It is such a comfort to know that while our families are worshipping together in our homes that our entire church family is worshipping with us!
If you have any needs of any kind, spiritual, physical or other, please contact one of your shepherds or ministers by phone, text message, or email. We are here for you, and we will be happy to talk with you and pray with you.
Continue checking up and loving on one another and pray, pray, pray!
Update – March 19, 2020
In accordance with the CDC guidelines and in our best efforts to do our part in stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we have decided to suspend all services and activities at the Bartlett Woods building through April 5.
Although we will not be having worship services at our building, we will provide alternate service options. Those options are still being developed and will be announced soon. If you are unable to view what is offered online, we encourage you to have your own service with your family, studying the Bible and singing praises to God.
You are encouraged to use your own communion supplies. If you do not have exactly what we use in our worship services, you are encouraged to use whatever you have on hand. The ultimate goal is to remember the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, so use whatever is appropriate to commemorate his body and his blood.
During this time, the work of the church continues. Please consider giving through our E-Giving site (link can be found here, or search for “GivePlusChurch” on your mobile device), or checks can also be mailed to the church office. We are collecting a special contribution for the Middle Tennessee Tornado Disaster Relief through March 29. An E-Giving fund titled “Special Contribution” has been set up for that collection as well and is available now. Money contributed to that fund will go directly to those in Middle Tennessee.
Ben Coleman and Jeremy Hall have created some activities for families to take part in during this time, including a Scavenger Hunt and a 54 Days guide. Both of these are also found on the Bartlett Woods Facebook Page.
If you have any needs of any kind, spiritual or physical, please contact one of your shepherds or ministers by phone, text message, or email. We are here for you, and we will be happy to talk with you and pray with you. And if you know of others who have needs, let someone know about those as well.
We are blessed with a wonderful church family at Bartlett Woods. During these times of separation, you are encouraged to do what you can to keep our family ties strong. Make a phone call, send a card, send an email, or a text message. Check on the elderly, but also check on each other. Keep in contact. Strengthen each other in the Lord.
Above all, be prayerful. Offer to our God thanksgiving for the blessings that we do have. Pray for those who are affected. Pray for your families. And pray for our church at Bartlett Woods.
Update – March 18, 2020
Just a reminder from the information below that our Wednesday afternoon and evening services today have been canceled. Please spend some time in prayer and devotion with your family.
The Fishing Rodeo scheduled for March 21 has been canceled.
The Neighborhood Egging scheduled for March 22 has been canceled.
The Parental Guidance Seminar scheduled for March 29 has been postponed until a later date.
The Easter Egg Hunt scheduled for April 4 has been canceled.
Update – March 14, 2020
The wedding shower scheduled for March 15 has been postponed until a later date.
The Area-Wide Youth Devotional scheduled for March 15 has also been postponed until a later date.
For those who choose to watch the live stream instead of attending in person, remember that giving electronically is an option with our e-giving site.
March 13, 2020:
The shepherds of the Bartlett Woods congregation have been in prayerful collaboration over the past week in an effort to respond to the current situation facing our country and world at this time. They want to communicate with you information that will affect our services this Sunday and the week of March 15–21. These decisions have not been made lightly or out of fear for we serve a God who has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Rather, we wish to do our part, as responsible and responsive Christians and Citizens, being wise and erring on the side of caution for our members, guest, and community at Bartlett Woods.
With this being said, this Sunday morning we will not be having our regular Bible class hour or worship service, but rather we will be having an abbreviated Worship service at 10:00 am. We will only be using the auditorium building and ask that you enter through the new building doors only. There will be no nursery or Children’s Bible Hour.
While our worship will be abbreviated, we still anticipate giving God the full honor and praise He deserves and want you to join us. If you are at a higher risk and do not feel comfortable attending a larger assembly or are not feeling well, we want to invite you to join us through the church’s live stream. You can access the live stream at this link.
The major changes in our Worship this Sunday will involve the communion and collection. This week and weeks following, we will be using personal pre-made communion cups. These contain both the fruit of the vine and the unleavened bread. The bread is found under the first clear cellophane layer, and the juice under the second. When you enter into the auditorium, a person will be standing at each door with latex gloves on to hand you the communion. We ask that after service you throw away your communion cup in one of the trash receptacles located in or around the auditorium. As for collection, there are baskets located at each door for you to place your contribution into as you enter or exit the auditorium for worship.
Other precautions we are taking as a church family include canceling our Sunday evening activities, such as lads to leaders, and worship. Care groups leaders that are intending to meet will inform their groups if they are meeting or not. In lieu of evening services, Jeremy Hall, our family minister, has provided a devotional for you to do with your family Sunday evening. We ask that you would take advantage of this time to discuss the importance of faith as a family at home! It is available at this link.
As for next week, the elders have decided to cancel any and all uses of the building including scouts, private parties, and Wednesday evening classes, both 3 o’clock and 7 o’clock classes.
This is a lot of information to process and take in. Please be paying attention to this page, phone tree messages and the church facebook page for any updates in the near future.
We ask you to be patient with each other and the church leadership as they continue to make decisions for the betterment of the body and to not allow fear to captivate you, we refuse to allow the devil to use a virus to keep us from serving our God. However, we must also be wise in our interactions with each other in order that we might resume a state of normalcy as soon as possible. Practice good hand washing and hygiene, and above all, pray for God to work and
provide peace in our country.