The letter immediately below contains essential information about us, including contact information for our staff members.  Please also note that you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter and weekly email notices via the tan button that reads, “Yes, keep me informed”.  You will find it at the very bottom of the screen.

UPDATED INFORMATION REGARDING THE CORONAVIRUS & MVUUF

March 17, 2020

Dear MVUUF friends and members,

Thank you all for your understanding, support, and trust as our congregation’s leadership navigates the novel coronavirus (now being called COVID-19) pandemic. The crisis and its impact on our lives is changing faster than many of us expected. At this point, six-hour news is often outdated.

Since our letter to you Thursday, our country’s president has declared a national emergency and our state’s governor has moved all k-12 public schooling to online learning and has restricted all restaurants and bars to drive-thru, carryout, and delivery business only. Respected virus experts are continuing to advise us that the best way to contain the virus is for EVERYONE to practice extreme social distancing, reducing in-person meetings as much as possible (even gatherings as small as a playdate).

The main reason why we ALL must practice extreme distancing is to protect our health care system. If COVID-19 cases overwhelm our healthcare system, this will prevent our healthcare system from treating patients with other medical problems (car accidents, strokes, heart attacks, etc.). Extreme distancing is not an overreaction or a panic. Extreme distancing is about making sacrifices so that we can protect each other.

The following graphic from the Washington Post shows a simulation of the results of four different responses to a similar virus, with orange representing the number of people infected with the virus:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

(March 16, 2020)

With all this in mind, the MVUUF board decided to suspend ALL MVUUF in-person gatherings until the board can reevaluate on Sunday, May 3. Please know that this was a very difficult decision to make. We know that a crisis like this increases our needs for connection and support, especially in person. However, we believe that our religious mission requires us to proceed with caution for our own safety, the safety of our entire country, and the safety of our siblings across the world.

Let us emphasize that we are NOT closing MVUUF or canceling all meetings, groups, events, and worship services during this time. We need each other. And. Even with physical distance separating us, we have each other.

Together, we will reimagine connection, support, and community in new ways:

• Beginning March 22, Sunday worship service will take place at its normal time using the online conferencing platform Zoom. Zoom will allow everyone to attend via computer, tablet, smartphone, or traditional dial phone. Information and help with using Zoom will be forthcoming this week.
• In addition to worship, we’ll be providing Children and Youth Religious Education (CYRE) via Zoom on Sundays as well.
• We also are purchasing three annual subscriptions to Zoom Pro accounts. These accounts will provide MVUUF groups with a way to meet virtually. The accounts will function similar to how we reserve rooms in the Fellowship, with scheduling requests being sent via email to our Fellowship Administrator, Jennie Freiberger (jennief@mvuuf.org).
• Events that cannot be held online or via phone will be rescheduled once MVUUF returns to in-person gatherings (such as Ruth Scott’s memorial service and Alice Diebel’s ordination). Please be patient as we evaluate the events and meetings currently scheduled to determine if they will be moved online or rescheduled.
• The board is leading a group of volunteers in forming a phone tree to check in with all our congregants via phone call.
• As a replacement for in-person gatherings, we hope to offer small group ministry depending on interest and volunteer support. These groups will be in addition to our existing small groups and may include email, Facebook, Zoom, texting, etc.
• We know that some of our congregants will have increased support needs beyond connection, more specifically pastoral, practical, and financial needs. If you need immediate support, please contact Rev. Kellie (call or text 847-804-4614). In the coming days, we will be asking for volunteers to fill a variety of roles. Additionally, the MVUUF Disaster Relief Team will be collecting funds for our congregants and community members who are being financially affected by the pandemic, either by COVID-19 infection or business closure.
• While in-person MVUUF gatherings are suspended, our building will be closed. Our staff will be working from home as much as possible. We will check the fellowship voicemail in the morning and again at lunch Monday through Friday. In order to reach staff members directly, please use the following contact information:
  • Jennie Freiberger (Fellowship Administrator) jennief@mvuuf.org
  • Somaya Bernard (Director of Religious Education) re@mvuuf.org
  • Sara Davis (Director of Music) music@mvuuf.org
  • Kellie Kelly (Minister) minister@mvuuf.org
• During this time of change, uncertainty, and experimentation, the board will be meeting more often. Our next meeting will be Sunday, March 22nd at 1:30pm. Once again, the meeting will take place on Zoom and will be open to all. Specific information about the Zoom meeting will be forthcoming. At the meeting, we will discuss both our continued response to COVID-19 and repairs to the siding and roof of the building due to water damage. We will leave space at the beginning of the meeting for public comments, questions, or concerns.
• Last but not least, while we will not be meeting in-person during this time, MVUUF still relies on your pledge contributions and donations to pay our regular operating expenses. As people of faith, our operating expenses will not go down because we will still be paying our employees and vendors. You can send your pledge contributions and/or donations to MVUUF via the mail or submit them directly via our website. If you have any questions or concerns about submitting your donations, please contact our fellowship administrator, Jennie Freiberger (jennief@mvuuf.org) as she will be working from home as much as possible.

If you have questions or would like support immediately, please contact our minister Rev. Kellie (call or text 847-804-4614) or our board president Rachel Feltner (call or text 937-545-1188). We will continue to work hard to keep you updated and our decision-making process transparent. Please check your email and our website frequently for updates.

Thank you for your continued understanding, support, and trust.

With gratitude, love, and faith,

Rev. Kellie Kelly

MVUUF Minister

Rachel Feltner

MVUUF Board President