Due to the coronavirus pandemic, regular in-person worship remains canceled until further notice. Drive-in and Lawn services streamed via Facebook Live will continue. Plans regarding the safe return to in-person worship are currently on hold due to the covid-19 resurgence now taking place.
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A devotion for today
We Are United – The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
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We are living in very unusual times.
This past year and a half have brought heartache, grief, anxiety, stress, fear, anger, isolation and loneliness. In this post-vaccine era as we seek to re-launch our ministries at Cokesbury, I see many opportunities to re-connect with each other and re-connect with the community around us.
As a church we will be discerning God’s purpose for us in this new season. “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfils his purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2.
I invite you to hope and dream with me by pondering and then responding to these three questions:
1. What do you wish Cokesbury would have?
2. What do you wish Cokesbury would do?
3. What do you hope Cokesbury would become?
Please send your responses to my email at gayleporias@vaumc.org or mail them to the church. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
May the love of God watch over and protect us; may the light of Christ reveal and illuminate the path; May the power of the Holy Spirit carry us forward into this new season.
– Pastor Gayle
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Worship Services (weather permitting – inclement weather will move worship to online only):
– This Sunday, August 8th, 10am: Drive-In, Lawn, and Online (bring lawn chairs),
– Sunday, August 15th, 10am: Drive-In, Lawn, and Online (bring lawn chairs),
– Sunday, August 22nd, 10am: Drive-In, Lawn, and Online (bring lawn chairs),
We have begun expanded outdoor worship. Those who wish to do so may bring lawn chairs for the area by the main parking lot under the trees (above the pavilion), and those who wish to remain in their cars may do so. Worship will be streamed online via Facebook Live. Those with lawn chairs please park your car closer to the church or in the Flea Market parking area, to allow those who remain in their cars to park closer to the worship service area.
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Prayer Requests and Hospitality:
The Cokesbury UMC Prayer Group has resumed weekly meetings at the church.
We gather every Monday evening at 5:30pm in the church Fellowship Hall and all are invited to join us and participate!
Please send or share all prayer concerns with Pastor Gayle so we may give each concern prayerful attention.
Lydia Blair and Eben Macon will welcome a new addition to the family by Friday, 8/6! Please continue to lift them up in prayer.
August Birthdays:John Ivy (8/01),
Jaelyn McCormick (8/01),
Ronnie Carter (8/01),
Dave Woodman (8/11),
Emmett Wright (8/24),
Barbara Woods (8/27),
Melanie Blair (8/29)
August Anniversary:
Harry and Mary Jane Fizer (8/03),
Ed and Barbara Horne (8/15),
Kyle and Peggy Keen (8/27),
Don and Peggy Dorton (8/29)
Medical Updates:
Ellen Kuvasko was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer a few weeks ago. To extend her longevity, she will soon participate in a cancer trial treatment. This treatment plan purports to extend her life span without the use of chemotherapy. She is optimistic about the projected results. Ellen asks for your prayers and other acts of care and concerns.
Eunice Bonner was discharged from INOVA Hospital on Saturday July 17 after undergoing spine surgeries. The recuperation is going well; but not without pain! During her projected 3 months of healing, she asks for your prayers, phone calls, and cards.
Take a moment to drop a card or letter to church family:
Norma Burnette, Deirdre Dorsey, Mary Jane and Harry Fizer, Marian Gherke, Mary Jewell, Tom Taylor
And all members would love to hear from you by phone or card!
Continuing prayers and concerns for: Eunice Bonner, Deirdre Dorsey, Mary Jane and Harry Fizer, Kathy French, Kyle Keen, Marian Benson Ivy, Mary Jewell, Ellen Kuvasko, Cheryl Petitt, Rev Gayle Porias, Mark Young
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COVID-19:
Please continue your mitigation efforts as the coronavirus Delta variant has gained a foothold and infection rates have risen dramatically recently. It has become the dominant strain in new infections, appears to be about 200% more transmissible than the original strains, delivers a higher viral load, and daily infection rates are approaching 70,000. This trend is expected to continue and whilee it is particularly infectious among those not yet fully vaccinated, vaccinated individuals are also at some risk for mild infections and for transmitting the virus to others. Overall, new daily coronavirus cases are above last summer’s 2nd wave levels.
The CDC issued updated guidance on 7/27 recommending masks be worn by all individuals in indoor public spaces for higher risk areas (“Substantial” or “High”). Prince William county is currently in the “Substantial” risk category, an increase from last week’s “Moderate” level. Fairfax county remains at the “Moderate” level while Stafford is at “Substantial” and Spotsylvania county is at the “High” risk level. The four
All of Virginia is now in Open Season vaccine eligibility. Every Virginian 12 and older is eligible for vaccination and pre-registration is no longer required.
Many local retailers offer vaccinations, so please see this page for current availability. You can input a zip code and distance to find locations.
Visit this page if you need a record of your COVID-19 vaccination record.
For more information, please visit:Prince William County COVID-19 Testing Site
Prince William County Coronavirus Site
Virginia Coronavirus Site
CDC Coronavirus Site
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Random Moment: – Glaciers and ice sheets hold almost 70% of the world’s fresh water,
– Canada has almost 10% of all forest area in the world,
– Bangladesh has a population of over 163 million people in 149,000 square miles, while Russia has 143 million people in 6.5 million square miles,
– A rubik’s cube has 43 quintillion (43 followed by 18 zeros) possible face color combinations, but can be solved in as few as 20 moves,
– Your skeleton completely renews itself every 10 years. The process becomes less efficient as you age,
– Your top layer of skin renews itself every 30 days or so. The process becomes less efficient as you age,
– The word “hundred” is derived from the Old Norse word “hundrath”, which means 120, not 100,
– Magic 9: With a friend, secretly write the number 9 on a slip of paper and fold it tightly. Ask your friend to pick a number from 2 to 9 (but don’t tell you what it is!). Ask them to multiply the number by 9. Then ask them to take the answer and add the two numbers of the answer together. Show them what you wrote on your slip of paper – they’ll be amazed! Note to self: only do it once per friend…
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ACTS (Action in Community Through Service) has many volunteer opportunities available.
Please visit their website for more information.
Visit Volunteer Prince William for local volunteer opportunities.
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Spotlight Recipe: Meatloaf Supreme
By Gladys Doane
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground meat,
1/2 pound pork sausage,
1/2 cup quick oatmeal,
1 cup soft bread crumbs,
2 teaspoons salt,
1/8 teaspoon pepper, or to taste,
1/4 cup minced onion,
2 eggs (beaten),
1/2 cup milk,
1 medium potato (grated)
Directions:
Mix well in large bowl,
Place in greased loaf pan,
Bake at 300 degrees until ground meat reaches 160 degrees, about 1 hour and 15 minutes,
Let set in pan 15 minutes before slicing.
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Please consider these ways that you can support the church right now:
1) Support Cokesbury with Your Financial Gifts, Time, Talent, and Witness,
2) Share Information About Cokesbury,
3) Contact Someone from Cokesbury,
4) Share Your Ideas with The Pastor,
5) Pray. Pray. Pray.
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Reminders and Links:
Keep an eye on Cokesbury UMC’s Facebook page and website for periodic updates and items of interest.
– The worship message is streamed online every Sunday at 10am on Facebook. You can find previous worship messages there as well.
Cokesbury UMC Facebook Page
Cokesbury UMC YouTube Page
Cokesbury UMC Web Site
Common Lectionary Daily Readings
For Tithes and Offerings:
– Join us for Sunday Worship,
– Online via the Cokesbury web site,
– Via mail to Cokesbury UMC, 14806 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191,
– Via the mail slot next to the upstairs door at the church.
If you shop at Amazon, please use our AmazonSmile access link to direct a portion (0.5%) of the price of eligible sales to Cokesbury UMC (it will not change the prices you pay):
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/54-1255430
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Coral City Cam– Live underwater camera at an urban reef in Miami, FL, in place since 2019.
Sweet Hour of Prayer – Sounds Like Reign
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God be with you til we meet again,
Walter and Eunice
Cokesbury UMC Church Council Co-Chairs
Volume 2.17 – 8/4/2021