Bishopric message
Good morning Parley’s 3rd Ward,
Thank you for your continued examples of faith and optimism at this time. Good things are happening in our neighborhood and community as a result of your diligence and care for your fellow brothers and sisters.
We have 3 items to share with you today:
- New information from our Area and Stake regarding COVID-19 – The Sacrament is now able to be administered in the homes of others. And other updated guidelines.
- Tomorrow is a Fast Sunday. There will not be new Sacrament Meeting messages shared.
- Invitation to participate in upcoming Church Welfare assignments.
*See below details for items above.
Item 1. New information from our Area and Stake regarding COVID-19 – The Sacrament is now able to be administered in the homes of others. And other updated guidelines
Please see information below from President Straight (Salt Lake Parley’s Stake) to Bishops:
We are so pleased that members who have not received the Sacrament for some time will have that opportunity again. Would you each please get the word out to your Elders Quorums so that they we can ensure the Sacrament is provided to all those who request it for this Sunday.
The First Presidency has suspended all block meetings. This continues to be true in Utah.
Sacrament Administration:
The Sacrament can now be offered to families who have not had the opportunity in their homes and who request it.
Reminder that these are not to be sacrament meetings, but administration of the Sacrament itself only.
Please invite those interested in partaking to ask for someone to come to their home, but do not make a blanket policy to set up routes or schedule weekly administration.
Some households that include vulnerable groups may appropriately decline the offer for the Sacrament.
Also, be sensitive to those who are asked to take the Sacrament and their willingness to do so, especially if they or their family members include people in the vulnerable categories.
This is not a weekly requirement. The First Presidency has authorized the administration of the sacrament at least monthly.
Please be wise and safe! The member should have the bread and water available. The Priesthood holder breaks bread, blesses and the member partakes. Priesthood holders should always be at least 6 feet away from member. We envision a table with bread and water on it and member and priesthood holder on opposite sides of said table.
Baptismal, wedding, and funeral services can now include up to twenty but please use caution. Skyping is still allowed and encouraged to keep people safe, especially anyone in vulnerable categories.
For weddings and funerals, outdoors is preferred. If a building is used, the Utah State Order requires pre-cleaning the building and post-cleaning. This is essential.
In all of the above, safe health practices are encouraged and required, including physical distancing, use of hand sanitizer, appropriate use of masks and gloves, and cleaning surfaces often.
Please encourage members to be worthy of the trust the governor (community) is giving them by being wise and safe. Please use common sense or as Jacob says, “O be wise, what more can I say?”
Item 2. Tomorrow is a Fast Sunday. There will not be new Sacrament Meeting messages shared. If you would like to listen to Sacrament Meeting messages from previous weeks, please visit the P3 Ward website.
Item 3. Invitation to participate in upcoming Church Welfare assignments.
The need for volunteers at Church Welfare centers is significant at this time. We would like to extend the invitation to anyone able to participate in an assignment. We recognize that some may be hesitant to participate in assignments where there is exposure to others. This is understandable.
Families may want to consider serving together. Youth 16 and older, when accompanied by an adult may volunteer.
Our next assignments are:
Thursday May 7th Dairy 7:30am to 11:30am – 4 People
Tuesday June 2nd Cannery 7:30am to 11:30am – 4 People
Thursday June 18th Dairy 7:30am to 11:30am – 4 People
Please contact Bishop Michael Hayes if you are interested in signing up for one of the above welfare service assignments. Email: [email protected] – Phone: 801 631-5047 – If Mike doesn’t answer his phone, please leave a voicemail and he will call you back. Emailing is preferred.
We wish you an enjoyable spring weekend. As we approach another fast Sunday, we hope that you will feel the spirit of fasting and it will bring you a sense of peace. Be comforted, we do live in a complicated time, but our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, stand with open arms to support us through all our challenges. We testify of this powerful truth.
With love,
The Bishopric
