May 7 Update

Rose Hill family,

 

This Sunday we will worship digitally for the eighth time since the COVID-19 crisis began. I know many of you, like me, are more than ready to be back worshipping together in our church building. For this reason, I want to give you a brief update on our plan for public worship.

 

Following recommendations given to us, our general board has decided to continue worshipping and meeting together online for at least the next three Sundays. This seems wisest to us given the current circumstances and our desire for the full safety of our church body. It will likely be June before we begin phasing back into public worship.

 

I am continually reminded that the church is not a building, it’s the people who gather inside and outside of it—and this is becoming more and more apparent throughout this crisis. I am especially thankful for all of you and the overwhelming response to our online ministry. If you have not yet joined a life group, I would encourage you to consider jumping in for some fellowship. It’s never too late to become a part of a life group. You can find more information and a link to the signup page below.

 

I miss our entire church family and am so looking forward to being back with you again. We want to make sure that when we finally gather together again in person that it is a moment of celebration and not one of fear. I ask that you continue to pray for our church leaders in this time of difficult decisions, as well as the entire church body.

 

If you have any needs or prayer requests, please don’t hesitate to pass them our way. We will continue to keep you updated and informed of our plans.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Mike

April 2 Update

Rose Hill family,

 

A couple weeks ago we moved our service online, hoping that we would soon be back in our church building worshipping together in person. Unfortunately, since then the situation in our country and state has only gotten more dire. In light of the current circumstances, this week our general board decided to follow the federal government’s recommendations for social distancing until they have lifted. This means that we will be holding our services online at least though the month of April.

 

Along with our services, all our ministries have moved online to conform with the current social distancing guidelines, including all meetings, women’s ministry and young adult ministry gatherings, and youth group. 

 

Thankfully, social distancing does not mean disconnecting. I appreciate that so many of you have continued to participate in our services and ministries online. If you haven’t done so, I would encourage you to check out our YouTube page. We will be broadcasting at the same time as usual this Sunday. We are including a setlist again in this email for you or your family to use in worship, and there will be links to song videos in the info section of the message.

 

Please continue to tithe and give to the church during this important time. Though our methods have changed, we continue our ministry as Christ’s hand and feet in our community and beyond. You can give online by visiting our website, www.rosehillefc.com/give, or mail your check to our us at 12099 Rose Hill Road, Langford, SD 57454.

 

I want to encourage you again to reach out to a friend at church again this week. We are exploring ways to build more community digitally and I hope to have more details in the next couple weeks.

 

Remember, God is working in the fire. Suffering is not a sign of God’s absence, it’s a sign of his presence. I’m confident God is doing a good work in and through us even now.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Mike


March 19 Update

Rose Hill family,

 

Due to the continued spread of COVID-19, and the concern surrounding it, we will not meet for worship at our church building for the foreseeable future. Instead, we will be holding our services online starting this Sunday, March 22. A link to the service will be made available on our website and Facebook page Sunday morning at 10:30 am. 


The online service will consist of a message and prayer. Due to copyright restrictions we are unable to air the music portion of the service at this time, but if you are interested I would encourage your family to find a way to worship in song together. We have made a service “setlist”—a list of songs we had planned for the service—available for this very purpose. Lyric videos and recordings of these songs may be tracked down online via YouTube and music streaming services. 


Though we are not able to meet in person, let’s remember that the church isn’t a building—it’s the people who normally meet inside of it! We are currently exploring ways that we can meet, worship and grow together virtually, and we will keep you updated along the way. 


We currently have two ways of giving remotely. You can give online at our website (www.rosehillefc.com/give) or by making a check payable to “Rose Hill Church” and sending it to our address, 12097 Rose Hill Road, Langford SD 57454. 


We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated via email and our website. Our deacons are praying for our church body regularly, and if you have any need at all—or know someone with a need—please don’t hesitate to contact me or a deacon.


In Christ,

Pastor Mike

March 14 Response to Covid-19

Dear Rose Hill Family,

 

Our deacons have been closely monitoring recommendations from the South Dakota Department of Health regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in South Dakota. The cases in South Dakota have been extremely limited and as I’m writing this email, there are zero known cases in our surrounding communities. 


Starting this Sunday we have decided to take the following steps to keep our church family and community safe:

  • We will hold only the 10:30 am worship service for the time being. There will be no Sunday School during the 9:30 am hour, and we will not offer nursery care during the service.
  • We have placed extra hand sanitizer throughout the church building.  
  • For the next few weeks, we will encourage greeting one another with a wave or a smile, instead of handshaking.  
  • We will not be passing around the offering plate. You will have the option of giving at the back of the church as you’re leaving or online at www.rosehillefc.com/give. 
  • We will not be serving snacks in the kitchen for the next few weeks.
  • The message and bulletin will be made available shortly after the live service, online at our website www.rosehillefc.com/media.

During this season, we ask that if you or anyone in your household feels sick in any way, please stay home. 


We wanted to let you know that we are working hard to maintain a clean and safe environment during this season. Please note that all future information regarding COVID-19 and any potential disruptions to Rose Hill programming or activities will be communicated through the website and email.  You can find more information about the statewide response from SDDOH website at https://doh.sd.gov/news/Coronavirus.aspx.

 

I ask that you continue to pray with us for our world, our community, and our church body during this time of much fear and panic. I’m comforted by the truth that our Creator is still working and sustaining us, and none of this surprises Him.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Mike