JULY 30, 2022
Members & Friends,
Since last Sabbath ten or more of our members have tested positive for COVID. Since they were also in contact with other members before testing positive it could mean that others of you also have been exposed. Please be aware of this and take seriously any symptoms you might be experiencing.
Since we also don’t know who might be asymptomatic carriers we are going to a ZOOM service for this Sabbath in order to try and stop the spread of COVID among us. A link will be sent out and we encourage you to join with us for worship.
Thanks, stay safe & God bless!
Here are the links for today’s Zoom services:
Sabbath School
Worship Service
You can still watch via livestream HERE.
Pastor Roy
JANUARY 21, 2022
Thank you to our church members and visitors for continuing to positively acknowledge the need to be safe during this pandemic. With God’s help and his merciful grace, we have weathered through the Delta variant and are persevering through the Omicron variant. In order to continue to maintain a safe environment for our congregation, the Michiana Fil-Am Church would like to remind those who are attending our church services on-site of the following:
- We continue to encourage mask wearing regardless of vaccination status
- Potlucks have been put on hold until further notice
MARCH 5, 2021
On Sabbath, March 6, our worship service will be transitioning back to in-person worship services.
We again ask that you enter the building through the main entrance, through the foyer into the sanctuary and find a seating section that accommodates the number in your family/group.
Please continue to consider the following:
- We encourage the use of masks but understand that some are unable to wear them. If you forget yours we will have some available at the door.
- Please bring your own bottled water. The that the drinking fountain does not become a place where the virus could be passed.
- Cleaning and sanitation protocols will continue to be in place to ensure your safety.
- Remember to respect social distances (at least 6 ft) with others and that everyone is politely requested to refrain from handshaking and hugging.
- At this time, worship service via Zoom will be suspended but we will continue to livestream our service.
- Adult Sabbath Schools will meet in socially distanced locations within the church while other Sabbath School classes will continue to be conducted through Zoom. Join our mailing list to receive the links for the Zoom-based Sabbath School classes.
JANUARY 30, 2021
We will be shifting to a Zoom -only service beginning Sabbath January 30, 2021. For those who are unable to join via Zoom, you may still join us on YouTube via our livestream link. Don’t forget to sign-up to receive news and announcements
AUGUST 21, 2020
We will continue to hold an in-person church service which will start at 11:30. We ask that you go on through the foyer into the sanctuary and find a seating section that accommodates the number in your family/group.
Please consider the following:
- We encourage the use of masks but understand that some are unable to wear them. If you forget yours we will have some available at the door.
- Feel free to bring your own bottled water so that the drinking fountain does not become a place where the virus could be passed.
- New cleaning guidelines are in place to ensure your safety.
- Remember to respect social distances (at least 6 ft) with others and that everyone is politely requested to refrain from handshaking and hugging.
- Microphones will not be passed during the service. Everyone will speak from the pulpit mic.
- At this time, worship service via Zoom will be suspended and we will resume the regular livestreaming of our service.
- Beginning Sabbath, August 22, Some Sabbath Schools will meet in socially distanced locations within the church while other Sabbath School classes will continue to be conducted through Zoom. Join our mailing list to receive the links for Sabbath Schools.
JULY 11, 2020
We will continue to hold an in-person church service which will start at 11:30. We ask that you go on through the foyer into the sanctuary and find a seating section that accommodates the number in your family/group.
Please consider the following:
- We encourage the use of masks but understand that some are unable to wear them. If you forget yours we will have some available at the door.
- Feel free to bring your own bottled water so that the drinking fountain does not become a place where the virus could be passed.
- New cleaning guidelines are in place to ensure your safety.
- Remember to respect social distances (at least 6 ft) with others and that everyone is politely requested to refrain from handshaking and hugging.
- Microphones will not be passed during the service. Everyone will speak from the pulpit mic.
- At this time, worship service via Zoom will be suspended and we will resume the regular livestreaming of our service.
Sabbath School classes will continue to be conducted through Zoom. Join our mailing list to receive the links for Sabbath School.
JULY 4, 2020
Members & Friends,
This Sabbath is the first time we will be in our church for worship since March 5. What a journey it’s been these last four months!
Our service will start at 11:30. We ask that you go on through the foyer into the sanctuary and find a seating section that accommodates the number in your family/group.
We encourage the use of masks but understand that some are unable to wear them. If you forget yours we will have some available at the door.
Feel free to bring your own bottled water so that the drinking fountain does not become a place where the virus could be passed.
New cleaning guidelines are in place to ensure your safety.
Remember to respect social distances with others and that everyone is politely requested to refrain from handshaking and hugging.
Microphones will not be passed during the service. Everyone will speak from the pulpit mic.
The service will also be on the same Zoom platform that we have been using since March.
I look forward to seeing those of you who are able to come!
God bless!
Roy Castelbuono
JUNE 27, 2020
This week’s online worship service is a virtual communion, hosted on the Zoom platform at 11:20 am on Sabbath. Connect using your computer, tablet, or smart phone using the following link:
JUNE 20, 2020
Our online worship service is once again happening on the Zoom platform at 11:20 am on Sabbath. Connect using your computer, tablet, or smart phone using the following link:
JUNE 13, 2020
We are meeting for worship on the Zoom platform, at the usual time. Connect on your computer, tablet, or smart phone using the following link:
JUNE 6, 2020
We are continuing our worship services on the Zoom platform. Connect with us via computer, tablet, or smart phone by using the following link:
MAY 30, 2020
This weekend we are having a joint service with our sister church, St. Joseph SDA. The service is being held on the Zoom platform, 10 minutes earlier than our usual time. Connect with us via computer, tablet, or smart phone by using the following link:
MAY 23, 2020
Our worship service continues to be held on the Zoom platform. Connect with us via computer, tablet, or smart phone by using the following link:
MAY 9, 2020
Michiana Fil-Am’s worship service continues to be held on the Zoom platform. Connect with us via computer, tablet, or smart phone by using the following link:
Our archaeology lectureship series with L. S. Baker, Jr., also continues this Saturday evening with its final presentation titled “Dancing for Hathor: Is science incompatible with faith?” This is the last of seven lectures covering some of the major topics related to the Exodus event.
MAY 2, 2020
Michiana Fil-Am’s worship service continues to be held on the Zoom platform. Connect with us via computer, tablet, or smart phone by using the following link:
Our archaeology lectureship series with L. S. Baker, Jr. also continues this Saturday evening with a presentation titled “Yahweh’s Army Camp: How was the tent-sanctuary constructed?”. This is the sixth of seven lectures covering some of the major topics related to the Exodus event.
APRIL 22, 2020
Michiana Fil-Am’s worship service will continue to be held on the Zoom platform, connect with us via computer, tablet, or smart phone by following the link that will be sent by email or by clicking the link below.
We are also continuing our archaeology lectureship series presented by L. S. Baker, Jr. on Saturday evening. This week’s lecture is titled “Reed, Wave, Wind or Wheel: What Was the Route of the Exodus?”, the fifth of seven presentations covering some of the major topics related to the Exodus event.
Looking to join a Sabbath School class?
If you’re looking to join one of our Zoom Sabbath School classes, sign-up to receive our email announcements each week. Zoom links will be included there.
APRIL 17, 2020
Michiana Fil-Am’s worship service will continue to be held on the Zoom platform, connect with us via computer, tablet, or smart phone by following the link that will be sent by email or by clicking the link below.
We are also continuing our archaeology lectureship series presented by L. S. Baker, Jr. on Saturday evening. This week’s lecture is titled “Battle of the Gods: Why Were There 10 Plagues?”, the fourth of seven presentations covering some of the major topics related to the Exodus event. Join us on Zoom at 6:30 pm on April 18.
Looking to join a Sabbath School class?
If you’re looking to join one of our Zoom Sabbath School classes, sign-up to receive our email announcements each week. Zoom links will be included there.
APRIL 3, 2020
Michiana Fil-Am’s worship service will continue to be held on the Zoom platform, a video conference app accessible on computer, tablet, or smart phone by following the link that will be sent by email or by clicking the meeting ID below. This meeting ID and link will also continue to be used for future Sabbaths. Join us for worship:
We are also hosting an archaeology lectureship series presented by L. S. Baker, Jr. on Saturday evening. This week’s lecture is titled “The Hippopotamus Pool: Where did Israel live in Egypt?”, the second of seven presentations covering some of the major topics related to the Exodus event. Join us on Zoom at 6:30 pm on April 4.
MARCH 28, 2020
Michiana Fil-Am’s worship service and Sabbath School will continue to be held on the Zoom platform, a video conference app accessible on computer, tablet, or smart phone by following the links that will be sent by email or by clicking the meeting IDs below. These meeting IDs and links will also continue to be used for future Sabbaths. Join us for Sabbath School and worship:
MARCH 21, 2020
Michiana Fil-Am will be using the Zoom platform to conduct Sabbath School and church services beginning March 21. The Zoom app allows people to connect to a “video conference call” type environment via computer, tablet, or smart phone by clicking a link that will be sent out by email or by clicking the meeting ID below. Join us for worship:
MARCH 20, 2020
Friends and members,
Michiana Fil-Am will be using online Zoom meetings for Sabbath School beginning tomorrow. The Zoom app allows you to connect via your computer, tablet, or smart phone by clicking a link that will be sent out by email later today.
We will have two adult Sabbath School classes online tomorrow (English class 1 and the Creole class) and two children’s classes (Junior/Earliteen and High School). The 2nd adult English class, the adult Filipino class, the Primary class, and Kindergarten classes will be online as soon as possible.
Each class will have its own link, which will be good for as long as we continue to utilize Zoom. The first time you click a link, you will be prompted to install the Zoom app, and then automatically directed to the online classroom. After the first time, the link will take you directly to the classroom.
Once in the classroom, you be able to see other participants and they can see you. It’s possible to turn off off the video, but what makes the format personal is being able to see each other just as if we were sitting in a real classroom, so please join in full and living color! Once in the classroom, there are two ways to view other participants: in the default view, whoever is currently speaking is shown in a larger image, and in gallery mode, all participants are shown the same size in a grid.
Your teacher will be in one of those images, and will lead the study and direct the discussion. If everyone can be seen, simply raising a hand will get your teacher’s attention; then they can call you by name and give you the floor to comment or ask a question. If connecting with audio only, please speak your name, so the teacher knows you want to share.
Sabbath School classes will start at 10:00 and end at 11:00. Worship service will follow at 11:15 and there will be a separate link.
So while we cannot meet together to sing, study, and worship as normal, these classes can serve as the means that we connect spiritually and socially, enabling us to grow spiritually and become closer as a church. We also have the opportunity to connect with others, simply by extending an invitation to join one of these groups.
Groups are also encouraged to set regular days and times during the week where they can connect to study, share their journeys, and pray together!
Thank you all for your willingness to be part of this new journey!
–Pastor Roy
MARCH 14, 2020
Our church service for Sabbath, March 14 will be online only at michianafilam.org. There will be no in-person Sabbath services for the rest of the month of March. Livestreams of an abbreviated service will begin at 11:20am (Eastern Time).
For more information please refer to Pastor Roy’s letter in the previous post. Please send questions or feedback to: pastor@michianafilam.org.
For updates, stay tuned to our Facebook page or our website, michianafilam.org.
MARCH 13, 2020
Members & Friends of Michiana Fil-Am,
Two weeks ago no one was talking about Coronavirus as a threat that would require us to radically change how we work, live and worship. Yet in just the last few days Andrews University has closed and all K-12 public schools in Michigan will now close as well. The major sports leagues, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA, & PGA have all suspended their seasons.
The financial markets have been in free fall this week, entire 1st world countries are under quarantine and travel to the U.S. from Europe has been stopped. We are in uncharted territory here. We want to avoid hysteria but we also want to safeguard our families and communities.
Now it has come to directly impact our church. Yesterday the Michigan Conference asked that we abide by the guidelines recommended by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for faith-based organizations.
The purpose is to stop the spread of this virus by social distancing. China has employed this in draconian ways and has seen new cases of the virus stabilize and now decline. That is the goal here.
Since we have failed to have tests available at the local level to be able to get early identification of those who have the virus we are now having to resort to a more radical approach which is to take immediate steps of social distancing as soon as individuals in our communities are identified as carriers of the virus.
As of today [March 13] 4 people in western Michigan have tested positive with the virus.
Consequently the MDHHS is asking us to cancel or postpone gatherings or conferences of 100 people or more in a shared space. Our attendance has averaged between 80 and 120 and so the board decided that this directive impacts us. Here are the options given to us that we discussed last night.
1. Streaming the service where the pastor and limited numbers are present to facilitate the online service.
2. Conducting worship in the homes of various church members,
At this point, for the month of March, the church board has chosen to stream services for the duration of the month starting tomorrow. [Also, Sabbath School will not be meeting at the church for the time being.]
Here are additional guidelines to use as we go forward:
- Identify safe ways to serve those who are at high risk or vulnerable through outreach and assistance.
- Stay home when sick and notify us so we can be of help.
- Frequently wash your hands and cover coughs and sneezes as this virus primarily enters our bodies through the membranes around the eyes, in the nose and in the mouth which is why they keep telling us to not touch our face with our hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs, keyboards, cell phones, and light switches.
- Ensure hand hygiene supplies are readily accessible.
- Implement social distancing measures of 3 to 6 feet.
- Reduce in-person gatherings and activities.
- Avoid totally large gatherings greater than 100 people in a shared space.
- If we become a high-risk communities avoid/cancel gatherings of more than 10 people.
- No handshakes, elbow bumps or fist knocks. Try putting your hand over your heart or a slight head nod instead.
The Michigan Conference as well as the Michiana Fil-Am Church recognize that financial giving is going to take a hit as a result of this virus so please take advantage of Adventist Giving Online to continue your faithful support of our local as well as the world church through your tithes and offerings. If mailing in your check works better then please feel free to give your support that way as well.
Above all, do not be afraid. What is happening around the world is what we have always believed would happen. And the greater the fear in our world the greater the opportunity to speak to that fear.
People are being shaken, their lives are being disrupted and they are asking serious questions. Take this opportunity, one on one, to bring them answers that will still their hearts and lead them to God!
“Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand.” (Isaiah 41:10).
May God bless you each throughout this trying time!
Roy Castelbuono
Pastor, Michiana Fil-Am SDA Church