“God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ . . . and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. . . . For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

~ Ephesians 2:4-8

 

Welcome to our COVID-19 Specific Mercy Webpage.  In view of the mercy Christ has shown us, we look to minister mercy in His name.  On this page you will find the link for volunteering to help with COVID-19 specific mercy needs, and also for letting us know about whatever COVID-19 specific mercy needs you yourself may have.  You will find various opportunities for ministering mercy, in keeping with our three-tiered priorities for meeting mercy needs. Finally, you will find a letter of encouragement from CPC’s Mercy Team Leader.  May God pour out His mercy upon us, and give us peace and strength as we keep in step with His Spirit.

 

COVID19-SPECIFIC MERCY REQUESTS AND VOLUNTEERING

Use this form to submit a COVID-19 specific request for mercy, or to volunteer to help.

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTERING MERCY

We have three tiers of priorities for meeting mercy needs, our Christ Presbyterian Church multi-congregational church family, our New Haven church family (Bridges of Hope), and our common family of humanity in Greater New Haven:

 

CPC Multi-Congregational Church Family COVID-19 Specific Opportunities

  • Use this form to volunteer to help with the COVID-19 specific needs in our church.
  • As we heard a couple of Sundays ago, Patty Chuchta has unique access to many of the mostly Spanish speaking immigrants and refugees living in the Fair Haven area of New Haven. She knows several families who are shut-in and in need of assistance in such things as grocery delivery, encouragement, prayer, and help in connecting to other needed resources and jobs that might be available through our city and other agencies. All money given to CPC as designated “Clinton Ave. Ministry” will be used to purchase groceries and other needs relative to the people of this neighborhood. Using “Clinton Ave. Ministry” in the memo field, you may write a check or donate online here (write in the designation under Special Projects.” Also, with Patty’s assistance, we will pair those of you might be interested with a specific family such as to deliver groceries to them, or to provide other assistance as able. All of this will be done of course in a way that is respecting sanitation and social distancing best practices. There are also ways we can overcome the language barrier if needed. If you are interested, please contact our Operations Coordinator Annie McHugh.

New Haven Church Family (Bridges of Hope) COVID-19 Specific Opportunities

  • Bridges of Hope, via the ministry of Vertical Church, is coordinating a community-wide food distribution ministry and will be needing many volunteers:
    • Food Sorters - People to work sorting donations, pre-bagging. Limited Exposure. This is set up in a staging area at Vertical with all the proper spacing and distancing requirements.
    • Delivery Team - Deliver food to Seniors in need; employing a no contact delivery policy to limit exposure.
    • Donations Team - People finding donations - No exposure and can be done from home, making calls and finding what is available. Some may opt to visit sites.
    • Stock Pickup/Delivery Team - Travel to CT Foodbank, other stores to pick up donations. Support Pantry teams with logistical travel. Limited exposure.
    • Call Center Team - Calling Seniors and monitoring their needs; providing care, comfort, and prayer by phone.  There is no exposure as this can be done from the comfort of your home. (We will then inform the leaders of areas of need so that we can mobilize to meet them.)
    • Flex Server - Willing to do anything, in any area, and has the ability to be flexible.

To volunteer, go to the Vertical Church Emergency Response Team website to sign up.

Greater New Haven Common Family of Humanity COVID-19 Specific Opportunities

  • Click here to read, and learn how to respond to a Yale School of Medicine Appeal for Personal Protective Equipment donations.
  • Click here to read, and learn how to respnd to the State of CT Government's effort to organize and recruit volunteers. The COVID-19 outbreak has a wide-ranging impact on our citizens and our communities – and that means we need volunteers with a wide range of skill sets to step forward and serve. With your help, we can ensure that every community in Connecticut has the resources needed to combat this pandemic. Volunteers Needed: 
    • You don’t need to be a health care worker. 
    • If you are a health care worker – we have specific needs.
    • You’ll be sent where you’re most needed and feel comfortable. 
    • Every effort is being made to keep volunteers safe. 
       

A LETTER OF ENCOURAGEMENT:  RESPONDING TO COVID-19

 

(March 24, 2020)

Rog Huitink, CPC Mercy Team Leader

How are we all doing?  COVID-19 is a huge change for all of us.  You may want to take a moment to identify all the changes that you and your family have gone through!  None of us have been down this road before!

I think a big piece of what we’re going through is grief.  We normally associate grief with death. Here the death isn’t a friend or family member but it’s the death/huge change of our normal routines and schedules.  We’ve had to adjust and change BIG TIME! With every change, there is loss. Loss of the familiar and routine which previously made life easier and more smooth.  Now we have to think twice before we do anything. Our schedule is different. We’re not able to get what we usually get at the grocery store and have to adjust, etc.

In short, we are going through the two major emotions that we go through anytime when we experience loss or significant change.  One is that we’re taken aback, have to think twice, and find a new way to think and to do things. This new situation/process drags us down and causes a down or blue feeling.  Some even go through significant depression because their world/life has been turned upside-down and seems to be overwhelming to deal with.

The second feeling is anger.  We didn’t cause it! We don’t like it!  It’s not fair! Hopefully we don’t go out and clobber anyone but can you identify feeling a little bit short with others who haven’t done anything against us.  Maybe we even feel that way when we first get out of bed and nothing in our immediate surroundings has happened to cause this feeling -- but the greater environment of life has changed dramatically with COVID-19!

I can identify both of these feelings in me.  Can you identify them in you? When we identify them and note that no one around us did this to hurt us, then we can think about how we as Christians will respond to these changes/feelings.

With God’s help we can go forward.  He will take care of us. As we rely on Him, He will give us patience and the ability to be thoughtful and kind with others and diligent in what we need to do.  Make use of the many resources on our CPC COVID-19 Homepage, especially the pastoral letters/weekly updates that Preston has been sending to us, and our church’s worship services and bulletins during this current season.

As a church we can best care for one another through our life groups and those around us that we know best.  One way we follow the Holy Spirit’s leading is when He puts someone into our mind and so we pray for them and check on them; that’s following the Spirit’s leading.  Be attuned to the good things God puts into your mind to do in the days ahead.

Remember, too, that all of our CPC Life Groups have begun to host “virtual” sharing and prayer meetings like you usually have, but doing it through Zoom on your computer in your own home.

If you need to talk to someone about what you’re experiencing we invite you to request a pastoral visit by clicking here.

May God, who is rich in mercy, fill you with the grace and peace of Christ our Lord!

 

Behold, how good and pleasant it is

    when brothers dwell in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head,

    running down on the beard,

on the beard of Aaron,

    running down on the collar of his robes!

It is like the dew of Hermon,

    which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,

    life forevermore.

~ Psalm 133