UPDATES
Updates from MTCC's Leadership on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
Updates from MTCC's Leadership on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic
AUGUST 27, 2021
Attention parents: this Sunday we will not have any children's classes at any of our services.
Attention parents: this Sunday we will not have any children's classes at any of our services.
APRIL 28, 2021
Listen in for another update on what to expect on Sundays from Lead Pastor, Tony Mendizabal.
Listen in for another update on what to expect on Sundays from Lead Pastor, Tony Mendizabal.
MARCH 31, 2021
Important Update: Take a look as Tony explains the adjustments we’re making in the sanctuary starting this Sunday.
Important Update: Take a look as Tony explains the adjustments we’re making in the sanctuary starting this Sunday.
FEBRUARY 20, 2021
Starting on February 21st, the center section of the sanctuary will no longer have every other row taped off. The two side sections will still allow for greater distancing, and we're asking that even if you sit in the center, you still distance as well as possible.
Starting on February 21st, the center section of the sanctuary will no longer have every other row taped off. The two side sections will still allow for greater distancing, and we're asking that even if you sit in the center, you still distance as well as possible.
DECEMBER 3, 2020
This Sunday, December 6th, we will be back in the building for worship! We are asking everyone to take reasonable precautions as you worship. Here's what that means.
If you've had any COVID symptoms, please watch online. Please sit with your family group and allow six feet between you and another household. Remember that even if you're comfortable with a hug or handshake, someone else might not be right now.
We will have child care for ages three and up at our 9:45 and 11:00 AM services. And if you’re not ready to be back yet, we will still stream the 11:00 AM service on Facebook and Youtube. Love you guys!
This Sunday, December 6th, we will be back in the building for worship! We are asking everyone to take reasonable precautions as you worship. Here's what that means.
If you've had any COVID symptoms, please watch online. Please sit with your family group and allow six feet between you and another household. Remember that even if you're comfortable with a hug or handshake, someone else might not be right now.
We will have child care for ages three and up at our 9:45 and 11:00 AM services. And if you’re not ready to be back yet, we will still stream the 11:00 AM service on Facebook and Youtube. Love you guys!
NOVEMBER 25, 2020
Church Family,
We have taken the last few weeks to evaluate the uptick of positive cases in the community and congregation. Please know that the decision to move to online only was not an easy one, and it will not be a long lasting one. Our plan is to resume onsite services on December 6th. This will give families a ten-day window after celebrating Thanksgiving to look for symptoms. As always, if you are not feeling well, please stay home and enjoy our service on Facebook or Youtube. We love you all and we can’t wait to see you!
-The Elders at Mt. Tabor
Church Family,
We have taken the last few weeks to evaluate the uptick of positive cases in the community and congregation. Please know that the decision to move to online only was not an easy one, and it will not be a long lasting one. Our plan is to resume onsite services on December 6th. This will give families a ten-day window after celebrating Thanksgiving to look for symptoms. As always, if you are not feeling well, please stay home and enjoy our service on Facebook or Youtube. We love you all and we can’t wait to see you!
-The Elders at Mt. Tabor
NOVEMBER 12, 2020
Church Family,
In order to comply with Governor Holcomb's recommendations, there will be no onsite worship at the Mt. Tabor Church building until further notice. As Christians, we want to act responsibly and not put people at risk. Worship will be online each Sunday at 11:00 AM on our Facebook and YouTube pages.
Remember, we are not Christians because we meet in a building. We meet in a building because we are Christians. Let's continue to be Jesus' disciples everyday and ask God to allow us to meet safely again soon. Government is not our savior. Jesus is. But we are to act as good citizens of the government that we live in. Thank you for your understanding during these uncertain times.
-The Elders at Mt. Tabor
Church Family,
In order to comply with Governor Holcomb's recommendations, there will be no onsite worship at the Mt. Tabor Church building until further notice. As Christians, we want to act responsibly and not put people at risk. Worship will be online each Sunday at 11:00 AM on our Facebook and YouTube pages.
Remember, we are not Christians because we meet in a building. We meet in a building because we are Christians. Let's continue to be Jesus' disciples everyday and ask God to allow us to meet safely again soon. Government is not our savior. Jesus is. But we are to act as good citizens of the government that we live in. Thank you for your understanding during these uncertain times.
-The Elders at Mt. Tabor
NOVEMBER 7, 2020
Church Family,
This is Tony, I wanted to take a moment and let you all know that we have had four congregants test positive for COVID-19 this past week. These individuals did not contract the virus at Mount Tabor. Contact tracing has been completed and anyone who may have had contact with these individuals has been notified. I am writing this in the interest of full transparency. I understand that some of you might prefer to stay home for a week or two, and we wanted you to have this information before you arrived at church tomorrow. As you make this decision for yourselves and your families, please remember to pray for those in our congregation and community who have recently been affected by COVID-19.
Love you guys,
Tony
Church Family,
This is Tony, I wanted to take a moment and let you all know that we have had four congregants test positive for COVID-19 this past week. These individuals did not contract the virus at Mount Tabor. Contact tracing has been completed and anyone who may have had contact with these individuals has been notified. I am writing this in the interest of full transparency. I understand that some of you might prefer to stay home for a week or two, and we wanted you to have this information before you arrived at church tomorrow. As you make this decision for yourselves and your families, please remember to pray for those in our congregation and community who have recently been affected by COVID-19.
Love you guys,
Tony
JULY 24, 2020
I think that by now you’ve probably seen or heard about Governor Holcomb’s press conference this past Wednesday. If you haven’t, the governor has mandated that all Hoosiers wear a mask when out in public.
I know some of you think we should have been doing this already and some of you think we should never have to, and I’m going to ask both of you to put your feelings aside on this issue and here’s why.
In Philippians chapter 2 the Apostle Paul instructed his readers with these words. He said,
“In humility, consider others as more important than yourselves.”
Listen, I know that some of you don’t want to wear a mask. If I’m being perfectly honest, it’s not my preference. I think it’s uncomfortable. When I wear my glasses, it makes them fog up, but Paul’s words have been a challenge to me . . . so in humility, I’m going to ask you to consider others as more important than yourselves.
Here’s what that means . . . Governor Holcomb has asked us to wear masks when we’re out in public and at Mount Tabor we are going to comply with the governor’s order.
I know some of you don’t like that, but the elders and I cannot find a compelling biblical reason to ignore the Governor’s order. We are not being asked to do anything that will infringe on our beliefs, we are being asked to consider others as more important than ourselves.
So here is my request, when you come to worship at Mount Tabor starting this Sunday, will you please wear a mask? If you forget one or don’t have one, we have masks and we’ll gladly give you one.
Listen I know some of you are still uncomfortable with onsite worship and that’s okay. We are still streaming the 11 AM worship service on Facebook and YouTube.
Our goal here is to worship God. We can disagree on masks but still agree that God is worthy of praise.
I’ll end with this:
Philippians 2 starting in vs. 3
"3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Jesus did that for us. Let’s do this for each other. Love you guys and I can’t wait to see you.
I think that by now you’ve probably seen or heard about Governor Holcomb’s press conference this past Wednesday. If you haven’t, the governor has mandated that all Hoosiers wear a mask when out in public.
I know some of you think we should have been doing this already and some of you think we should never have to, and I’m going to ask both of you to put your feelings aside on this issue and here’s why.
In Philippians chapter 2 the Apostle Paul instructed his readers with these words. He said,
“In humility, consider others as more important than yourselves.”
Listen, I know that some of you don’t want to wear a mask. If I’m being perfectly honest, it’s not my preference. I think it’s uncomfortable. When I wear my glasses, it makes them fog up, but Paul’s words have been a challenge to me . . . so in humility, I’m going to ask you to consider others as more important than yourselves.
Here’s what that means . . . Governor Holcomb has asked us to wear masks when we’re out in public and at Mount Tabor we are going to comply with the governor’s order.
I know some of you don’t like that, but the elders and I cannot find a compelling biblical reason to ignore the Governor’s order. We are not being asked to do anything that will infringe on our beliefs, we are being asked to consider others as more important than ourselves.
So here is my request, when you come to worship at Mount Tabor starting this Sunday, will you please wear a mask? If you forget one or don’t have one, we have masks and we’ll gladly give you one.
Listen I know some of you are still uncomfortable with onsite worship and that’s okay. We are still streaming the 11 AM worship service on Facebook and YouTube.
Our goal here is to worship God. We can disagree on masks but still agree that God is worthy of praise.
I’ll end with this:
Philippians 2 starting in vs. 3
"3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Jesus did that for us. Let’s do this for each other. Love you guys and I can’t wait to see you.
JUNE 3, 2020
We are so excited to return to on site worship on June 14th! This video is to help get you familiar with what things are going to look like when you come back.
We are so excited to return to on site worship on June 14th! This video is to help get you familiar with what things are going to look like when you come back.
MAY 29, 2020
Hey Church,
Many of you have been asking about when we might return to on-site worship services, and I’m going to share the answer with you in this message. Before I do that, I want you to know that this isn’t something we threw together. This whole process has been built on a foundation of prayer. We’ve been meeting online since March 15th, and we started planning for our return to onsite services on March 16th. At the time, we didn’t really know what that would look like, but we do now. We’ve studied the CDC recommendations, Governor Holcomb’s recommendations, we’ve consulted with medical professionals, the health department, even our insurance provider, all to make sure that the decision we end up with is the best possible decision we can make.
I know what you’re thinking though. You’re thinking, “Tony, I don’t care about any of that, just give me the date.” I can respect that. We will be resuming onsite worship at Tabor on June 14th. We’re going to be making a walk-through video to show you some of the steps we’re putting in place for our return to worship and that will go out next week. For now, I want you to know two things, I love you all, and I can’t wait to see you on June 14th.
-Tony
MAY 7, 2020
Hey Church,
As our country begins to roll out plans for reopening the economy, and resuming a more normal life, we need to share with you what resuming onsite worship services might look like.
We’ve all thought about what that first Sunday back might look like, and we’ve joked about it being like Easter. We’re going to hug everybody and the pastor is going to be like Chris Farley running down the aisle of The Tonight Show high-fiving everyone. Now that the day is getting closer, we’re starting to see that it’s not going to be quite like that. Let me share a little bit about what things will look like when we resume our onsite gatherings on Sundays.
Leah and I go to a spin class at the YMCA, and I’m not sure why, but spin classes are always done in dark rooms. Maybe so that you can’t see how badly you’re struggling? Anyway, at the end of class, our friend, Paul, is always the one who turns on the lights. And when he’s three or four steps away from the light switch, he always turns back and yells, “Lights!” It’s his way of preparing us for the difference our eyes are going to need to adjust to. Some people look down, some people squint, and some people just go on as normal.
As a church, we’re still three or four steps away from the light switch in terms of getting back together. We are not going to resume onsite worship services in May, but we do want you and your family to begin thinking about what returning to gatherings might look like for you. So church, “Lights!”
Now, let’s talk a little about what returning to services is going to look like. We are taking Governor Holcomb’s and the CDC’s guidelines for churches very seriously. When we do return:
How long is Tabor going to operate in this way? I don’t know, but I will tell you this, we plan to return to a more normal Tabor atmosphere when we can. The aforementioned precautions are not going to be a “new normal.” The precautions are simply what this season requires.
With that being said, I want to share a few thoughts that are going to be important to us as a church over the next few months.
1. Please extend grace.
I know some of you are ready to return to worship right now, and some of you think we should continue to social distance through the summer. Please extend grace to us as we weigh these options AND to others in our congregation and community that have different opinions than you. .
2. This is a fluid situation.
As all of this got started, it felt like things were changing on a minute by minute basis. We are working on putting together a plan, but if things change as restrictions are lessened across the state, we may end up back at the drawing board. That is the primary reason we aren’t announcing a concrete date at this moment.
3. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and for the joy of seeing us redeemed, He endured the cross, even though He despised its shame, and right now He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. It is imperative that we remember WHY we do what we do. Our goal in everything here is to see communities changed by Christ. We have not lost sight of that for a second during this season. We have been online and on mission, and we will return to the building when returning furthers the cause of seeing communities changed by Christ.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 29, 2020
Hey Church Family,
I hope you're doing well today. I want to encourage you today as we all begin to think about the end of this social distancing season. We are working on plans for what beginning to gather again might look like. Let me be clear, we do not have a timeline in place yet. That will start with what Governor Holcomb directs, but it's nice to be thinking about things.
As we consider what Sundays will look like, we've also been looking forward to the summer and making plans for other events like VBS.
Throughout this whole season, we have innovated, tried new things, stretched and grown. We will be doing the same with VBS. We want the church to be a safe environment for all of our volunteers and kids. With that said, we will be moving VBS from the week of May 31 to a weekend format on September 18-20.
More details will be released later this summer, but go ahead and mark your calendars for VBS this fall!
Finally, I want to take a moment and ask you to think about Wonder Valley Camp. Right now they're trying to figure out what their summer is going to look like. Here are some things you can do for the camp right now. Make sure you're lifting them up in prayer. Send them an encouraging word. Or if you're able, make a donation to Wonder Valley to help make camp happen.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 8, 2020
Hey Church,
I know that this Easter is unlike any other, and our worship team has worked hard to make it an Easter unlike any other! I cannot wait for you to be a part of this. We're meeting at 11:00 AM on Facebook or Youtube. Make sure to invite your friends and family to join us this weekend as we look at how the resurrection of Jesus changes our lives. We have more information and ways to invite available on our website.
While we will be gathering separately in our homes this year, we've come up with a way to interact together throughout the service by gathering every day items that were elements of Easter. We will use these Easter Elements to bring the message of Easter into clearer focus. Before Sunday, collect a handful of coins, a few nails, bread and juice for communion, and a small handheld mirror. Each item will be used in a specific part of our service.
We are very excited to begin our fundraising campaign today to support the elderly in our community with meals and care packages from Hoosiers Help. #LoveLocal by buying a shirt for everyone you know here. All proceeds benefit Hoosiers Help. Sale ends April 22, 2020.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 1, 2020
As you've probably seen by now, the White House has extended the social distancing guidelines until the end of April in an attempt to help slow the spread of COVID-19. In last night's meeting, the elders agreed that we need to follow those guidelines and do our part in helping to slow the spread. We will continue to meet each week on Facebook and Youtube for worship.
Easter at Tabor is going to look a little different this year. I told Leah the other day that meeting online only is kind of like Diet Coke. It'll get the job done but it sure isn't as good as a regular Coke. And while I long for the day when we can get back to meeting in person, I don't want you to miss the incredible opportunity that we have before us. I want you to think about that person you love who just isn't going to come to church. Do you have that person in mind? What if they watched online? And what if that was their first step toward Christ? That's a greater possibility than it ever has been before! So make sure you share the worship service on your page!
Our staff is still working to innovate and interact together. Here somethings we've got going on:
Wee Worship is providing weekly lessons, worship & activities on the website here. Use the password: weeworship.
Follow Tabor Wee Worship
Tabor Kids! ministry (formerly Jr. Church) is continuing to find new ways to connect with each other. To better do that we have launched a Facebook page just for our elementary kids and their parents.
Follow Tabor Kids!
Rooted is still meeting weekly on Sunday nights at 6:00 PM on both IGTV and Facebook Live, with Life Groups following on Zoom (video conferencing) at 6:30 PM.
Follow Rooted Student Ministry
Love you all,
Tony
MARCH 25, 2020
I want to start by thanking you. This past week we have seen people step up to organize our cooperation with Salem St. Vincent Hospital to make replacement masks, groups delivering meals to high risk individuals, and a strong increase in our online giving. Many of you used online giving for the first time and to that I say, "Thank you."
I am also grateful for your interaction with our online church service! As I'm writing this, last Sunday's service has been viewed to completion on 461 different devices. If you haven't been able to tune in yet, here's a link for YouTube to watch now.
I believe the church has a message worth hearing, and it's never been easier than it is right now to share that message with a world that needs to hear it. Here's how you can help share that hope:
Love you guys,
Tony
MARCH 18, 2020
Thank you for your patience. Right now, things are changing fast. We are doing our best to follow the recommendations of the CDC and local agencies. We have a few updates to our current plans. These changes will be effective immediately and will remain in place through April 5. Again, things are changing fast, so we may reduce or expand these changes based on new information from the CDC or local agencies.
Changes
While these changes are not ideal, they are creating unique opportunities for our church. For example: as of right now, our worship service has been viewed in it’s in entirety on over 400 different devices! Please continue inviting and sharing our live stream!
GIVING -- While we are unable to collect an offering like we would on a normal Sunday, we do still have other giving options. If you’d like to mail your offering to the church, that’s fine, but an even easier option is to give a secure electronic donation by going to our giving page.
HOOSIERS HELP -- Hoosiers Help will be assembling the meals provided by the YMCA and Salem Community Schools. They are in need of volunteers to help. Here are the requirements:
In the coming days, our staff and leadership will be rolling out some creative ways that you can still participate in the ministries you love and care for our communities around us. We are still working to see communities changed by Christ and COVID-19 will not stop that. We love you all and can’t wait to be back together. Until then, stay tuned at mtcchurch.org/updates.
MARCH 13, 2020
This Sunday (3/15) we will be meeting online only at 11:00 AM. You will be able to see the worship service on Facebook or on YouTube.
Hey Church,
Many of you have been asking about when we might return to on-site worship services, and I’m going to share the answer with you in this message. Before I do that, I want you to know that this isn’t something we threw together. This whole process has been built on a foundation of prayer. We’ve been meeting online since March 15th, and we started planning for our return to onsite services on March 16th. At the time, we didn’t really know what that would look like, but we do now. We’ve studied the CDC recommendations, Governor Holcomb’s recommendations, we’ve consulted with medical professionals, the health department, even our insurance provider, all to make sure that the decision we end up with is the best possible decision we can make.
I know what you’re thinking though. You’re thinking, “Tony, I don’t care about any of that, just give me the date.” I can respect that. We will be resuming onsite worship at Tabor on June 14th. We’re going to be making a walk-through video to show you some of the steps we’re putting in place for our return to worship and that will go out next week. For now, I want you to know two things, I love you all, and I can’t wait to see you on June 14th.
-Tony
MAY 7, 2020
Hey Church,
As our country begins to roll out plans for reopening the economy, and resuming a more normal life, we need to share with you what resuming onsite worship services might look like.
We’ve all thought about what that first Sunday back might look like, and we’ve joked about it being like Easter. We’re going to hug everybody and the pastor is going to be like Chris Farley running down the aisle of The Tonight Show high-fiving everyone. Now that the day is getting closer, we’re starting to see that it’s not going to be quite like that. Let me share a little bit about what things will look like when we resume our onsite gatherings on Sundays.
Leah and I go to a spin class at the YMCA, and I’m not sure why, but spin classes are always done in dark rooms. Maybe so that you can’t see how badly you’re struggling? Anyway, at the end of class, our friend, Paul, is always the one who turns on the lights. And when he’s three or four steps away from the light switch, he always turns back and yells, “Lights!” It’s his way of preparing us for the difference our eyes are going to need to adjust to. Some people look down, some people squint, and some people just go on as normal.
As a church, we’re still three or four steps away from the light switch in terms of getting back together. We are not going to resume onsite worship services in May, but we do want you and your family to begin thinking about what returning to gatherings might look like for you. So church, “Lights!”
Now, let’s talk a little about what returning to services is going to look like. We are taking Governor Holcomb’s and the CDC’s guidelines for churches very seriously. When we do return:
- - Seating in the sanctuary will alternate by row.
- - The gym will function as a secondary sanctuary, set up with social distancing in mind.
- - Offering and communion trays will not be passed, but we will still participate in these elements of worship together.
- - Classes for adults and children will not take place.
- - Please follow the precaution for those over 65 or with underlying at-risk health conditions. If you are uncomfortable with attending onsite services, don’t worry. We will continue to post our full worship service online so that you can worship with your church family from the safety of your home on Sundays at 11 AM & 6 PM.
How long is Tabor going to operate in this way? I don’t know, but I will tell you this, we plan to return to a more normal Tabor atmosphere when we can. The aforementioned precautions are not going to be a “new normal.” The precautions are simply what this season requires.
With that being said, I want to share a few thoughts that are going to be important to us as a church over the next few months.
1. Please extend grace.
I know some of you are ready to return to worship right now, and some of you think we should continue to social distance through the summer. Please extend grace to us as we weigh these options AND to others in our congregation and community that have different opinions than you. .
2. This is a fluid situation.
As all of this got started, it felt like things were changing on a minute by minute basis. We are working on putting together a plan, but if things change as restrictions are lessened across the state, we may end up back at the drawing board. That is the primary reason we aren’t announcing a concrete date at this moment.
3. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and for the joy of seeing us redeemed, He endured the cross, even though He despised its shame, and right now He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. It is imperative that we remember WHY we do what we do. Our goal in everything here is to see communities changed by Christ. We have not lost sight of that for a second during this season. We have been online and on mission, and we will return to the building when returning furthers the cause of seeing communities changed by Christ.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 29, 2020
Hey Church Family,
I hope you're doing well today. I want to encourage you today as we all begin to think about the end of this social distancing season. We are working on plans for what beginning to gather again might look like. Let me be clear, we do not have a timeline in place yet. That will start with what Governor Holcomb directs, but it's nice to be thinking about things.
As we consider what Sundays will look like, we've also been looking forward to the summer and making plans for other events like VBS.
Throughout this whole season, we have innovated, tried new things, stretched and grown. We will be doing the same with VBS. We want the church to be a safe environment for all of our volunteers and kids. With that said, we will be moving VBS from the week of May 31 to a weekend format on September 18-20.
More details will be released later this summer, but go ahead and mark your calendars for VBS this fall!
Finally, I want to take a moment and ask you to think about Wonder Valley Camp. Right now they're trying to figure out what their summer is going to look like. Here are some things you can do for the camp right now. Make sure you're lifting them up in prayer. Send them an encouraging word. Or if you're able, make a donation to Wonder Valley to help make camp happen.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 8, 2020
Hey Church,
I know that this Easter is unlike any other, and our worship team has worked hard to make it an Easter unlike any other! I cannot wait for you to be a part of this. We're meeting at 11:00 AM on Facebook or Youtube. Make sure to invite your friends and family to join us this weekend as we look at how the resurrection of Jesus changes our lives. We have more information and ways to invite available on our website.
While we will be gathering separately in our homes this year, we've come up with a way to interact together throughout the service by gathering every day items that were elements of Easter. We will use these Easter Elements to bring the message of Easter into clearer focus. Before Sunday, collect a handful of coins, a few nails, bread and juice for communion, and a small handheld mirror. Each item will be used in a specific part of our service.
We are very excited to begin our fundraising campaign today to support the elderly in our community with meals and care packages from Hoosiers Help. #LoveLocal by buying a shirt for everyone you know here. All proceeds benefit Hoosiers Help. Sale ends April 22, 2020.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 1, 2020
As you've probably seen by now, the White House has extended the social distancing guidelines until the end of April in an attempt to help slow the spread of COVID-19. In last night's meeting, the elders agreed that we need to follow those guidelines and do our part in helping to slow the spread. We will continue to meet each week on Facebook and Youtube for worship.
Easter at Tabor is going to look a little different this year. I told Leah the other day that meeting online only is kind of like Diet Coke. It'll get the job done but it sure isn't as good as a regular Coke. And while I long for the day when we can get back to meeting in person, I don't want you to miss the incredible opportunity that we have before us. I want you to think about that person you love who just isn't going to come to church. Do you have that person in mind? What if they watched online? And what if that was their first step toward Christ? That's a greater possibility than it ever has been before! So make sure you share the worship service on your page!
Our staff is still working to innovate and interact together. Here somethings we've got going on:
Wee Worship is providing weekly lessons, worship & activities on the website here. Use the password: weeworship.
Follow Tabor Wee Worship
Tabor Kids! ministry (formerly Jr. Church) is continuing to find new ways to connect with each other. To better do that we have launched a Facebook page just for our elementary kids and their parents.
Follow Tabor Kids!
Rooted is still meeting weekly on Sunday nights at 6:00 PM on both IGTV and Facebook Live, with Life Groups following on Zoom (video conferencing) at 6:30 PM.
Follow Rooted Student Ministry
Love you all,
Tony
MARCH 25, 2020
I want to start by thanking you. This past week we have seen people step up to organize our cooperation with Salem St. Vincent Hospital to make replacement masks, groups delivering meals to high risk individuals, and a strong increase in our online giving. Many of you used online giving for the first time and to that I say, "Thank you."
I am also grateful for your interaction with our online church service! As I'm writing this, last Sunday's service has been viewed to completion on 461 different devices. If you haven't been able to tune in yet, here's a link for YouTube to watch now.
I believe the church has a message worth hearing, and it's never been easier than it is right now to share that message with a world that needs to hear it. Here's how you can help share that hope:
- When we start service on Sunday, SHARE IT on Facebook.
- Go to the church YouTube page and hit the red subscribe button.
- Call a friend to check on them.
- Sew a mask for St. Vincent Hospital.
Love you guys,
Tony
MARCH 18, 2020
Thank you for your patience. Right now, things are changing fast. We are doing our best to follow the recommendations of the CDC and local agencies. We have a few updates to our current plans. These changes will be effective immediately and will remain in place through April 5. Again, things are changing fast, so we may reduce or expand these changes based on new information from the CDC or local agencies.
Changes
- WORSHIP SERVICES -- Weekend service will continue to be online ONLY through April 5th. Service will again be available on Facebook and Youtube Sundays at 11:00 AM
- EVENTS & ON-CAMPUS GATHERINGS -- All MTCC sponsored events and on-campus gatherings are postponed until further notice. The church is being deep cleaned and we are limiting access to staff and live streaming teams only.
- OFF-CAMPUS GATHERING -- Off-campus gatherings, such as small groups, will meet at the discretion of the leader.
While these changes are not ideal, they are creating unique opportunities for our church. For example: as of right now, our worship service has been viewed in it’s in entirety on over 400 different devices! Please continue inviting and sharing our live stream!
GIVING -- While we are unable to collect an offering like we would on a normal Sunday, we do still have other giving options. If you’d like to mail your offering to the church, that’s fine, but an even easier option is to give a secure electronic donation by going to our giving page.
HOOSIERS HELP -- Hoosiers Help will be assembling the meals provided by the YMCA and Salem Community Schools. They are in need of volunteers to help. Here are the requirements:
- Cannot have young children and/or live with/care for the elderly
- Must be 18-65 years of age
- Must be in good health (no cough, runny nose, or fever)
- Fever checks will be conducted upon arrival
In the coming days, our staff and leadership will be rolling out some creative ways that you can still participate in the ministries you love and care for our communities around us. We are still working to see communities changed by Christ and COVID-19 will not stop that. We love you all and can’t wait to be back together. Until then, stay tuned at mtcchurch.org/updates.
MARCH 13, 2020
This Sunday (3/15) we will be meeting online only at 11:00 AM. You will be able to see the worship service on Facebook or on YouTube.
MAY 7, 2020
Hey Church,
As our country begins to roll out plans for reopening the economy, and resuming a more normal life, we need to share with you what resuming onsite worship services might look like.
We’ve all thought about what that first Sunday back might look like, and we’ve joked about it being like Easter. We’re going to hug everybody and the pastor is going to be like Chris Farley running down the aisle of The Tonight Show high-fiving everyone. Now that the day is getting closer, we’re starting to see that it’s not going to be quite like that. Let me share a little bit about what things will look like when we resume our onsite gatherings on Sundays.
Leah and I go to a spin class at the YMCA, and I’m not sure why, but spin classes are always done in dark rooms. Maybe so that you can’t see how badly you’re struggling? Anyway, at the end of class, our friend, Paul, is always the one who turns on the lights. And when he’s three or four steps away from the light switch, he always turns back and yells, “Lights!” It’s his way of preparing us for the difference our eyes are going to need to adjust to. Some people look down, some people squint, and some people just go on as normal.
As a church, we’re still three or four steps away from the light switch in terms of getting back together. We are not going to resume onsite worship services in May, but we do want you and your family to begin thinking about what returning to gatherings might look like for you. So church, “Lights!”
Now, let’s talk a little about what returning to services is going to look like. We are taking Governor Holcomb’s and the CDC’s guidelines for churches very seriously. When we do return:
How long is Tabor going to operate in this way? I don’t know, but I will tell you this, we plan to return to a more normal Tabor atmosphere when we can. The aforementioned precautions are not going to be a “new normal.” The precautions are simply what this season requires.
With that being said, I want to share a few thoughts that are going to be important to us as a church over the next few months.
1. Please extend grace.
I know some of you are ready to return to worship right now, and some of you think we should continue to social distance through the summer. Please extend grace to us as we weigh these options AND to others in our congregation and community that have different opinions than you. .
2. This is a fluid situation.
As all of this got started, it felt like things were changing on a minute by minute basis. We are working on putting together a plan, but if things change as restrictions are lessened across the state, we may end up back at the drawing board. That is the primary reason we aren’t announcing a concrete date at this moment.
3. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and for the joy of seeing us redeemed, He endured the cross, even though He despised its shame, and right now He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. It is imperative that we remember WHY we do what we do. Our goal in everything here is to see communities changed by Christ. We have not lost sight of that for a second during this season. We have been online and on mission, and we will return to the building when returning furthers the cause of seeing communities changed by Christ.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 29, 2020
Hey Church Family,
I hope you're doing well today. I want to encourage you today as we all begin to think about the end of this social distancing season. We are working on plans for what beginning to gather again might look like. Let me be clear, we do not have a timeline in place yet. That will start with what Governor Holcomb directs, but it's nice to be thinking about things.
As we consider what Sundays will look like, we've also been looking forward to the summer and making plans for other events like VBS.
Throughout this whole season, we have innovated, tried new things, stretched and grown. We will be doing the same with VBS. We want the church to be a safe environment for all of our volunteers and kids. With that said, we will be moving VBS from the week of May 31 to a weekend format on September 18-20.
More details will be released later this summer, but go ahead and mark your calendars for VBS this fall!
Finally, I want to take a moment and ask you to think about Wonder Valley Camp. Right now they're trying to figure out what their summer is going to look like. Here are some things you can do for the camp right now. Make sure you're lifting them up in prayer. Send them an encouraging word. Or if you're able, make a donation to Wonder Valley to help make camp happen.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 8, 2020
Hey Church,
I know that this Easter is unlike any other, and our worship team has worked hard to make it an Easter unlike any other! I cannot wait for you to be a part of this. We're meeting at 11:00 AM on Facebook or Youtube. Make sure to invite your friends and family to join us this weekend as we look at how the resurrection of Jesus changes our lives. We have more information and ways to invite available on our website.
While we will be gathering separately in our homes this year, we've come up with a way to interact together throughout the service by gathering every day items that were elements of Easter. We will use these Easter Elements to bring the message of Easter into clearer focus. Before Sunday, collect a handful of coins, a few nails, bread and juice for communion, and a small handheld mirror. Each item will be used in a specific part of our service.
We are very excited to begin our fundraising campaign today to support the elderly in our community with meals and care packages from Hoosiers Help. #LoveLocal by buying a shirt for everyone you know here. All proceeds benefit Hoosiers Help. Sale ends April 22, 2020.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 1, 2020
As you've probably seen by now, the White House has extended the social distancing guidelines until the end of April in an attempt to help slow the spread of COVID-19. In last night's meeting, the elders agreed that we need to follow those guidelines and do our part in helping to slow the spread. We will continue to meet each week on Facebook and Youtube for worship.
Easter at Tabor is going to look a little different this year. I told Leah the other day that meeting online only is kind of like Diet Coke. It'll get the job done but it sure isn't as good as a regular Coke. And while I long for the day when we can get back to meeting in person, I don't want you to miss the incredible opportunity that we have before us. I want you to think about that person you love who just isn't going to come to church. Do you have that person in mind? What if they watched online? And what if that was their first step toward Christ? That's a greater possibility than it ever has been before! So make sure you share the worship service on your page!
Our staff is still working to innovate and interact together. Here somethings we've got going on:
Wee Worship is providing weekly lessons, worship & activities on the website here. Use the password: weeworship.
Follow Tabor Wee Worship
Tabor Kids! ministry (formerly Jr. Church) is continuing to find new ways to connect with each other. To better do that we have launched a Facebook page just for our elementary kids and their parents.
Follow Tabor Kids!
Rooted is still meeting weekly on Sunday nights at 6:00 PM on both IGTV and Facebook Live, with Life Groups following on Zoom (video conferencing) at 6:30 PM.
Follow Rooted Student Ministry
Love you all,
Tony
MARCH 25, 2020
I want to start by thanking you. This past week we have seen people step up to organize our cooperation with Salem St. Vincent Hospital to make replacement masks, groups delivering meals to high risk individuals, and a strong increase in our online giving. Many of you used online giving for the first time and to that I say, "Thank you."
I am also grateful for your interaction with our online church service! As I'm writing this, last Sunday's service has been viewed to completion on 461 different devices. If you haven't been able to tune in yet, here's a link for YouTube to watch now.
I believe the church has a message worth hearing, and it's never been easier than it is right now to share that message with a world that needs to hear it. Here's how you can help share that hope:
Love you guys,
Tony
MARCH 18, 2020
Thank you for your patience. Right now, things are changing fast. We are doing our best to follow the recommendations of the CDC and local agencies. We have a few updates to our current plans. These changes will be effective immediately and will remain in place through April 5. Again, things are changing fast, so we may reduce or expand these changes based on new information from the CDC or local agencies.
Changes
While these changes are not ideal, they are creating unique opportunities for our church. For example: as of right now, our worship service has been viewed in it’s in entirety on over 400 different devices! Please continue inviting and sharing our live stream!
GIVING -- While we are unable to collect an offering like we would on a normal Sunday, we do still have other giving options. If you’d like to mail your offering to the church, that’s fine, but an even easier option is to give a secure electronic donation by going to our giving page.
HOOSIERS HELP -- Hoosiers Help will be assembling the meals provided by the YMCA and Salem Community Schools. They are in need of volunteers to help. Here are the requirements:
In the coming days, our staff and leadership will be rolling out some creative ways that you can still participate in the ministries you love and care for our communities around us. We are still working to see communities changed by Christ and COVID-19 will not stop that. We love you all and can’t wait to be back together. Until then, stay tuned at mtcchurch.org/updates.
MARCH 13, 2020
This Sunday (3/15) we will be meeting online only at 11:00 AM. You will be able to see the worship service on Facebook or on YouTube.
Hey Church,
As our country begins to roll out plans for reopening the economy, and resuming a more normal life, we need to share with you what resuming onsite worship services might look like.
We’ve all thought about what that first Sunday back might look like, and we’ve joked about it being like Easter. We’re going to hug everybody and the pastor is going to be like Chris Farley running down the aisle of The Tonight Show high-fiving everyone. Now that the day is getting closer, we’re starting to see that it’s not going to be quite like that. Let me share a little bit about what things will look like when we resume our onsite gatherings on Sundays.
Leah and I go to a spin class at the YMCA, and I’m not sure why, but spin classes are always done in dark rooms. Maybe so that you can’t see how badly you’re struggling? Anyway, at the end of class, our friend, Paul, is always the one who turns on the lights. And when he’s three or four steps away from the light switch, he always turns back and yells, “Lights!” It’s his way of preparing us for the difference our eyes are going to need to adjust to. Some people look down, some people squint, and some people just go on as normal.
As a church, we’re still three or four steps away from the light switch in terms of getting back together. We are not going to resume onsite worship services in May, but we do want you and your family to begin thinking about what returning to gatherings might look like for you. So church, “Lights!”
Now, let’s talk a little about what returning to services is going to look like. We are taking Governor Holcomb’s and the CDC’s guidelines for churches very seriously. When we do return:
- - Seating in the sanctuary will alternate by row.
- - The gym will function as a secondary sanctuary, set up with social distancing in mind.
- - Offering and communion trays will not be passed, but we will still participate in these elements of worship together.
- - Classes for adults and children will not take place.
- - Please follow the precaution for those over 65 or with underlying at-risk health conditions. If you are uncomfortable with attending onsite services, don’t worry. We will continue to post our full worship service online so that you can worship with your church family from the safety of your home on Sundays at 11 AM & 6 PM.
How long is Tabor going to operate in this way? I don’t know, but I will tell you this, we plan to return to a more normal Tabor atmosphere when we can. The aforementioned precautions are not going to be a “new normal.” The precautions are simply what this season requires.
With that being said, I want to share a few thoughts that are going to be important to us as a church over the next few months.
1. Please extend grace.
I know some of you are ready to return to worship right now, and some of you think we should continue to social distance through the summer. Please extend grace to us as we weigh these options AND to others in our congregation and community that have different opinions than you. .
2. This is a fluid situation.
As all of this got started, it felt like things were changing on a minute by minute basis. We are working on putting together a plan, but if things change as restrictions are lessened across the state, we may end up back at the drawing board. That is the primary reason we aren’t announcing a concrete date at this moment.
3. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and for the joy of seeing us redeemed, He endured the cross, even though He despised its shame, and right now He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. It is imperative that we remember WHY we do what we do. Our goal in everything here is to see communities changed by Christ. We have not lost sight of that for a second during this season. We have been online and on mission, and we will return to the building when returning furthers the cause of seeing communities changed by Christ.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 29, 2020
Hey Church Family,
I hope you're doing well today. I want to encourage you today as we all begin to think about the end of this social distancing season. We are working on plans for what beginning to gather again might look like. Let me be clear, we do not have a timeline in place yet. That will start with what Governor Holcomb directs, but it's nice to be thinking about things.
As we consider what Sundays will look like, we've also been looking forward to the summer and making plans for other events like VBS.
Throughout this whole season, we have innovated, tried new things, stretched and grown. We will be doing the same with VBS. We want the church to be a safe environment for all of our volunteers and kids. With that said, we will be moving VBS from the week of May 31 to a weekend format on September 18-20.
More details will be released later this summer, but go ahead and mark your calendars for VBS this fall!
Finally, I want to take a moment and ask you to think about Wonder Valley Camp. Right now they're trying to figure out what their summer is going to look like. Here are some things you can do for the camp right now. Make sure you're lifting them up in prayer. Send them an encouraging word. Or if you're able, make a donation to Wonder Valley to help make camp happen.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 8, 2020
Hey Church,
I know that this Easter is unlike any other, and our worship team has worked hard to make it an Easter unlike any other! I cannot wait for you to be a part of this. We're meeting at 11:00 AM on Facebook or Youtube. Make sure to invite your friends and family to join us this weekend as we look at how the resurrection of Jesus changes our lives. We have more information and ways to invite available on our website.
While we will be gathering separately in our homes this year, we've come up with a way to interact together throughout the service by gathering every day items that were elements of Easter. We will use these Easter Elements to bring the message of Easter into clearer focus. Before Sunday, collect a handful of coins, a few nails, bread and juice for communion, and a small handheld mirror. Each item will be used in a specific part of our service.
We are very excited to begin our fundraising campaign today to support the elderly in our community with meals and care packages from Hoosiers Help. #LoveLocal by buying a shirt for everyone you know here. All proceeds benefit Hoosiers Help. Sale ends April 22, 2020.
Love you guys,
Tony
APRIL 1, 2020
As you've probably seen by now, the White House has extended the social distancing guidelines until the end of April in an attempt to help slow the spread of COVID-19. In last night's meeting, the elders agreed that we need to follow those guidelines and do our part in helping to slow the spread. We will continue to meet each week on Facebook and Youtube for worship.
Easter at Tabor is going to look a little different this year. I told Leah the other day that meeting online only is kind of like Diet Coke. It'll get the job done but it sure isn't as good as a regular Coke. And while I long for the day when we can get back to meeting in person, I don't want you to miss the incredible opportunity that we have before us. I want you to think about that person you love who just isn't going to come to church. Do you have that person in mind? What if they watched online? And what if that was their first step toward Christ? That's a greater possibility than it ever has been before! So make sure you share the worship service on your page!
Our staff is still working to innovate and interact together. Here somethings we've got going on:
Wee Worship is providing weekly lessons, worship & activities on the website here. Use the password: weeworship.
Follow Tabor Wee Worship
Tabor Kids! ministry (formerly Jr. Church) is continuing to find new ways to connect with each other. To better do that we have launched a Facebook page just for our elementary kids and their parents.
Follow Tabor Kids!
Rooted is still meeting weekly on Sunday nights at 6:00 PM on both IGTV and Facebook Live, with Life Groups following on Zoom (video conferencing) at 6:30 PM.
Follow Rooted Student Ministry
Love you all,
Tony
MARCH 25, 2020
I want to start by thanking you. This past week we have seen people step up to organize our cooperation with Salem St. Vincent Hospital to make replacement masks, groups delivering meals to high risk individuals, and a strong increase in our online giving. Many of you used online giving for the first time and to that I say, "Thank you."
I am also grateful for your interaction with our online church service! As I'm writing this, last Sunday's service has been viewed to completion on 461 different devices. If you haven't been able to tune in yet, here's a link for YouTube to watch now.
I believe the church has a message worth hearing, and it's never been easier than it is right now to share that message with a world that needs to hear it. Here's how you can help share that hope:
- When we start service on Sunday, SHARE IT on Facebook.
- Go to the church YouTube page and hit the red subscribe button.
- Call a friend to check on them.
- Sew a mask for St. Vincent Hospital.
Love you guys,
Tony
MARCH 18, 2020
Thank you for your patience. Right now, things are changing fast. We are doing our best to follow the recommendations of the CDC and local agencies. We have a few updates to our current plans. These changes will be effective immediately and will remain in place through April 5. Again, things are changing fast, so we may reduce or expand these changes based on new information from the CDC or local agencies.
Changes
- WORSHIP SERVICES -- Weekend service will continue to be online ONLY through April 5th. Service will again be available on Facebook and Youtube Sundays at 11:00 AM
- EVENTS & ON-CAMPUS GATHERINGS -- All MTCC sponsored events and on-campus gatherings are postponed until further notice. The church is being deep cleaned and we are limiting access to staff and live streaming teams only.
- OFF-CAMPUS GATHERING -- Off-campus gatherings, such as small groups, will meet at the discretion of the leader.
While these changes are not ideal, they are creating unique opportunities for our church. For example: as of right now, our worship service has been viewed in it’s in entirety on over 400 different devices! Please continue inviting and sharing our live stream!
GIVING -- While we are unable to collect an offering like we would on a normal Sunday, we do still have other giving options. If you’d like to mail your offering to the church, that’s fine, but an even easier option is to give a secure electronic donation by going to our giving page.
HOOSIERS HELP -- Hoosiers Help will be assembling the meals provided by the YMCA and Salem Community Schools. They are in need of volunteers to help. Here are the requirements:
- Cannot have young children and/or live with/care for the elderly
- Must be 18-65 years of age
- Must be in good health (no cough, runny nose, or fever)
- Fever checks will be conducted upon arrival
In the coming days, our staff and leadership will be rolling out some creative ways that you can still participate in the ministries you love and care for our communities around us. We are still working to see communities changed by Christ and COVID-19 will not stop that. We love you all and can’t wait to be back together. Until then, stay tuned at mtcchurch.org/updates.
MARCH 13, 2020
This Sunday (3/15) we will be meeting online only at 11:00 AM. You will be able to see the worship service on Facebook or on YouTube.