Church News
Dinner Bell Menu for May 6, 2020
The Community Partner for May 6 is Diversified Storage.
Dinner Bell for the present continues as a GRAB and GO operation. Meals are distributed from the covered driveway (porte cochere) at the Northeast corner of the First United Methodist Church campus. Enter from North Davis onto Fleming Street and continue to follow the driveway ending on Church Street. Meal time is 11:45 a.m. but the food boxes are usually ready for distribution around 11:30 a.m.
MENU
Baked Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Garlic
Rice Pilaf
Oven Roasted Carrots
Garden Salad with Hidden Valley Ranch cups
Buttered French Bread Slices
Fresh Fruit
PLEASE take care of yourselves. Keep safe distances, wash your hands OFTEN, and wear your masks. I want to see you when we can once again meet around the tables in Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church. BE CAREFUL!!!
Please take care of yourself. Stay six feet from people. Wash your hands often, often, often. Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you must be out in public. Stay home as much as is possible. I WANT TO SEE YOU IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL WHEN THIS QUARANTINE IS OVER!!!
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
Dinner Bell Menu for April 29, 2020
It is still GRAB and GO for Dinner Bell. The VFW Post 8560 is the COMMUNITY PARTNER.
MENU
Hamburger Steak with Brown Onion Gravy over
Seasoned Rice
Squash and Corn Casserole (this is a family favorite of mine)
Garden Salad
Buttered French Bread
Fresh Fruit
Enter behind First United Methodist Church from North Davis onto Fleming Streer. Continue to the food distribution area (covered [porte cochere] drive way).
PLEASE wash hands often , stay six feet from persons and try to stay home. We want to see you when Dinner Bell can once again entertain you in the Fellowship Hall.
The meat for this meal was graciously donated by Rail 19.
Please take care of yourself. Stay six feet from people. Wash your hands often, often, often. Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you must be out in public. Stay home as much as is possible. I WANT TO SEE YOU IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL WHEN THIS QUARANTINE IS OVER!!!
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
Commissioners Court Delayed Making A Decision For Disaster Declaration
Hopkins County Commissioners Court continue delaying a decision on whether or not to approve an amended public health emergency disaster declaration Monday.
During the morning Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom initially recommended extending the second amended disaster declaration he put in place April 20 following Governor Greg Abbott’s April 17 updated orders related to COVID-19 measures. This would allow it to stay in place reflecting the current orders in place from the state, and could be updated if the Governor in his address this afternoon makes changes to the restrictions. The court then could hold a special session or emergency meeting as needed to update the declaration for those changes.
Precinct 3 Commissioner Wade Bartley asked whether the order needed to be extended this morning to reflect the Governor’s previous orders if they very likely will change this afternoon.
Newsom acknowledge that the order for the county would likely need to be amended a third time to match any changes announced at the 2:30 p.m. press conference at the state level.
He said he is very grateful Hopkins County is doing very well, with all four of the diagnosed positive patients well and recovered from COVID-19. The county needs to keep doing well. There have been no new cases in over 3 weeks.
It was pointed out that a nursing home in Paris over the weekend had numerous patients test positive for COVID-19, escalating the numbers for that county significantly higher. While Hopkins County nursing homes and senior citizens hoe have done very well, Hopkins County still must protect residents.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Greg Anglin said while he doesn’t want to go against the state order, he feels it is important to get the ball rolling toward reopening all businesses in Hopkins County as soon as possible.
Bartley noted that the businesses hurt worst by the shutdown of all except essential businesses have been mom and pop style small businesses.
Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Barker said it is his opinion that the businesses should be responsible for what goes on at their location. Each should be expected to sanitize things regularly. People should wear masks if they wish when going out in public. It should be up to the individual or business what health safety measures they take.
Precinct 4 Commissioner Joe Price said he’s taken at least one call from individuals who indicated they were very close to having to go out of business due to the COVID-19 regulations for business closures.
“Is it the government’s responsibility to control common sense?” Barker asked.
Bartley said extending the order wouldn’t match if the Governor today issues guidelines resending the closures and allowing businesses to open back up.
After the discussion, Newsom’s motion and the second to withdraw the motion to extend the amended declaration were taken back. The court entered into recess, with the intent to reconvene after the governor’s press conference this afternoon, to determine what if any action will be taken regarding an extension of the public health safety disaster declaration. If no action is taken, the second amended county disaster declaration put on by Newsom last week will expire.
A work session with the various county departments convened in the interim.
The court reconvened in regular session following the Governor’s afternoon press conference. They discussed the changes outlined by Governor Greg Abbott in executive order 18, which will start May 1. Retail businesses libraries, museums, dine-in restaurants, movie theaters and shopping malls are allowed to reopen for in-store shopping and business with occupancy limited to 25 percent in each, with options to open up to 50 percent occupancy in counties that have five or fewer COVID-19 cases. Certain guidelines must be followed as well.
Local government operations for permitting, records and document filing services may reopen as well. Golf courses can reopen, and outdoor sports with up to four participants with distancing parameters observed may be reopened. Individuals working alone in an office too may provide services under the new order.
Nursing homes and facilities of that nature will remain closed to visitors during Phase I of the Governor’s plan to reopen state services and businesses.
Churches can conduct religious services provided they observe social distancing.
Hopkins County Regional Civic Center General Manager Lonnie Fox asked what that would mean for events at the Civic Center. Most gatherings, especially large gatherings, are still a ways off — until at least May 18 when the Governor said Phase II could potentially go into effect if Texans continues to do their part, observing guidelines, to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Concern was expressed by the commissioners and judge for some businesses that were not specifically listed to reopen.
The Commissioners Court agreed to once again recess the meeting, which is to resume at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 28. That will give Newsom and the commissioners more time to delve into the guidelines and potentially recommend and consider approving a second amended disaster declaration in accordance with the Executive Order 18.
Governor Abbott Outlined Plans To Reopen Texas
Governor Greg Abbott outlined plans to reopen Texas during his press conference Monday afternoon. The stay at home safe order in place will be allowed to expire at the end of the month. He outlined a plan to begin opening businesses starting May 1.
Abbott said the stay at home safe order had done it’s place to reduce the spread of COVID-19. He announced three phases to reopen businesses in increments,
All retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters and malls can reopen May 1, provided they minimize exposure and limit occupancy to no more than 25 percent.
If Phase I works, Phase II will allow businesses to open with 50 percent occupancy. This could happen around May 18, depending on COVID-19 remaining containing. The state then would continue to expand as long as COVID-19 remains contained.
This allows businesses to re-open, but does not require them to do so. If a business feels unsafe or does not want to reopen, that business is not requirement to do so, Abbott said.
All museums and libraries can reopen with occupancy up to 25 percent. Hands-on exhibits in museums are to remain closed. Museums do not have to reopen, but do have permission to do so
Churches and places of worship, kept open to an extent under the existing order, will be able to expand capacity even more. Abbott emphasized the importance of safe distancing practices to ensure church members remain protected.
Services provided by an individual working alone in an office; and local governmental operations relating to permitting, recordation, and document-filing services, as determined by local government, are also within the scope of reopenings authorized in the April 27 Governor’s Executive Order 18.
Before another stage is authorized, test tracking will be conducted and analyzed, with more testing sites and tests to be available. Among the data to be considered will be hospitalization rates, new cases, whether the numbers or flat and the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 during the first couple of weeks in May.
Outdoor sports will once again be allowed in Phase 1. However, they can involve no more than 4 participants at any 1 time, so long as distancing practices follow. Abbott used golf and tennis as examples. If COVID-19 remains contained in Phase I, that number will be expanded in Phase II expand to allow more sporting activities.
Nurses, doctors and dentist in the first phase will be able to get back to work. All licensed health care professionals allowed to return to work with a few capacity guidelines.
Hospitals will be required to reserve 15 percent capacity for COVID-19 patients.
Essential services will continue to operate as they have been doing in Phase I.
Abbott acknowledged that Texas is a big state with a diverse geography, and not all counties are affected the same by COVID-19. even in low population counties COVID-19 can spread rapidly.
Abbot noted that counties with 5 or fewer COVID-19 patients — about half the state — could potentially be allowed to increase their capacity in facilities to 50 percent, provided they comply with the safety standards outlined by doctors. For specifics, refer to the manual available at gov.texas.gov/opentexas.
If an area or the state has a sudden huge rise or significant outbreak of COVID-19, then those areas or the state would revert back to more limited capacity.
“Some businesses want to open. Texans want them to open, but. it’s not safe enough to open them all at this time. Barber shops, hair salons, bars and gyms are to remain closed. We are working to open business as soon as possible. We hope to open them on or no later than mid May,” Abbott said.
Because they require such close contact and proximity, it’s very difficult to open those at this time, the Governor noted, but plans are being explored to allow those businesses to open soon as well.
The most important element to re-opening business is to continue to protect the most vulnerable populations, especially the elderly. Seventy-five percent of deaths are peple 65 and older.
“If we redouble our efforts to protect our most vulnerable citizens, we can reduce deaths while expanding the workforce and the number reentering the workforce,” the Governor said.
Abbott said re-opening businesses safely will depending on Texans’ commitment to continue safe distancing practices to reduce the potential spread COVID-19.
Visitation is still restricted at nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living facilities, or long-term care facilities, which are to follow the infection control policies set by Texas Health and Human Services Commission. That includes minimizing the movement of staff between facilities when possible, according to Executive Order 18.
Schools will remain closed to in-person student classroom attendance through the end of the 2019-20 school year, per the CDC and President’s guidelines.
Governor, AG Issue Updated Guidance To Houses Of Worship
AUSTIN – Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued updated joint guidance regarding the effect of Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-16 on religious services conducted by congregations and houses of worship. The updated guidance to houses of worship recommends strategies to effectively slow the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) while serving their respective communities of faith.
“Government and faith communities throughout Texas must work together to care for our neighbors and slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This updated guidance provides clear direction for houses of worship to protect the health and safety of their congregations as they continue to hold religious services, exercise religious liberty and serve their faith communities.”
All emergency orders must comply with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, Article I of the Texas Constitution, and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which protect the rights of Texans to freely exercise their religion. Consistent with those protections, Executive Order GA-16 defines essential services to include “religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship.” Orders given by state or local governments, therefore, may not prohibit people from providing or obtaining those religious services. And importantly, under GA-16, local government may not close houses of worship.
Dinner Bell Menu for April 22, 2020
Alliance Bank is the Community Partner for April 22, 2020.
We are still serving Dinner Bell from the covered driveway at the Northeast corner of First United Methodist Church as “Grab and Go” meals!
MENU
Chicken Pot Pie
Italian Cut Green Beans (bacon infused)
Marinated Vegetable Salad over chopped lettuce
Buttered Biscuits
Pumpkin Muffins with Streusel Topping
Dinner Bell is pleased to continue to offer meals during this time of QUARANTINE in a safe and non threatening manner. Please enter the driveway from North Davis onto Fleming Street and continue until you see the food distribution area. Please follow rules for safety during this pandemic time. We want to see your smiling faces when we can reopen the Fellowship Hall for seated dining.
Please take care of yourself. Stay six feet from people. Wash your hands often, often, often. Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you must be out in public. Stay home as much as is possible. I WANT TO SEE YOU IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL WHEN THIS QUARANTINE IS OVER!!!
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
Dinner Bell Menu for April 15, 2020
t is another Grab and Go through the covered driveway northeastern side of First United Methodist Church!
City National Bank is the Community Partner
Mexican Lasagna
Pinto Beans
Frito Corn Salad
Assorted Cookies
Drive through starts at 11:45 a.m. You may receive as many meals as are persons in the car.
Please take care of yourself. Stay six feet from people. Wash your hands often, often, often. Wear a covering over your mouth and nose when you must be out in public. Stay home as much as is possible. I WANT TO SEE YOU IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL WHEN THIS QUARANTINE IS OVER!!!
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
Dinner Bell Menu for April 8, 2020
Our Easter Meal with Clayton Homes as the Community Partner
It is still GRAB-and-Go entering Fleming Street from North Davis and heading on east to the covered driveway where meals will be distributed. (The covered driveway is across Church Street from the Post Office).
Same procedure as last Wednesday. This will continue until we can re-open the Fellowship Hall for seated meals.
MENU
Balsamic Glazed Ham Slices
Wild Rice and Long Grain Rice Casserole
Broccoli Salad
Yeast Rolls and Butter
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Dinner Bell at First United Methodist Church is pleased we can continue meal distribution during this pandemic. Please cooperate, follow the plan and meals will be distributed with ease.
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
Governor, AG Provide Guidance For Houses Of Worship During COVID-19
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued joint guidance regarding the effect of Executive Order GA 14 on religious services conducted in congregations and houses of worship during COVID-19 pandemic.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott 
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
“All Texans must work together to stop the spread of COVID-19, and houses of worship face a particular challenge as we work to combat this pandemic,” said Attorney General Paxton. “This guidance provides clear direction for houses of worship to protect the health and safety of Texans as they continue to hold religious services, exercise their religious liberty, and serve their faith communities.”
The Executive Order GA 14 defines essential services to include “religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship.”
Orders given by state or local governments prohibiting people from providing or obtaining certain services must ensure that the orders do not violate the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, Article I of the Texas Constitution, and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which protect the rights of Texans to freely exercise their religion.
The government must give special consideration to houses of worship when issuing orders related to the COVID-19 crisis.
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I of the Texas Constitution protect the right of Texans to freely exercise their religion. In addition, the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”) provides even stronger protections to faith communities, and government must ensure that it complies with RFRA when it acts. Thus, when state or local governments issue orders prohibiting people from providing or obtaining certain services, they must ensure that these orders do not violate these constitutional and statutory rights.
Houses of worship provide “essential services.”
On March 31, 2020, Governor Abbott issued Executive Order GA 14, which defines essential services to include “religious services conducted in churches, congregations, and houses of worship.”1 Institutions providing these essential services can provide them under certain conditions described in Executive Order GA 14 and local orders by counties or municipalities that are consistent with GA 14. To the extent there is
conflict between the Governor’s Executive Order GA 14 and local orders, GA 14 controls.
Houses of worship must, whenever possible, conduct their activities from home or through remote audio or video services.
Houses of worship often gather as large groups of people in one building during a religious service or activity. But during this public health crisis, in accordance with guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), and Texas Department of State Health Services (“Texas DSHS”), providers of essential services must follow certain mitigation strategies to slow the spread of the virus. Thus, under the Governor’s Executive Order GA 14, houses of worship should conduct remote audio, video, or teleconference activities whenever possible.
If a house of worship cannot conduct its activities remotely, then the White House and CDC guidelines still control in order to stop the spread of Coronavirus.
If a house of worship cannot conduct its service remotely due to a lack of capability (technological or financial), then it should follow the Governor’s Executive Order GA 14, that houses of worship are to conduct their activities in accordance with the White House Guidelines. For example:
- Instruct sick employees, volunteers, and guests to stay home;
- Practice social distancing by maintaining appropriate distance between people;
- Maintain good hygiene by washing your hands frequently, using hand sanitizer, using your elbow to cover coughs, and not touching your face; and
- Clean and disinfect work areas frequently.
Houses of worship, like providers of other essential services, are to follow additional guidance from the White House and CDC whenever possible.
Some houses of worship must avoid large gatherings.
Texas is a big state and the transmission rate of COVID-19 varies in different
communities. Given this, houses of worship should work with counties and
municipalities to evaluate the rate of local community spread and determine the appropriate level of mitigation strategies to implement. For example, more detailed guidance from the CDC currently recommends that if a community is experiencing substantial community spread of COVID-19, then the houses of worship in that community should cancel all in-person gatherings of any size. But if a community is experiencing moderate to substantial spread, then the CDC recommends a reduction of activities in coordination with local health officials, possible smaller gatherings incorporating social-distancing measures, cancelation of activities with 10 or more people when high-risk populations attend in person (including those over 65 and those with underlying medical conditions), and use of creative means to deliver other faith-based services. For more information, houses of worship should consult CDC guidance.
For example, a church may hold Easter services in its parking lot, with attendees remaining in their cars (windows down), parked in every other parking spot, with the minister using amplification to preach. Or because Executive Order GA 14 permits drive-thrus to operate, then a house of worship may, according to their faith practices, provide communion or a blessing through a similar drive-up service. Or pastors with smaller congregations may consider conducting multiple services of 10 people or
fewer in their sanctuaries, so long as they maintain appropriate social distancing, properly sanitize the building between each service, and provide hand sanitizer.
These restrictions do not violate the religious liberty of houses of worship.
Under the extraordinary circumstances in which we temporarily live, these
restrictions do not violate the religious liberty of houses of worship because the government has a compelling interest for implementing the rules (stopping contagion) and the rules are the least restrictive means of burdening religious practice (they allow houses of worship to stay open for ministry, but suggest ways that help stop the spread of COVID-19).
Dinner Bell Today With Some Changes
The First United Methodist Church will be providing ready-to-go meals today, starting at 11:45 AM. This is a necessary retooling of the popular Dinner Bell program started in 2012.
“Everyone’s safety is our first priority,” said Judy Gilbreath. Rev Ed Lantz had this to add, “We want to welcome everyone, but at the same time we also need to keep everyone safe. We have some new rules, and they are for everyone’s protection.”
That’s the primary reason no dining will be allowed on site. People wanting a free community meal will need to grab an already prepared meal and go. Furthermore, the only place you can get a meal is under the large carport on the North East corner of the building. (See picture below)
Dinner Bell will serve drive-ups, and walk-ups today. Participants will be encouraged to return home, and not loiter on the premises. Enforcing “social distancing” is a must.
The mission of the Dinner Bell is to end hunger in Hopkins County. Fresh, hot, nutritious meals are prepared by volunteers each Wednesday and served to our guests at the First United Methodist Church. Through the generous support of church and community members and corporate sponsors we have been able to serve over 20,000 meals to those in need since opening our kitchen in 2012.
If you or your business would like to sponsor a Dinner Bell meal, give them a call at 903.885.2185
