NIKKI’S NOTIONS

Dear Friends,

With the spread of the coronavirus and shelter in place orders on us, we're living through unprecedented things. These are challenging times, and in response, I would like to draw our attention to two imperatives: staying healthy and staying connected.

Know the Facts to Stay Healthy!
The Center for Disease Control website has excellent information about staying healthy and preventing the spread of coronavirus. I am including a link to their site below. If you have questions about this disease, this is a reputable and trustworthy source of information:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

What is DPC doing?
In order to ensure the health and safety of our congregation, DPC has suspended all worship services and gatherings. The session of DPC and I will continue to pay attention to local, state and national mandates and to science as we decide when it is responsible for us to reopen our doors to the public.

How Can I Stay Connected at DPC?
Even though the building may be closed right now, the Church of Jesus Christ never will. We will continue to be Christ's followers during this time of uncertainty. And we will continue to be a community who supports one another as well. In order to encourage this, we will be instituting a number of ways for you to keep in touch with your church family while we are physically apart.

Sunday worship services are available on DPC's YouTube Channel, which you can find at this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM6ncf4kM62I9CqAIMFFWQg
Pastor Nikki and our church officers will be reaching out via telephone to check in with everyone.
In the week following Easter Sunday, morning prayer gatherings and potentially other online gatherings will be scheduled. If you would like to participate in these and have a chance to connect with other members of DPC in this way, please email Pastor Nikki at PastorNikkiDPC@gmail.com
Now is a great time to care for one another. If you would like to offer to assist at-risk members by running errands for them, please contact Pastor Nikki.
Be generous! Even though we're not meeting in person, DPC still has operating costs, and is still counting on you to meet your pledges! So let’s continue the generosity of DPC through this crisis so the mission and ministry will persevere. You can send checks to our mailing address: PO Box 018315, Delafield, WI 53018 Our mail is still being picked up and checks are still being deposited to the bank.
As always, should you need someone to talk to or pray with, you're encouraged to reach out to Pastor Nikki The best ways to reach Pastor Nikki are to call or text her mobile phone (414-552-8482) or to send her an email (PastorNikkiDPC@gmail.com).

Rest assured that your pastor and session are paying attention to science and praying for wisdom during this time. Together, we will take courage, consider the most vulnerable among us and continue to serve God and neighbors. Though our worship may look different for a while, we will continue to praise God through this!

Love,
Pastor Nikki

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Praying For One Another

You may have noticed that DPC has joined forces with Kettle Moraine United Presbyterian Church for our virtual worship services. Because of this, we are encouraging people from each congregation to pay extra attention to their own home church's respective prayer lists. Our prayer list comes in the form of a prayer email chain. If you are not a part of our prayer chain, reach out to Rosie Lawson to be added. Additionally, you're encouraged to pay close attention to this prayer chain as you pray each day. It's important that we support one another with our prayers during this time.

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New Ways to Connect with DPC

The week of April 13, Pastor Nikki will be working to organize ways to connect with the congregation of DPC via Zoom. Possibilities she is currently considering include morning prayer times, adult education sessions and social check-ins. If you are interested in participating in any or all of these, please call or email Pastor Nikki by Friday, April 17. Her mobile phone number is 414-552-8482 and email address is PastorNikkiDPC@gmail.com

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Church Giving

We’re all going through a time unlike any other in our lifetime. It’s certainly created a host of changes for most of us. Virtual worship is certainly one of the biggest changes for many in our congregation. Being in church on Sunday morning, being with our friends, hearing Pastor Nikki’s message, participating in Family Promise or other volunteer opportunities is just what we’re used to doing. Not now, but hopefully soon, we’ll all be back together again. In the meantime, THANKS to all of you have mailed in your pledge. Our expenses have not changed much so the need to keep up is still there. For those who have not been adversely affected financially and can still meet their pledge please consider mailing your pledge to: DPC P.O. Box 180315 Delafield, WI 53018.

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Fish Fry/Auction Update
With the cancellation of our May 1^st Fish Fry we will keep you updated as to what our alternative dates may be for our largest fundraiser. Western Lakes is looking at possible Friday dates for us in the Fall if we decide we can still have a successful event. Obviously, they have numerous other events being rescheduled and they won’t begin that process until restaurants can reopen. We also must determine if we’re confident we can have a successful auction since many of our donations come from small businesses. Will the timing be right to be asking for donations? We will keep you advised and asking for your thoughts. Thanks, Doug

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What's Going on With Family Promise? An Update from, Joe and Christina, at Family Promise

Shelter
Considering the “Stay at Home” orders Family Promise of Waukesha County will maintain our pause of accepting families at least until the end of April. Please know we are not alone many non-profits have had to suspend or change their services. Thank you for your commitment and support of Family Promise. Stay safe, healthy and at home!

Homelessness Prevention
Over the past two weeks we have made a significant addition to our programming developing a homelessness prevention program for families. This program will involve the distribution of funds for rent/mortgage/utility assistance as well as car repairs and rides to essential appointments. I want to encourage you to read the Q+ A linked here about the work we have been doing the past two weeks. https://familypromisewaukesha.org/uncategorized/a-q-a-with-family-promise/
We have secured enough funding, established guidelines and a screening process that now we are ready to accept applications for rent/mortgage and utility assistance. Please share this with your congregation as we want to be able to help and serve those in our community. The need is going to be there, and it could be overwhelming. www.familypromisewaukesha.org/prevention

We will begin publicizing this program to our alumni, congregations, Waukesha County Human Services, and non-profits in Waukesha County. Applications are being accepted now.

Christina deserves an immense amount of credit for the work she has done to make this possible.

Alumni
Christina has been working with many of our alumni. This story shares with you some of their anxiety around the pandemic. https://familypromisewaukesha.org/uncategorized/families-face-corona-virus-with-help-from-family-promise/

Fundraising
We are still accepting financial donations to support homelessness prevention and our shelter programs. Our goal is to raise $50,000 for prevention and $50,000 for shelter. In our first two weeks we are just over $25,000. There are still some grants pending but we welcome all donations. If there are people in your community who would consider a donation they can mail a check to Family Promise of Waukeshja County 543 AJ Allen Circle Suite D wales WI 53813 or online: www.familypromisewaukesha.org/donate

Spring Fling
Please spread the word that St. Jerome’s Spring Fling has been canceled. You can ask for a refund or allow the group to keep the money. St Jerome’s is in a difficult spot. They need to pay their vendors and others. When you ask for a refund it will cost them $7.50 per refund. If you do not ask for a refund the funds will only make it to Family Promise if they can pay their bills. I think this is an unfortunate occurrence for everyone.

Supplies
Our office will be open once a week to receive donations. Currently our supply list is: Any size diapers, baby wipes, toilet paper, hand soap, gift cards. Our upcoming times are:

Wednesday April 15 9 am -11 am
Saturday, April 25 9am- 11 am

Thank You
It is my hope that you are healthy and safe. I have a deep appreciation for you and the service you provide to Family Promise. Thank you especially for promoting our emergency funding campaign and supply collections. We will continue to need you. I am afraid the need is going to be great and overwhelming. Due to your commitment we will be able to assist the most vulnerable.