The Peru Gazette

Due to recent decreases in COVID-19 cases in neighboring communities, the Harkness and Keeseville United Methodist Churches will resume in-person worship beginning on Palm Sunday, March 28.  The Harkness service will be at 9 am and Keeseville will worship at 11 am.

Even though this represents a significant step forward, both congregations will be required to observe CDC and Conference safety protocols.  This will mean:

• All will be asked to sign in on arrival and provide contact information.
• Masks will be required except when seated.
• Seating in the sanctuaries will be limited to specific areas in order to maintain safe physical distancing.
• Hand sanitizer will be available and encouraged.
• All attendees must maintain a social distance of 6 feet between individuals and family units.
• There will be no congregational singing at this time.

Later in Holy Week, the Keeseville UMC sanctuary will be open on April 2, Good Friday, from Noon to 1 pm for silent meditation. Written prayer materials will be available for individual use.

On Easter Sunday, April 4 there will be a Sunrise Service at 6:15 am on the top of Hallock Hill at Lakeview Meadows; all are welcome. There will be no Breakfast or 9 am worship in Harkness that day. Keeseville UMC will celebrate an 11 am Service of Resurrection in the sanctuary. Regular worship services will continue every Sunday in each church as long as it is safe to do so.

On April 25 the Harkness UMC will celebrate a special worship service at 9am to dedicate a newly renovated sanctuary, and to observe Georgia Harkness’ 130^thBirthday with “cupcakes to go”. A native of the hamlet, Harkness was a prominent Methodist author and theologian of the mid-20^th century, the first female professor of theology in a mainline Protestant seminary.

Throughout the winter the Keeseville Church has maintained an important community outreach through the Thrift Shop, open every Wednesday from 9 am to 4 pm, and second Saturdays of the month from 10 am to 2 pm. The ACAP Food Shelf has also continued to serve the community, regular hours 8:30-10 am Mondays and 8:30-Noon Tuesdays.

In addition to posting regular Sunday morning worship services on the churches’ Facebook/YouTube page, Pastor Rebekah Solar has also offered a separate Lenten devotion each Wednesday evening. Written materials may be obtained by leaving a message at 518-643-6690. Over the past several months dozens of people have viewed the churches’ online worship services on the Facebook/YouTube pages. As a continued outreach, the online presence will continue with a different look.  For more information, please leave a message at 518-834-0199.