An Update from Eugene Friends

In Mid-March things quickly changed on how our building was being used and how we serve our community. We closed our building to all who use it (several AA meetings, Bible study, etc). We were no longer holding services on Sunday. We quickly moved into new territory, ZOOM meeting for worship services and Bible study. While ZOOM services are not a replacement for meeting face to face, it has provided more opportunities for people to join us. People who have been unable to attend are now joining us on Sunday. People who have moved out of the area are attending regularly. We have had visitors from Canada, California, and Texas. Several of our young adults living elsewhere have joined us on Sunday. We are also using ZOOM for committee meetings, and a weekly “check-in” time with scripture and prayer four days a week.

With the “Stay at Home” directive, people are checking in with folks and sharing needs. Several people have volunteered to shop for groceries or pick up prescriptions for those at risk. Mid-March, Eugene Friends was scheduled to serve the evening meal at St. Vincent dePaul’s family night shelter, the “Annex,” for three evenings. This year there are sixty meals to serve. We were moving forward with volunteers preparing meals, people prepared to serve and clean-up. With physical distance guidelines from CDC, we couldn’t serve the meals. The staff at the “Annex” quickly changed roles and would serve the meals each evening. We were able to prepare sixty hot meals each night. Success! Our pastor, Ruba Byrd. has observed that the pandemic is “making our congregation follow the Quaker conviction that we are ‘all ministers.’” The Holy Spirit is working at strengthening our connections and showing us ways to serve our community.