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Shallowford Presbyterian Church has remained an active serving and worshiping congregation throughout the pandemic shutdown.

The three major ministries of worship, Christian education and outreach have continued to be quite active in this “small church with a big heart.”

While not able to worship or gather together in-person since the shut-down that occurred in March 2020, Shallowford has continued to worship online every week, to provide multiple connecting opportunities through Zoom and to participate in a number of outreach activities benefiting those in need in our larger community.

Based on YouTube and Zoom evidence, attendance at weekly worship has greatly increased as has attendance at the church’s Sunday school classes. There is an active children’s Sunday school each Sunday morning, and adult opportunities include a book club discussion group and Bible study on Sunday mornings and another Bible study on Wednesday mornings. All of these are open to the public through links provided on the church’s website and through the weekly newsletter.

In spite of physical absence from each other, Shallowford has continued to meet its budget and through several special offerings has generously supported its brothers and sisters at El Buen Pastor Church and other community organizations. During the summer the church’s outreach committee distributed more than 40 “Blessing Baskets” to older members of the church and clients of Meals on Wheels. Scores of personally written thank-you notes were mailed to area healthcare workers and local teachers. Support for local learning centers has included donations of shoes to students at Lewisville Elementary School and donations to support remote learning centers.

Shallowford’s Community Garden was extremely active throughout the summer. Each week, produce from the garden was collected and made available for sale at the church’s Saturday morning “farmer’s market.” Proceeds from these sales provided more than $2,000 to Crisis Control Ministry, and any unpurchased produce was donated to the Clemmons Food Pantry. Funds raised by Shallowford’s participation in the area’s annual Crop Walk ranked Shallowford as the fourth largest contributing church among other participating churches.

Shallowford is sending a cheerful message to the community every day through its unique colorful ribbons on Lewisville-Clemmons Road, that have changed throughout the season with messages celebrating Easter, Pentecost, and the Peacemaking season. Ribbons for Advent and Christmas will appear soon.

Also, for our community at large, Shallowford’s outdoor labyrinth, located at the rear of the church property at 1200 Lewisville-Clemmons Road, is open to walkers every day from dawn to dusk.

Shallowford’s online worship services with pre-recorded liturgy, scripture readings, sermons and music are offered every Sunday in a PowerPoint format through YouTube. Small groups of musicians (safely distanced) have been able to prerecord music for these services on a regular schedule. These services include a June 7 Celtic Service for Wholeness and a Service for Wholeness and Lament offered on Sept. 27. Every service that has been recorded since March 22 remains accessible to viewers at any time through the Shallowford website.

Shallowford Presbyterian Church will present its first online jazz worship service celebrating “Christ the King” on Sunday, Nov. 22. Musicians for the service are Diana Tuffin, vocalist; Federico Pivetta, piano; Dave Reid, clarinet and saxophone; Matt Kendrick, sting bass; and Larry Carman, percussion.

For the link to this online service, and for information on joining any of Shallowford’s activities, contact office.shallowfordpresbyterian@gmail.com or call 336-766-3178 or visit the church website at www.shallowfordpresbyterian.org .