COVID-19: Relationships, Marriage & Family

Last Updated April 13, 2020

COVID-19 & Churches: Relationships, Marriage & Family

DOMESTIC & Intimate Partner VIOLENCE (IPV)

Find a Local Service Provider

Jane Doe Statewide Map of Service Providers

For People Experiencing IPV

Hagar Sisters Resources

For Church Leaders Supporting Those Affect By IPV

Hagar Sisters - Help a Friend

For People Tempted to Use Violence

Emerge

Dealing with CONFLICT

Tips for Dealing With Family Conflicts While Living in Close Quarters – Jennifer Thomas

Family Bonding

10 Ways to Bond as a Family When Hunkered Down – Asheritah Ciuciu  

KIDS Learning At home

Home Learning Resource Guide for Children

Help for Homeschooling in a Crisis without Panicking 

A video from Jamie Erickson with practical advice from a Christian author, and experienced teacher and homeschooler, tailored to this new situation.

Free Amazon /Audible For Kids & Youth

You can now live-stream for free all audio books for children and youth, courtesy of Audible by Amazon.

Cry Out: New Music Video & Lyrics

Cry Out

This year, EGC’s annual urban ministry celebration was a bit different. Instead of a party, we sent out a gift. Straight from the heart and spirit of EGC’s creatives, this song and music video is for you to enjoy, reflect on, and share. Below you’ll find the video link, lyrics, and art photos.

Like the Christian leaders we serve, EGC is in a time of deep listening—to God and to other leaders—in this unexpected season of distancing and connecting, conserving and giving, caring and surviving.  Friends, may this song inspire you to cry out to God with all that you need, as you also hear the cries of those Jesus loves.

Music Video

Cry Out. Music and Lyrics by Caleb McCoy & Jaronzie Harris. Sound Production by Caleb McCoy. Video Directed & Edited by Elijah Mickelson. Videography by Giovanni "Fugi" Acevedo and Sue Murad. Behind the scenes Photography by Rosa with R9Foto. All precautions were taken in the filming of this video to ensure the health and safety of the artists, film crew, and Boston public.

Lyrics & Photos

CALEB

See I just wanna go on record

That this is never what I expected

Take away our pride and possessions and

It’s gonna beg the question, what is anybody left with?

What do you do in a pandemic?

Who takes the blame and who gets the credit?

Some will second guess it and others will get prophetic

Some sayin’ it’s the endin’, I think it’s a new beginning

We still have abundant life, we can live it up

But when Lord speaks we should listen up

And it shouldn’t take a virus that’s killing us

To think about the elderly, the poor, and the prisoners (that’s real)

It changed the whole world as we know it

But hopefully we can learn from this moment

We need beauty from artists and words from the poets

It’s time to dive deep, like the pearls in the ocean

I know you sad Sunday service is closing

But this the best time for the Church to be potent

How can we go serve the hurt and the homeless?

Do we really believe every curse can be broken?

I think we do, so let’s see it then

Some people need food, some will need a friend

Some people need a song, go and sing it then

This our prayer ‘til we meet again, that

We need perseverance through the pain

We need God to clear it when it rains

It’s only by the Spirit that we change

So let the people cry out



And God gave a command—it was, “Love one another”

Through the hard times enemies become brothers

The only thing certain is the God that’s above us

Let the people cry out

Jaronzie

We cry out in this world where calamity’s conjectured on a curve

We confront our own fragility

Raising up petitions and repenting on our bended knees

Seeking asylum from a sickness of a different breed

Shadow of death looming long on society

But servants of the Most High still trust in His authority

Who grasps the globe in His hands? Who is the King of Kings?

Holding all of our existence in supreme dexterity

Lifting up the cup of my salvation, calling urgently

Hoping that the God who formed creation will deliver me

Resting in His promise, drawing power from the NIV

Knowing that He’s faithful so I give Him this doxology

Chorus

We need perseverance through the pain

We need God to clear it when it rains

It’s only by the Spirit that we change

So let the people cry out

And God gave a command—it was, '“Love one another”

Through the hard times enemies become brothers

The only thing certain is the God that’s above us

Let the people cry out (So we all pray together)

ALL

Let the people cry out to you

Let the people cry out to you

Let the people cry out to you

Let the people cry out

Let the people cry out to You (for healing)

Let the people cry out to You (for breakthrough)

Let the people cry out to You (for deliverance)

Let the people cry out

The Word

When the righteous cry out for help,

The Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all.

Psalm 34:17-19

About the Artists

Caleb McCoy

Caleb writes, performs, records, and shoots videos for Christian hip-hip through his ministry called OAK. His ministry also mentors other Christian hip-hop artists in Boston. Before the stay at home advisory, you could find Caleb ministering in schools, communities of youth at risk, and sold-out concert venues across the region. The OAK albums are available on Apple Music, Google Play, Spotify, and wherever albums are sold. Caleb also is EGC’s Development Manager and teaches the EGC 101 introduction to EGC’s city ministry.

Jaronzie Harris

Jaronzie is an educator, worship leader, playwright and director who uses research and the arts to unite communities and promote justice. She is currently a scholar in the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and the Research & Networking Associate at EGC for the Boston Black Church Vitality Project. Before the stay at home advisory, you could find Jaronzie meeting with Christian leaders across eastern Massachusetts to bolster youth programs and develop spiritual vitality through collaboration and the arts.

Elijah Mickelson

Elijah is a storyteller, pastor, and director. He serves as EGC’s director of communications helping churches and Christian leaders tackle the complexity of the urban environment. He is also the founder of the Filmmaker Collaborative. The purpose of the Filmmaker Collaborative is to build community, encourage one another in the creative process, and explore collaboration. Contact Elijah at emickelson@egc.org.

Rosa Cabán

Rosa Cabán is R9 Foto. Rosa is a photographer who uses the arts to bring influence to communities in need of God's love. She is currently serving on the creative team in the media department at Impact Church. Before the pandemic, you could find her cooking, hosting friends, and working on projects with other Kingdom artists.

EGC FILMS

COVID-19: Government Info & Resources

Last Updated March 25, 2020

COVID-19: Government Info & Resources

NATIONAL

Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

COVID-19 Info

English

Español

Haitian Creole

• Kisa pou fè si ou malad avèk maladi kowonaviris 2019 (COVID-19) (What to do if you are sick with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

• Sentòm maladi kowonaviris 2019 (SYMPTOMS OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019)

Other Languages

Guidelines for Faith-Based Organizations

State

Mass.gov

COVID-19 in Massachusetts

Boston

City of Boston - Boston.gov

The City of Boston COVID-19 page has information about closures and guidelines, a map of school food distribution sites, and provides COVID-19 fact sheets in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole.

• City of Boston Health Line: 617-534-5050

• Social Media: Mayor Walsh (@Marty_Walsh), City of Boston (@CityOfBoston)

Boston Public Health Commission

https://www.bphc.org/

You can also refer to the BPHC for cleaning tips, prevention tips, and hand washing guidelines.

COVID-19: Churches & Schools

Last updated March 25, 2020

COVID-19: Churches & Schools

Churches can assist their families and neighbors in making sure students have laptops (free Chromebooks are being distributed), have internet access, and know how to use them to access online learning activities and resources from the Boston Public Schools.

Boston Public Schools

BPS COVID-19 Info Page

To request a Chromebook and get basic information on using one:

• https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/8131

• Call (617) 635-9000

• http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/laptops

Funding Resources for Boston Public Schools Partners and non-profits

A number of charitable funds have been set up to respond to the Covid-19 Crisis. 

COVID-19 & Churches: Addiction Recovery

Last updated March 25, 2020

COVID-19 & Churches: Addiction Recovery

Celebrate Recovery

Crisis Response Open Share Groups online are being set up by leaders of current groups following certain guidelines. These are Christian 12 Step groups.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Most AA Recovery groups are not meeting now, but for a list of those which are meeting (meetings limited to 10 people) and for links to online Virtual AA groups, see the Boston Area AA website.

Narcotics Anonymous

New England area NA virtual online groups are available and listed by day of the week.