Greetings! Oh how we have missed all of the beautiful faces of our church family and friends. We are so excited to be able to physically come back into the house of the Lord to worship together once again. Due to the present pandemic, we still have to take some precautions and we want to prepare everyone for what to expect when coming back to worship with us.
Proper mask wearing and social distancing are required to enter the church building. Our Hospitality and Health and Safety committees will be taking temperatures and asking a few questions before allowing entry into the sanctuary. Please do not come to church if you are sick, have loss of taste or smell, running a fever, or have had any recent exposure to someone with symptoms of COVID.
Upon entry, everyone will be asked to sanitize your hands. Please follow the direction of the ushers as they will be seating everyone in the order that you came in and with your immediate family only. Please do not ask to sit anywhere else or move, as the ushers are working to keep everyone safely distanced from one another.
The format for worship will remain the same as it has during the virtual broadcast the past year. Please keep your mask on at all times during the service.
At the end of service, the ushers will conduct an orderly dismissal to allow for everyone to exit the building without any congestion at the doors or in the lobby. All are asked to continue to proceed out to the parking lot and not congregate in lobbies or bathrooms for extended periods of times.
The sanctuary is sanitized after every service to do our best to protect the safety of our congregation. If you do not yet feel comfortable coming back to church physically, do not worry, we will continue broadcast virtually via Facebook, YouTube and the church website.
Welcome back Concord church family! We pray everyone continues to be safe and blessed. Looking forward to seeing everyone very soon!
All are welcome to take advantage of the Free mobile Testing clinic being offered at Concord this Saturday from 10am- 1pm courtesy of Dr. Connie Stewart, SCDHEC, the TMBA and Concord Baptist Church. You will stay in your car. Please follow the directions of our traffic committee. We love you all. Be safe!
The American Cancer Society estimates 4,790 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in South Carolina this year. When caught and treated in a very early stage, the survival rate is 99%! Delayed treatment can decrease the survival rate to as low as 25%.
Every woman is at risk for breast cancer and your risk increases with age. Other factors include obesity, taking hormone therapy, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. African American women are at higher risk.
Collectively, blacks have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial/ethnic group in the US for most cancers. More than biological differences, it has been found that the socioeconomic disparities that affect our communities are key contributors. In other words, our challenges getting access to quality care, adequate pay, housing, education, healthy food and overall standard of living in our African-American communities put us at higher risk. In Cherokee County, we are fortunate to have many resources available to us to help bridge those gaps, but we choose to use them.
While monthly self-breast exams are important to early detection, an annual screening mammogram is the one tool proven to increase breast cancer survival rates. According to the American College of Radiology, women with no symptoms of breast cancer should have a screening mammogram every year starting at age 40. Screening mammograms can detect tumors that self-exams or clinical breast exams may miss at their earliest and most treatable stages. While most screenings don’t result in a cancer diagnosis, knowing your results can put your mind at ease.
Technology has advanced greatly. Traditional mammograms are viewed on a x-ray film. There is newer digital technology where mammograms are viewed on a computer. Women under 50 or that have been told they have dense breast tissue should discuss with their doctor if digital mammography is a better option for you.
The Bearden Josey Center @ Spartanburg Regional is a great community resource for breast cancer screening and treatment. If you are concerned you cannot afford a mammogram, Spartanburg Regional has a Mammography Assistance Program that can help.
They provide free and reduced-cost mammography to women who are uninsured or underinsured, and would otherwise be unable to afford this life-saving screening. The Mammography Assistance Program, which began in 2009 with a grant from the Susan G. Komen organization, has funded more than $650,000 of care in Spartanburg, Union and Cherokee counties.
They provide critical supplies to their clients with cancer, including nutritional supplements, bras and breast prostheses, ostomy supplies, counseling, home care supplies, wigs and hats, gas cards for treatment transportation, help with cancer medication costs, loan of hospital equipment– such as wheelchairs, walkers, bedside commodes– and much more. More information is available at cancerassociation.org
Proverbs 1:5 states “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” It is our hope that this information is useful to you and that you will follow up with the “wise counsel” of a physician to be the healthiest you can be.
Additional resources for more information
Cancer Association of Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties Screenings, education and direct services www.cancerassociation.org or call 864-582-0771
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Statistics and other information on breast cancer www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/ or call 1-888-842-6355
National Women’s Health Information Center General information on breast cancer and other women’s health issues www.womenshealth.gov/ or call 1-800-994-9662 or TDD: 1-888-220-5446
American Cancer Society Information on all forms of cancer www.cancer.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345
Masks will be available Sunday morning 11:00 – 1pm in front of the church under the tree for pick up for $10 each.
If you are interested in ordering a mask with Concord Baptist Church information to be mailed, please contact Bro. James Bridges or Sis. Jackie Bridges. You can also send an email to staff@cbcgaffney.org with your name, phone number, address, which color (black or white), and how many. They will contact you to arrange payment and mailing.
Have friends or family that’s not on Facebook? Following the recommended guidelines, come together in small groups less than 10 in your homes, stream from your account and come fellowship with us virtually! OR view via the web at: https://join.freeconferencecall.com/staff018
We have also added a conference call line where those without internet or Facebook can dial in by phone!
Audio Dial-in number (US) by Phone: (339) 207-6105
Drive by the church between 11:30-12:30 to pick up a CD or DVD.
Tithes and Offerings can be dropped off during this time, or you can CashApp $CBCGaffney or go to our online giving page.
Share and pass this info along! We love you, and we’re praying for you!
