As our community is beginning to lift some of the restrictions on public gatherings I want to share with you an update on our plans as a church community. I have been in conversation with other area faith leaders, congregations of our size across the country, our church board and staff.
We are seeking to make all decisions based on three values:
- We want to keep people safe
- We want to create community
- We want to protect the vulnerable.
Many of you have asked “When will we resume worship in person?” We miss each other, we miss our sacred space and we miss the power of in person fellowship. I miss it so much I come to the church every Sunday and pray outside.
For now, we plan to continue live streaming our three worship services 9:01, 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. The services are providing us with the opportunity to share communion and sing, two meaningful parts of worship that are not yet safe in large gatherings. We will reassess this in the coming weeks and report back to you in late June on any plans to resume indoor or outdoor worship in person. In the meantime, please share the good news about our fabulous worship and classes available on our website.
At this time, the staff will continue to work mostly from their homes, coming to the building when needed for projects. We are available by phone or email as always. Our preschool will open in June. Our children and youth activities will occur in limited group sizes on the back lawn of the church beginning in June. Adult small groups may meet outdoors and we will have a tent in the back yard for socially distanced meetings or Bible studies. Our on line classes and meetings via zoom and live stream will continue.
The God we worship loves us in amazing and surprising ways. We are discovering new ways that the Spirit weaves us together. Until the time that we can all gather safely to sing of God’s goodness and grace, I pray for each of you. And I pray for our church to continue thriving and flourishing as together we seek to love God and neighbor.
