From the Pastor - March 17
Dear Friends in Christ,
As the Lenten season wanes, and Holy Week approaches, the excitement of Easter is accompanied this year by the guarded hope that soon, we will be able to responsibly gather again in person. To that end, your Congregation Council and Staff have agreed upon a partial reopening plan for May. While we considered if Holy Week and Easter might be feasible, the size of our Easter service traditionally seemed to thwart a safe gathering with having an unmanageable number of small gatherings.
Here's what to expect until May:
The same online offerings we've enjoyed for a year, including worship and communion.
Continuation of a brief prayer service with communion distribution at 1:00 p.m. on Sundays, with pickup available until 2:00 p.m.
The resumption of some smaller meetings and gatherings at the church on a case by case basis, and only if the schedule will permit your group or meeting to gather in a large enough space for the number of people attending to social distance.
Here's what to expect, barring any changes in gathering restrictions, in May:
The same online offerings we've enjoyed for a year, including worship and communion.
The addition of a 10:00 a.m. liturgy in the Sanctuary, which will include the same hymn videos and choir offering as the online version. This will change as guidance on the safety of singing evolves. Masks will be required at all times and to keep the size of the gathering safe, we will ask folks if at all possible to sign up ahead of time to attend. A link to sign up will be provided each week in the e-news or you may call in to reserve a spot as well. If an additional service needs to be added to accommodate the number wishing to attend, we will add a second service.
Communion will be distributed to-go at the end of the liturgy. Those who prefer may come for communion pickup only until 11:30 a.m.
We ask all who are not yet fully vaccinated to prayerfully consider delaying attendance in person.
Together, we'll continue to follow in the way of Jesus, preserving the health of our friends and neighbors. Watch your e-news as more offerings are added in the gradual reopening process! And rest assured: We remain committed to quality online offerings to serve those not yet ready to attend worship or events in person.
In Christ's peace,
Pastor Michael