On Sunday, February 14, we will re-open the sanctuary and return to indoor worship. Some things will feel very familiar. Others will be a little different.

The reality is that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and in order to care for one another we are gathering under the same protocols we did in the fall. These protocols are as follows:

• We will hold one service meeting at 11 am. We will continue posting services online and encourage anyone who does not feel safe in gathering is encouraged to continue worshipping remotely until infection rates have declined.
• Pews will be marked to help aid in physical distancing.
  • Pews will hold roughly one family unit OR two couples OR two individuals
  • We can accommodate a maximum of 45 worshipers.
• We will require all worshipers to wear face masks.
• Hand sanitizer will be available at the entrance/exit
• There will be no congregational singing, children’s time, greeting time or offering collection during the service.
  • CDC and Church guidance points to congregational singing as a major point of transmission.
  • Offering will be collected in a secure drop-box located in the narthex.
• Worshipers are required to practice physical distancing throughout the service, including sitting in the pews as well as entering and exiting the sanctuary
• Worshipers are encouraged to stay home if they are sick. Sermons will continue to be available on our web page at this time.

While we know this will be an evolving situation and we will continue to adapt and change these practices, but we are hopeful that with these slow steps we can begin to return to something that looks and feels a little more “normal” as a congregation as Lent approaches.

Also, stay tuned for details about our modified Ash Wednesday service on February 17th at 7pm.

 

Beginning on Sunday, February 14, you’re invited to join in a five week Lenten study centered around the five Christian practices outlined in Adam Hamilton’s book The Walk. 

There are two ways to participate in this study.

• In Person
  • Sign up for small group sessions beginning on Sunday, Feb 21 ( meeting each Sunday evening at 6pm through March 21st). We will gather in the fellowship hall, (masks required and physically distanced) to watch the session video together and discuss. Each participant will receive a prayer journal to accompany these sessions. This group will be limited to 10, so please contact the pastor to sign up.
• Online
  • Stop by the church office for a free prayer journal and sign up for a free account on Amplify Media (instructions here). You can view the videos online and complete the sessions at your own pace, alone or with family members.

Please contact the pastor for any questions or to sign up!

If you’ve been in worship this year you know that one of our big capital campaigns for 2020 was raising $25,000 to replace the elevator outside our sanctuary. The elevator is used each week and is an important tool for ministry in our church, making worship accessible and welcoming to everyone.

Well, there’s good news and bad news.

The bad news is that the elevator has finally stopped working and is really beyond reasonable service. Every dollar we pour into it at this point is wasted money.

The good news is that we’re almost there. Our church family has given lovingly and sacrificially toward this cause and we only have approximately $4600 left to raise before we meet our goal.

Let me be the first to say that I am in awe of the dedication and generosity that has gotten us to this point. As our leadership team met this week we were deeply grateful for the way the members of our worshipping community have supported this mission.

And now we’re making one last ask.

If you’ve been considering a donation to the church elevator fund, now is the time. We’re hoping to begin the process of installation on the elevator in February, and we need your help to make that happen.

Any donation helps. If every family in our church gave $100 this week we would meet our goal. Even a donation of $10 makes a difference.

Finally, while there are plenty of dollar signs and amounts in this email, at the end of the day, it’s not about the money – it’s about the ministry that your gifts enable.

Thank you for considering this last big ask,

Grace and peace,

Pastor Jim