Dear Church Family,
We are returning to live in-person worship this Sunday, March 28 at 11 AM. It’s been just over one year since we initially stopped live services and switched to videos due to state regulations because of Covid. I remember thinking then how will we serve the congregation? It all unfolded organically with volunteers coming forward to expand our video offerings, and creating a phone ministry to regularly connect with our church family.
During the past year we have created over 400 videos and made over 2500 phone calls! All of it through the efforts of You – our volunteers. I’ve often said we are the little church that acts like a big church – and you proved it by this giant effort of love in reaching out and ministering.
People are asking are we changing anything as we resume live in person worship? Some things are different, for now, fewer songs in the worship experience until we’re all allowed to sing again and Jody will be the sole musician and the sole vocalist until we can allow more people in the sanctuary.
For now, we will begin worship at 11 AM. And continue our Sunday Morning Zoom Gathering at 10 AM. We hope we will be connected to live stream this Sunday, but we’re having challenges with the wifi and band width. In other words, we don’t have enough juice to get it out live. If we don’t get it out live we hope we can get it to you within an hour after we finish recording.
For now, we will continue the protocols we had followed in November: Reservations and assigned seats, Social Distancing, Masks, no singing. We’ll change the protocols as we are advised. We’ll be able to mingle and connect outside after the service.
For now, the service may seem shorter in length – and it is – fewer songs, fewer announcements, no time to greet each other during the service and no collection taken. (However, there are boxes to place your tithe and offering in as you enter or leave.) We continue to adjust the worship experience as we have more freedom and funds to do so.
Its wonderfully symbolic that we are returning to live in person worship on Palm Sunday. I will share a message about passing through the gate – just as Jesus did on that Sunday over 2000 years ago. The gate is a symbol of that point, junction, portal in our lives we must pass through to continue on our path. We trust the passage is a gentle one – we are excited to see you again and share in our celebration of spirit.
Many blessings,
Pastor Robert