July 11th Reopening for In-Person Worship!
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
It is with great joy that the Session announces the reopening of in-person worship on Sunday, July 11th. Worship will begin at 9:15 AM. The south side of the sanctuary will be open to all and hopefully full again. The north side of the sanctuary will have every other row closed. Closing every other pew will provide some social distancing for families with children who are not yet able to be vaccinated, those not vaccinated, or those who are vaccinated but remain immune deficient. The balcony will be open and ready for those strange yet caring individuals we call the “balcony people.”
After church, we will have fellowship in the Commons and provide coffee, juice, and water. We will wait to give bagels and donuts until we feel comfortable sharing food. Other activities in the church will slowly reopen. We will do our best to make each step comfortable and organized. We also remain committed to keeping our Family Promise residents safe while transitioning to their former routine later in August.
Please pray for our transition. Each person has a different level of comfort with the reopening. It is incumbent upon each of us to be patient with others. As Session and staff, we are trying to be sensitive and supportive as we move forward in the church reopening. For some, this reopening will seem long overdue, while for others, it is happening very quickly. Respectful compromises will be the way forward in the coming weeks.
Finally, take time to say “thank you” to God. When we shut down in March of 2020, the future looked bleak, and when the shock subsided, it appeared our reopening might be years away. Our church has experienced many blessings along the way, and the fact we remain a vital congregation is a divine gift. Take time to enjoy the process of reopening. Appreciate each step along the way. Every few weeks, we will provide more information on aspects of the reopening. Embrace the renewed human contact and feel God’s care each step of the way.