What a world we are living in.

I am sitting at my makeshift desk, in our second story loft, overlooking the world outside. It’s a nice view from the upstairs window, but I miss the church – the office – the sanctuary – the people. Don’t get me wrong – I love my family and the neighbors that I have right around our house, but I am ready to see your faces…if only the emotion carried in your eyes as you wear a mask to protect others. I did go into the office today for a time – some things can only be done at church. Check requests, checking-in with Cloverleaf Preschool, walking the grounds, and revelation and respite in the silence of the sanctuary. Our house, with three kids and a dog, is not exactly a quiet space set aside for reflection and renewal.

The Church Council met on June 9 and began conversations about reopening for in-person gatherings for worship and ministry. We will meet again on June 16 (our normally-scheduled monthly meeting) to confirm directions, dates, and process as we continue to live in the shadow of the coronavirus.

Our expectations include opening for outdoor worship with multiple services that are shorter in length and celebrate the gift of community – though worship will look different. We expect to invite people to sign-up for a service time via the internet or by calling the church office and when one service time is full, we will invite you to consider one of the other services available. After we have had a chance to offer outdoor worship for a couple of Sundays, we expect to open the building to ministry needs while still holding off from opening the building to outside community groups. And when we have tended the details of opening the building to ministry needs, we will return to the sanctuary for worship.

All of these steps are happening with reflection, consultation, and forethought for how we begin again to gather together. There will, of course, be bumps along the way. Outdoor worship will include the use of bathrooms inside the building, but bathrooms will have to be cleaned after each service. Masks will be expected at outdoor worship except for the time of communion. You will be expected to socially distance at outdoor worship and sanitize your hands when you arrive, as you are coming up for communion and after you have received communion. We will ask you to bring your own chairs. Worship leadership will not wear masks when they are actively leading up front but will wear masks when they are sitting with the congregation.

All of this is to say – that we are working towards the goal of beginning to worship together in the coming weeks. As a side note, we will continue to offer recorded worship for those who are not yet ready or comfortable returning to worship outside or inside.

The days are surely coming says the Lord. I am ready dear friends. I am ready!

Peace be with you. See you in church – really soon I pray.

Pastor Chris

(Reprinted from the mid-June 2020 newsletter.)