Romans 8:27 reminds us that the spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words to express. And we have felt that truth through the trauma of the past year and we feel it now as we prepare to be able to gather again in ways that were lost to us during the pandemic. We also know that each one of you and your families, friends, pods, schools, and neighbors have had your own experiences, your own losses and griefs, your own times of being overwhelmed and disoriented. We have heard some of your stories, and some we have yet to hear, and we want you to know this- that no matter the place you are coming from now or the places you have been we have held you in love and prayer and sent those sighs of the spirit deep in our hearts and swiftly and frequently to God for you.
When we heard the news of the CDC findings and that the vaccine is doing it’s work, we were at the same time thrilled and terrified! A sense of awe and what now questions running in our minds. So we want you to know we are with you and that we honor the place each person is at in this leg of the journey. As we are able to gather together again, it will be emotional and we welcome the emotions, the tears, the smiles and the processing together. Some will need more space and some will be ready to hug and as we have seen you care for and honor one another all along, we are confident that we will continue in this way as a church.
We are thankful for all the ways you have supported one another and ministry and we remain confident that the same care and tending will continue. As we open back up, know that you may enter at your own pace. When we gather you are free to be masked or not and either is great. We ask those who are not vaccinated to continue to wear their masks for their protection and to communicate with us and one another if there are things that would make being in community easier. When we worship, if you would like to come forward for communion we welcome you and if you would prefer to have communion in your seat, we welcome you to that as well. Our musicians will be adjusting and taking steps towards live music and we will continue to stream the 10:30 online. Our office and building will be open from 9:00-3:00 Monday through Thursday and you are free to come and go with your key as before. What we ask of everyone as we walk together is to bring a spirit of gentleness and grace with you in your encounters with one another, staff, pastors, council and the community. We will aim to honor that spirit of love that dwells among us so that we can care for each person where they are in their emotional journey.
As you read the information below from the Covid Team made up of council and committee members know that they have done well, faithfully meeting and making tough decisions and recommendations for the past 15 months. If you have any questions or things that are not clear, please feel free to ask! You can email the office or contact one of the pastors or a council member and we will make sure that those with answers get the message.
As always, we are here for you and with you. We so look forward to seeing you and being amongst you once again.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Michael and Pastor Leta
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