Siblings in Christ,
At a specially called church council meeting on Monday, October 5th, it was approved to add an in-person/indoor worship beginning on All Saints Sunday, November 1, 2020
Here is some basic information for you to know.
• We will continue a zoom worship for those who are unable or uncomfortable attending. Times of both services are still to be determined.
• Safety guidelines and protocols will be required and not simply “recommended.” Specifics of those guidelines will be released the week prior to Sunday, Nov. 1. Please expect the need to sign-up to attend. It will be limited seating and not “first come, first serve.”
• Council reserves the right to cancel this worship if we decide it becomes unsafe to continue gathering in this way.
• This is not a return to “worship as it was before.” This will be a shortened and abbreviated service with no congregational singing. We are investigating ways to offer communion safely.
Our decision to add an indoor/in-person worship was not taken lightly. We based our decision on several factors.
• New Hampshire and our surrounding states are doing a good job of following guidelines to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We are one of the healthiest areas in the country.
• The results of our survey sent out 2 weeks ago showed 56% of responders would attend an in-person/indoor worship and 88% agreed that it was okay for the church to offer this type of service. (We received 104 total responses)
• We have the ability to follow state recommended guidelines for places of worship to provide a safe environment.
Honestly, I have mixed feelings about it. Part of me doesn’t like “splitting up” the community that we have formed online during this time. While there are times in which I am tired of online worship, I enjoy us all having the ability to gather at one time, even if that is virtually. Inevitably, to an extent, we will become two separate worshipping communities. At the same time, I do long for some semblance of “normalcy.” I miss seeing people “in-person” and gathering physically in the sanctuary. This will allow for that.
There were a couple of reasons to make All Saints Sunday our first Sunday back in the sanctuary. One, it gives us time to put together the guidelines to follow and get the building ready. Perhaps more importantly, the purpose of All Saints Sunday is to remember those who have died this past year. By last count, this pandemic has taken the lives of over 210,000 people in the US and over 1 million globally. Therefore, while it is a joyful experience to return to the sanctuary, let us not forget the reason why we had to leave, and may need to once again. This “Holy Day” will allow us to acknowledge the loss of life that has occurred and ask God to welcome them all into the everlasting arms of rest and peace.
Lastly, I want remind us all that we are not “opening up.” We never “closed.” All we did was move our worship, and any type of in-person gathering, online or virtual. We were always “open for business.” In fact, I think you could argue we have been more active these last 6 months than in any time since I have been here. Thank you for the ways we have continued to be church when we haven’t been able to be in the building.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Tim