Re-opening for Services
THE FACTS
Beginning on February 21, Central will be open for in person worship services at 11:00am on Sundays.
We will continue to livestream the service via YouTube.
THE RATIONALE
--Covid-19 numbers are trending down again in our state and our tri-county area.
--Many in our own church family are deeply desiring to be connected in person for worship.
--We have several safety precautions in place which we practiced last fall and work well.
--Many in our congregation have been getting vaccinations or have already had Covid.
--We are able to gather in school and stores and restaurants, so we also want to open the church as a gathering place.
Please be aware that we are respectfully requiring everyone to wear a mask out of concern for others in our church family. We will allow people to seat themselves but request that you sit only where there is no tape. This allows us to sit physically distanced throughout the sanctuary. We are allowing mingling inside before and after service for a short time, but please try to avoid congregating in large clumps. We also request that we do not offer handshakes or hugs at this time. Air hugs and air high fives are encouraged!
Note: As we have navigated opening and closing, I have worked closely with the Board of Administration and the staff. (Honestly, I would be thrilled never to have another conversation about covid and safety and numbers again.) We are practicing prayer and listening to God and to one another and came into the meeting on Tuesday uncertain of what re-open might look like. At the end of the meeting, we came up with a different plan that originally suggested. We are also taking this week to pray through another detail. I believe that we are doing our best to listen to God and follow. We may not get it perfect, but I want you to know that we are practicing what we are teaching and learning. We take our responsibility as leaders of Central seriously. Thank you for trusting us and being patient with us.
THE HEART and SOUL
This pandemic has tested every part of who we are individually and as a church family. Maneuvering as pastor through the so many individuals' ideas, facts, feelings, and perspectives has been a great privilege and a heavy burden. One of the things I love most about Central is our diversity. One of the things that causes the most stress is our diversity. I find it interesting that Jesus did not say that others would know we are his followers by our sameness. Rather he said, "This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other." (John 13:35)
During this last year, the moments when I have been most in awe is when I have seen you all love each other well. And I have seen it. Calling to check on one another. Listening to one another. Finding ways around the distance to care for one another. Continuing friendships when you don't see eye to eye on any one of the many divisive issues of our day. Having conversations to try to discern truth and God's way together.
During this last year, the moments when I have laid awake in the middle of the night or cried tears of deep sorrow are when I have witnessed derision, division, anger, and a lack of willingness to listen to God and others -- even those we have previously loved. I have worried most when I have watched so many of us (I include myself) dig in to my own way of thinking and look only for God and others to affirm my way. We have an opportunity in a time of division in our country to be known as people of love who seek God's best way forward. We don't do this simply by coming to church on Sunday. We do it by actively choosing love for God and others and listening to God and others day after day.
I also believe that coming to church on Sunday and seeing in person those who you have loved AND who see things differently than you do can be a powerful reminder that we are brothers and sisters who belong to Jesus, first and last. I also believe that offering choices for gathering but also for staying online gives us another opportunity to practice love. We can bless those in person and we can bless those online. We can honor those more at risk and choosing to stay home. We can honor those who have a greater capacity for risk and are ready to gather. So we are making another pivot as a church as we head into Lent. We have opportunities to connect in person and online in small groups and in larger groups. All are valuable and helpful as long as they focus us once more on Jesus as our center pivot and asking Jesus to pivot us in the direction he would like us to go.
One more thing. Lent is often known as a time for soul searching and repentance. I encourage you to take extended time to sit with Jesus during Lent and ask him to show you any way that you have fallen short of love for God and others. Ask him to show you who you may need to reconcile with. Ask him to show you what you may need to turn away from and turn towards. And then listen. I promise God's voice is true and good and loving. He will show you what you can do and give you courage to do it.
Let's show we are followers of Jesus by our love. If there is any way I can pray with you or for you or help you process what God might be saying to you, please contact me.
Pivoting with you,
Pastor Joanna
THE FACTS
Beginning on February 21, Central will be open for in person worship services at 11:00am on Sundays.
We will continue to livestream the service via YouTube.
THE RATIONALE
--Covid-19 numbers are trending down again in our state and our tri-county area.
--Many in our own church family are deeply desiring to be connected in person for worship.
--We have several safety precautions in place which we practiced last fall and work well.
--Many in our congregation have been getting vaccinations or have already had Covid.
--We are able to gather in school and stores and restaurants, so we also want to open the church as a gathering place.
Please be aware that we are respectfully requiring everyone to wear a mask out of concern for others in our church family. We will allow people to seat themselves but request that you sit only where there is no tape. This allows us to sit physically distanced throughout the sanctuary. We are allowing mingling inside before and after service for a short time, but please try to avoid congregating in large clumps. We also request that we do not offer handshakes or hugs at this time. Air hugs and air high fives are encouraged!
Note: As we have navigated opening and closing, I have worked closely with the Board of Administration and the staff. (Honestly, I would be thrilled never to have another conversation about covid and safety and numbers again.) We are practicing prayer and listening to God and to one another and came into the meeting on Tuesday uncertain of what re-open might look like. At the end of the meeting, we came up with a different plan that originally suggested. We are also taking this week to pray through another detail. I believe that we are doing our best to listen to God and follow. We may not get it perfect, but I want you to know that we are practicing what we are teaching and learning. We take our responsibility as leaders of Central seriously. Thank you for trusting us and being patient with us.
THE HEART and SOUL
This pandemic has tested every part of who we are individually and as a church family. Maneuvering as pastor through the so many individuals' ideas, facts, feelings, and perspectives has been a great privilege and a heavy burden. One of the things I love most about Central is our diversity. One of the things that causes the most stress is our diversity. I find it interesting that Jesus did not say that others would know we are his followers by our sameness. Rather he said, "This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other." (John 13:35)
During this last year, the moments when I have been most in awe is when I have seen you all love each other well. And I have seen it. Calling to check on one another. Listening to one another. Finding ways around the distance to care for one another. Continuing friendships when you don't see eye to eye on any one of the many divisive issues of our day. Having conversations to try to discern truth and God's way together.
During this last year, the moments when I have laid awake in the middle of the night or cried tears of deep sorrow are when I have witnessed derision, division, anger, and a lack of willingness to listen to God and others -- even those we have previously loved. I have worried most when I have watched so many of us (I include myself) dig in to my own way of thinking and look only for God and others to affirm my way. We have an opportunity in a time of division in our country to be known as people of love who seek God's best way forward. We don't do this simply by coming to church on Sunday. We do it by actively choosing love for God and others and listening to God and others day after day.
I also believe that coming to church on Sunday and seeing in person those who you have loved AND who see things differently than you do can be a powerful reminder that we are brothers and sisters who belong to Jesus, first and last. I also believe that offering choices for gathering but also for staying online gives us another opportunity to practice love. We can bless those in person and we can bless those online. We can honor those more at risk and choosing to stay home. We can honor those who have a greater capacity for risk and are ready to gather. So we are making another pivot as a church as we head into Lent. We have opportunities to connect in person and online in small groups and in larger groups. All are valuable and helpful as long as they focus us once more on Jesus as our center pivot and asking Jesus to pivot us in the direction he would like us to go.
One more thing. Lent is often known as a time for soul searching and repentance. I encourage you to take extended time to sit with Jesus during Lent and ask him to show you any way that you have fallen short of love for God and others. Ask him to show you who you may need to reconcile with. Ask him to show you what you may need to turn away from and turn towards. And then listen. I promise God's voice is true and good and loving. He will show you what you can do and give you courage to do it.
Let's show we are followers of Jesus by our love. If there is any way I can pray with you or for you or help you process what God might be saying to you, please contact me.
Pivoting with you,
Pastor Joanna
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