Restarting Indoor Worship
Dear Church Family and Friends,
Over a year ago our world came to a screeching halt. The announcement of a worldwide pandemic broke our reality. It brought disruption, uncertainty, and big changes to our way of life. Since then we have experienced loss and pain. We have also experienced and seen the creativity, ingenuity, and resiliency of the human spirit.
As a people of God, we had to adapt to online gatherings: from worship, Bible studies, prayer meetings to youth meet-ups, all through Zoom. We offered outdoor services that brought some semblance of ‘normal’ life. We even came back for in-person services for a short time during the fall season of 2020. Overall, we did well. We continued to move forward with our mission. You remained faithful and committed as always.
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Fast-forward to today. We have three vaccines and the number of infections is going down in general. Things look different, feel different. And like you, I’m ready for things to return back to something approaching “normal.” With this in mind, I am happy to let you know that we have resumed in-person services.
Scott Marcks, our Communication Director, will be sending you all the information you need to register for a worship service. We have a limit of 75 people in attendance, total of congregants and leaders, per our Illinois state regulations. And because the pandemic is still a long way from over, we will continue with the practices of wearing masks/face coverings, social distancing, sanitizing high traffic areas, and taking temperatures. I know many have received their vaccines and they feel encouraged by the new CDC guidelines that allow people to gather without masks; however, there are many of us who have yet to get the vaccine. Thus, we must continue to be cautious and take extra measures to protect and keep everyone safe. And, as I have said before, we will do no harm. (Wesley’s Three General Rules – “Do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God.”)
For those who are not ready to return to in-person services, we will continue to offer online worship services and Bible Studies, prayer meetings, Sermon Studies, etc.
Folks, the end is near (the signs are there). I don’t mean the end of the world (which many have predicted and have utterly failed), but the end of this pandemic. The signs are there; we are going in the right direction, but we will continue to be careful, wise, and responsible.
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I am hopeful that when we reopen the church this time, it will be for a long, long, long time.
In Christ’s service and yours,