A Word from Pastor Nathan

Hi, Church!

When I pulled into our parking lot on Monday morning, there were more cars positioned between the white lines than I’d seen in sixty-two weeks. Three people were in the sanctuary preparing the pews; two people were working on the Church Life & Growth table; another person was dropping off a donation to Diana. Later, I learned of other folks who were on the grounds but had left before I arrived. The life and energy in this building was palpable. Everyone was making preparations for regathering on Sunday, and no one was able to contain their excitement and anticipation.

Diana and I walked through the building today with notepads and pens in hand. We made a checklist of the seemingly “small” chores. Are the communion supplies where we said they’d be? Does the Elders’ conference room have an adequate inventory of face masks, gloves, etc.? Have tissue boxes been distributed? Are trashcans and recycle bins easily accessible? There are numerous tasks to complete before we gather on Sunday.

Another member asked me on Tuesday, “How’s it going?” My response: “Fast and furious!” You get the picture.

Following a conversation with Board Chair Mark Mathes and Elder Chair Jen Sweeten, we will continue to require masks while in the building. Even though many of us are fully vaccinated, our youngest members haven’t had equal access to the vaccine. Will you join me in keeping covenant with God and with one another by wearing a mask that covers both nose and mouth? I promise we won’t wear masks forever, but we can, for the time being, embody love for one another by keeping this mitigation measure in place.

Like many of you, I’ve been dreaming of our re-gathering since March 15, 2020. Now the date is imminent. I’m excited and nervous: Will the technology work? Will worship go according to plan? None of us know the answers to these questions, and I’m trying my best not to give too much mental energy to them. However, this I trust: Worship will be beautiful and beauty-full because God is beautiful. God will meet us here, just as God has met us in our homes. Everything is beautiful, and the worship we create with one another will be beautiful, too. That’s what God wants, and beautiful worship will be more than enough.

See you Sunday,