Returning to Our Sanctuary
Dear Community Church Family,
WE’RE MOVING INDOORS!
We are excited to report that we are moving our Sunday morning worship services back into the sanctuary starting September 13! We have been so fortunate over the summer to have great neighbors who have welcomed our music and preaching throughout the neighborhood; we’ve also been blessed to have spectacular weather every Sunday all summer long! But as the fall approaches, and as we continue to adapt to the ever changing pandemic situation, we have determined that it is now appropriate to move our Sunday morning services indoors. This continues to be a challenging season for all of us, and this was not a decision that was made lightly.
THE NEED FOR GRACE, NOW MORE THAN EVER
We do want to ask for your grace. As this pandemic began, it was easy to extend grace to one another and to the church leadership as we responded to the crisis. You may not have agreed with our decisions, but you understood that no single decision would please everyone. Across the spring, and into the summer, you have all been so gracious as we have endured this season of suboptimal conditions for community and worship. But after almost six months we are all weary, and it is so easy for grace to begin to run out.
We are praying for the Lord’s grace to flow through us all as our own starts to run out. We recognize that some of us will be delighted with this decision; some of us will be disappointed with this decision; some (we hope very few) will even be angry and frustrated by this decision. We’re asking that you continue to extend grace to one another as we find ourselves in disagreement about the best ways to proceed. We also hope you will extend grace to our church leaders who are prayerfully working together and making difficult decisions to keep our church moving forward together.
Keep reading to find out some of what you need to know about moving back inside!
CORONAVIRUS PROTOCOLS
Our decision to move Sundays back inside does not mean that we’re abandoning safety guidelines. In fact, in accordance with state and local guidelines, it will feel like additional measures are being added.
In addition to maintaining social distance while arriving and departing, we will need to work together to ensure socially distant seating is maintained in the pews.
Masks will be necessary for the entire duration of the service, not just for the singing.
You can find these guidelines on the state of Massachusetts’ website at the following url: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safety-standards-and-checklist-places-of-worship. We will continue to abide by all state and local guidelines as responsible members of our community.
LIVESTREAMING WILL CONTINUE
We recognize that many of us remain uncomfortable with gathering for worship, and we are committed to continuing the LiveStream of our Sunday morning services. Our sound and tech volunteers are busy wiring up the sanctuary to ensure this remains available for our church family. We are also exploring using the Fellowship Hall as an overflow room should we need additional space to accommodate all who wish to attend.
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
At this time, Nursery and Children’s Sunday School will not be available. We are working with our nursery leaders to envision a safe and appropriate environment for our littlest ones, while also opening a dialogue with our nursery volunteers about participating in this space. We are also looking for additional volunteers as we are unable to provide Children’s Sunday School at this time. We will be rebuilding this team across the fall, and are doing our best to get back to the place of being able to offer an age-appropriate worship experience for our children.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED
We need your help! We need people who are willing to be greeters, Sunday School teachers, nursery volunteers, worship team musicians, sound and technology gurus, and even “decontaminators” who will help disinfect the church building after each service. Now more than ever, we need the church to be the church as we care for one another and work together to reclaim a space for celebration and worship of our great God!
MORE INFORMATION WILL COME
As additional decisions are made, we will continue to communicate with you as best we can. Be sure you’re signed up for the church email; check the church website; make sure you’re here for worship or catch the livestream at the very beginning for the announcements.
FINAL REMINDER
In this season, it is so easy to think, “I don’t like worshipping like this. I don’t want to wear a mask. Why should I have to wear a mask for church?” Believe me, we on the Leadership Team often feel the same way! But we have been reminding one another that we have vulnerable people in our congregation who are older, or who are immunosuppressed, who work in healthcare, or who would be out of work should they contract COVID-19. We are not wearing masks to protect ourselves; we are wearing masks to protect others around us. It is an act of Christ-like love to put others’ needs before our own. Let’s not allow something like wearing a mask to divide our church family. Instead, reflect on Paul’s words to the church at Philippi:
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:1–4 (NIV)
We love you all, and we’re hopeful that wearing masks and sitting six feet away from one another will not undermine our calling to gather together and to worship Jesus! For He remains worthy, and we were made to worship Him. Perhaps especially in a season such as this, we need to work even harder to come together and enjoy His presence!
In Him,
Together with you,
On behalf of the Leadership Team,
Pastor Tim
Your Leadership Team
David Broberg *
Jacqueline Broberg *
Jake Brooks
Tim Bushfield
Audrey Johnson
Chris Love
Katie Madden
Sara Martin
Amanda Matczynski
Matt Nilan
Kim Sawyer
Dean Sidell
Joel Skinner
Aaron Smith
Cory Ward
Steve Zacchigna
*indicates provisional member of the Leadership Team
pending congregational affirmation at the next Annual Meeting.
We welcome your input and feedback! Feel free to call any of us or email us. We’d love to hear from you!