Summer is a time when things slow down around Grace. We continue to worship, to live out our mission and ministry, to care for one another. Still, it has always been a time when certain ministries and programs take a break. This year, however, is different. Many things have been put on hold since March or have been reinvented.
When will things get started again? And what will autumn look like at Grace?
Remember that during the pandemic, plans can change in a hurry. But that said, we are moving forward with
a plan for holding worship services for up to fifty people at a time, as you’ve read about elsewhere. Grace School is planning on opening up for in-person learning at the beginning of the school year, with remote learning available for students, too.
Beyond worship and the school, we plan to take it slow when it comes to in-person gatherings. Meetings of committees and boards should continue to happen remotely. Individual ministries, from Cornerstones to Adult Education, Sunday School and youth ministry, are making plans that will most likely involve remote gatherings, at least in the fall. This is partly due to a desire to minimize in-person gatherings, but also so that we can focus on keeping the building safe and clean for our students when they come to school each day.
Make no mistake, ministry programs will ramp back up as we transition from summer to autumn. But it will look different. Thanks be to God that the church is still the church. We continue to gather in creative ways, giving thanks to God through Christ our Lord. Thank you, Grace, for being the church during these days.
Pastor Dave Lyle
