August 13, 2020

I have a two-part update to share with you about the date for the city's fencing to come down and a plan in the works for the plywood over our windows. Here is a short video I recorded in the church this afternoon explaining it all, or read on below:

Before the fencing went up we were approached by an organization called P.A.I.N.T.S. Institute who were offering to have their artists paint the plywood over our windows with images and words calling for healing, love and justice. We felt we could not continue with that plan when the fencing went up, but they have let us know they are still interested! We are planning for them to paint the boards on Saturday, September 5th.

When you think of it, our stained glass windows are designed to bring art and beauty into the interior of the church, but now we have an opportunity to project art and beauty out toward our neighborhood. It is an honor that these artists are offering to bless our space with their artwork, and it is also exciting—for them and for us—to know that the Smithsonian has requested that when the boards eventually come down we will donate them to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

One final note is that we are devising a way to make at least a few of the boards set apart from the windows with enough distance to allow lighting in so that as we move gradually back into our church we will also have light coming in through them once again. I look forward to all of this.

God's peace,

Rob+

PS: If you would like to view the service from Sunday once again, or for the first time, you may view at this link.

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