Greetings!
The season of Advent is here, and we have many exciting things to bring you as we journey through Advent toward Christmas.
In the past six months, since reopening for in-person services, we have learned new ways to come together and connect with one another. We’ve also listened to your feedback about what helps you to feel the most safe and welcome at church, both in-person and online.
We feel that now, as we approach Christmas, it is time to find more ways to make our community feel warm and welcoming, while also maintaining the high-quality online experience and ensuring that people who are at the in-person service have a great experience.
You might notice some familiar things that will be making a comeback. We now have coffee hour again, after Sunday services. Right now, as the weather is nice and cool, we are holding coffee hour outdoors! So please plan to stick around after church and share some fellowship time!
We have also brought back congregational singing. We do still have an indoor mask requirement, but everyone in the congregation is welcome to sing along, with masks still on.
Starting this Sunday, communion will also be changing! Although we will continue to use pre-packaged communion cups, we will now be offering individual prayer at the communion stations, when you receive the pre-packaged elements. This will look a lot like communion prior to the pandemic. We invite you to consume communion back at your seat, after receiving prayer.
We are also bringing back HIV testing, every other month, starting December 19, provided by Metro Inclusive Health.
Also, please stay tuned to our announcements, this coming Sunday, for exciting news about our Food Pantry!
We are so happy to be making these shifts, to make our church feel even more like a place for spiritual connection. I sincerely hope that you will come to church and experience all that we have to offer!
You are loved
Rev. Jakob