February Newsletter

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February Newsletter

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​Below this is the full text of Pastor John's article

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I missed the January Newsletter, but I promise it was for good reason! So far 2021 has been a whirlwind of activity, even if things have been quiet at the church. Jack joined our family on January 5th, and things haven't been the same since. While we have had a judicious use of the phrase "it's a good thing you're cute" typically at about 3am in the morning, we couldn't be happier to have him here with us.

What that means is that things have been a little slow in getting started this year, but that's been okay. We're going to be slow in getting things started this year, but we'll be picking up speed as the year goes on. We're all watching as the vaccine for Covid-19 is being rolled out. While it is not progressing as many of us would want, it is progressing.

As things stand now, I'm anticipating that we will begin approaching normal towards Summer. However, it will only be an approach. We won't ever return to the way things were. Many things have changed permanently, and others have changed in small ways. 

For as hard as this transition is going to be, this is also an opportunity. With that in mind we have started working on some plans for late Spring and Summer. In my mind I've been calling the time from May-June (and beyond) "Reentry" We're looking at ways that we can reenter a world that has begun to function more completely than it will have for nearly 18 months before that. 

We're working on a plan to provide resources for mental, physical, and spiritual health as we go through this time. This is going to be important because we have all been affected by the events of the pandemic and the last year. We need to find healthy ways of working through that, so we are prepared for the future.

We also know that our church has been worshipping in a wide variety of ways with folks in person, on Facebook and YouTube, and on the radio. We will continue with online worship, even after we have lifted the restrictions on how many people we can have in person. With that in mind we'll be looking at ways that we can bring everyone together for other events. They'll be outside at the beginning. We've known for a while that we need to do some things to our backyard so that we can use it for more than just parking. Watch for changes as we move towards the Spring.

There is still more that is going on, and new things that we will be working on. In the rest of the February Newsletter, you'll find information on how we ended last year, how our Christmas giving went, and more information about Lent.

I want you to know that while the last year has been a challenge, and the next year looks just as challenging, that you are in my prayers. I have no concerns about if we can meet those challenges. I worry, but that is human nature. But I know that we can handle what is coming because we have faith, and our faith will give us the strength to make it through.

I continue to be grateful that I get to be your pastor, even through these times. God is not done with us yet, and we still have far more ahead of us.

Peace,
​Pastor John