November 2020  

Dear Friends,  

Grace and Peace to you in the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

I spoke about the election in the last newsletter, so I won’t be repeating myself. This newsletter will reach you before the election results are in, so I can’t speak to what those results may be.

Instead, let’s talk about the upcoming holidays. And, unfortunately, COVID19.   When I think back to mid-March, the early days of the pandemic, I remember our council making the decision to shut down in-person worship for two weeks. We would figure everything else out after we “flattened the curve”. After that, it began to sink in that this was going to last much longer than anticipated. And, when it slowly occurred to me that we would not be back in person celebrating Holy Week and Easter, I wept. I wept every time I thought about it.  

Now, here we are, six months later. And, while some things have gone back to some sort of “normal”. Many things still are not. Thankfully, this is less distressing to me. Things are still stressful and disheartening at times. But, I am not distressed about the upcoming church holidays. It is what it is, and we have got to deal with it the best that we can. And, we will get through it together.

So, let’s talk about Advent and Christmas.  

It’s going to look a little different this year. Normally I would wait until we have concrete plans to discuss it in the newsletter. But, I just wanted to start small. I just want you to start wrapping your heads around the idea that we won’t all be assembled in the sanctuary, holding candles, singing Silent Night.  

The council will meet in a couple of weeks to discuss the upcoming weeks of worship. And, the worship committee will meet to lay out services. And, when we have something in place, we’ll let you know. But, for now, just prepare for things to look different this holiday season. We’ll probably have in-person and online options, as we have done for the last couple of months. Take this time to absorb the concept that Christmas will look different. And, do not let your hearts be troubled.  

We will celebrate Advent and Christmas, we will do it together, and Christ will dwell with us no matter what it looks like.  

Soli Deo Gloria, Pastor Robert