Hello, Friends!

A little while back I wrote the below response to some folks who were questioning why we had not yet begun in-person worship services. I have been encouraged to share it with the wider congregation. So, I am sending it your way.

Currently, our plan is to begin in-person worship services on Sunday, May 2 at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00. Depending upon what we see happening with the Covid positivity rate, we may look to hold the services outdoors, in person.
Due to limited seating capacity, we are asking everyone to sign up to attend our services. Next week, the sign up information will be sent via email and will be on our website. 
And, some things to remember when returning to in person worship:

·      Be Exposure/Symptom Free

·      Use Hand Sanitizer on Entry or Re-entry

·      Practice Social Distancing

·      Mask Over Nose AND Mouth

·      Cover Coughs & Sneezes

·      No Person-Person Contact

·      No Congregational Singing (however, you may hum the tunes or mouth the words behind your mask)
Keep watching your emails for details as we move forward. 

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The CUMC Trustees and Re-opening Committee have diligently watched the information throughout this time of Covid pandemic and sought to err on the side of caution in caring for our congregation. The United Methodist Church looks to John Wesley’s Three General Rules for the church, the first of which is “Do No Harm.” 
Because someone with the Covid-19 virus may not show any symptoms, asymptomatic people could easily have the virus and spread the virus without knowing it. And, while we may not, personally, see the effects of it, that does not mean it is not having an effect on others, especially the most vulnerable among us (but not just the most vulnerable) and those beyond us in the communities in which we circulate. And, we may never know who became infected.
My heart is for the church to be fully open and filled with the congregation and guests! My heart also calls me to “Love my Neighbor.” And, for me, this is loving my neighbor, my congregation.
I know that there are those who would say that we lack faith, that we are not trusting God to keep us safe.
The scripture that has been on my heart is from Matthew 4 – where we see Satan seeking to tempt Jesus. 

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: [Psalm 91 is quoted]“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”In other words, no need to worry about gravity, God will protect you if you jump and will not let gravity bring harm to you.
Jesus response [he quotes Deuteronomy 6:16] is what continues to echo in my head, as he quotes scripture back to Satan: 
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
We have had folks from our own congregation who have battled Covid, some were hospitalized in serious condition, two have died. During this worldwide pandemic, I have sought, not only to err on the side of caution, but also to “not put the Lord our God to the test.” 
I understand that others may feel differently, I am simply sharing where I am coming from. 
I understand that we are all getting tired of this whole thing…they are calling it Covid fatigue. I also understand the analogy that is being used sometimes in calling us to hold out for a little while longer: It is about not spiking the football on the 10 yard line; and more recently I’ve heard the 3 yard line used.
May 2 was selected as a target date to once again begin in-person worship services for those who wish to come because it gets us past Spring Break and the Easter holiday and the potential spikes that could come from them. It also allows time for more folks to be vaccinated.
When we do “open” for in-person worship on May 2 (Lord willing and Covid doesn’t rise), we will open for all three worship services, as the concerns for potential spread of the virus through touching surfaces has been pretty much eliminated.
I look forward to in-person worship at 8:00, 9:30, and 11:00 beginning on May 2!!
Please continue to hold me in prayer, along with the Trustess and the Re-opening Team as we continue to assess the ongoing situation with new variants of the virus and increases around the globe.
Folks, these have not been easy decisions but they have been made from hearts seeking the best interests of the heath and safety of our church family and the community in which we minister.

I love you all and look forward to our journey ahead.

Grace and peace -Pastor Sherry