“… But Jesus intervened: ‘Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.’”

Matthew 19:14

I’ve done thinking about those vs. these. These are demonstrative words that can be used to describe people, just like Jesus did in Matthew 19:14. “These” infers proximity, while “those” indicates a distance or separation. For just this reason, I find it amazing that (as Jesus says) God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.

For the last 16 months, we have been altering how we worshiped to keep our community, our neighbors, our families, and ourselves safe during the pandemic. It is our hope that safety does not go by the wayside. While we hope the days of pandemic decision making are drawing to a close, we are continuing to monitor vaccine rates, infection spread, mask mandates, the Delta variant, and so much more. We will again alter our worship protocols so that the children, these people, can worship in confidence.

While on one hand worship will begin to look and feel more comfortably like what we knew and lived before the pandemic, there will be some important protocol information that you will need to be aware of:

Beginning July 11:
9:00 a.m. Traditional Worship –

• This service will no longer require masks for those who are fully vaccinated. Similarly, you no longer need to register in advance to attend this service. We ask that those who cannot or have not been vaccinated with either continue to join us for worship on the live-stream, or be fully masked when in the building for the entirety of the service. You may choose to be seated anywhere within the worship center.
• At this time there will still be no coffee or refreshments served.
• This service will be-live streamed.

10:30 a.m. Contemporary Worship –

• This service will be designated as the protocoled service. We ask that each family registered all who are planning to attend. Regardless of vaccination status, we ask that all present will wear masks and will sit distanced from other families. We would also like to encourage that children who are not vaccinated will wear masks in accordance with the CDC.
• At this time there will still be no coffee or refreshments served.
• This service will be live-streamed.

We can at the same time long for a grieve what we loved about worshiping together before this pandemic began and simultaneously be praying for what new ways God is calling us to be the church both in our worship and in our life.

We look forward to seeing you whether in person or online!