October 8, 2020
Dear Christ Community Family,
Grace and peace to you all. This email is to serve as a special report to you regarding some important decisions that your Council made last night. These decisions were made after much discussion and prayer. If you have any questions regarding these decisions, please speak with one of our Council members.
Sunday Worship Gatherings
We have prayerfully decided to move our worship indoors immediately, beginning this Sunday, October 11. As this is a fluid situation, the Council has decided to only commit to worship indoors in the sanctuary for the next four weeks (Sunday, November 1). In preparation for Indoor Worship, the Council spent time reviewing state guidelines and resources provided by the C.D.C. It is our hope and commitment to continue to adhere to all social distancing guidelines recommended. Our next Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3. We hope to discern and reassess the needs of our congregation before deciding on how to proceed. The two guiding principles that have led our Council for the past seven months have been: (1) Loving God! (2) Loving One Another! The following are further details in regards to the background of our decision:
(1) The Council gives God all praise and honor for incredible weather (except for that one week) while we did Outdoor Worship. As the weather gets cooler, the Council knew that we needed to make a decision one way or the other.
(2) The Council is committed to adhering to all Social Distancing Guidelines and have set protocols based on the guidelines (see below) which we hope will continue to provide for a safe space for in-person worship.
(3) The Council has had conversations in regards to potentially having multiple services to provide more space in the sanctuary if necessary. We hope to discern over the next few weeks what is needed before making any adjustments and decisions on Tuesday, November 3.
(4) The Council has approved purchases to improve our livestreaming equipment. Our Virtual Worship Opportunities via Facebook Live will not be changed in the foreseeable future. We hope to continue to improve the Virtual Worship experience for those that may not be comfortable with in-person gatherings, or for those that are unable to attend in-person gatherings for various reasons.
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Last night after our Council meeting I spent some time in prayer and reflection over the past seven months. Each and every decision has not been easy. There is so much uncertainty out there! "Are we going to have a second wave?" "When are we ever going to get back to normal?" "Is COVID-19 ever going to go away?" And the list of questions can go on! Each decision weighed heavily on my heart as your pastor because I want to please everybody. But at the end of the day, I can't. And that is why I am eternally grateful for our Council. Each decision that we have made over the past seven months have not been reactionary. We have spent time in prayer and fruitful discussion. Each decision has proved to be wise and timely. God has continued to shower down His protection over our church. We had 10 online-only Virtual Worship Services. We had 5 Drive-In Worship Services. We had 12 Outdoor Worship Services and 2 Indoor Worship Services due to inclement weather. And after 29-weeks, we will be back indoors in the sanctuary for worship - that will not look like how it did back on March 15. But the God we worship hasn't changed. He is still in control. May we hold onto that gospel hope as we prayerfully continue to grow together as CHRIST COMMUNITY.
With Love in Christ,
Rev. James Lee
on behalf of the Christ Community Church Council