Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

The Session met for a called meeting this evening, May 14, so I wanted to provide you a brief update on decisions made tonight. In the midst of ever-changing news about COVID-19 cases and testing; the governor’s executive orders and local guidelines; businesses and churches both reopening and remaining closed; scientific data and opinions, and our God who is faithful always, I am very grateful for how your Session continues to prayerfully consider how we might best continue to share the good news of the gospel with our congregation and community. There is much which is yet to be decided and many details yet to be worked out. However, the Session did vote this evening:

1. To set Monday, June 1, 2020, as an aspirational date for reopening the church campus with both theological commitments and strict safety guidelines. If this date is confirmed, it will allow the church staff to return to work in their offices, for you as congregation members to make appointments to see members of the staff (but not just drop in), and for us to continue working toward the church campus being available for small (less than 10 people) groups, meetings, and studies.

2. To set June 14, 2020, as an aspirational date to resume in-person worship services. This date also remains subject to change as we continue to monitor the most recent guidance from the CDC, health and governmental officials, and our denomination. We do not want to gather for an in-person worship service until we can do so as safely as possible. The tentative plan for June 14th is to share a recorded video service in the morning via Facebook and YouTube and hold an outdoor evening service (with different scripture, sermon, prayers, and music) on the lawn and parking lot of the Alan Fuqua Center.

The Session’s next Stated Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 26th. At that time, if the Session believes it is faithful and safe to proceed with these dates, the Session will consider and approve more definite plans for this phase 1 of opening the church campus and returning to in-person worship services. I will share more with you as soon as it has been approved by the Session.

Thank you for your faith, your care for one another and the most vulnerable in our church and community, your financial support, and most of all your prayers. You are living examples of what we will hear in our scripture text this Sunday: “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” 1 John 4:16

God bless,
Matt