Patti Pachula, Director of our Weekday Program, sat quietly at our staff meeting Tuesday and just smiled. I think I may have detected a suppressed giggle.

We were discussing options for Sunday worship. At that point, forecasters were predicting a wintry mix and snow totaling 6–12 inches by Sunday. So, we were strongly leaning toward moving all worship online (pre-recorded) and simply closing the building out of an abundance of caution for everyone’s warmth and safety. Patti’s smile and suppressed giggle? Patti is Canadian, and like most folks north of the Mason–Dixon line, she was amused by all the excitement a little “dusting” can create.

As it is, forecasters are now calling for 1–2 inches of mostly sleet (which is often easier to drive in though still potentially slick), plus a bit of snow Sunday morning. We will still record all the key portions of our worship, just in case the forecast worsens significantly, but at this time we are planning for:

One service on Sunday at 11:00 a.m., both in-person and live-streamed, with lots of congregational singing (no choir);
No Sunday School or child care;
Lots of coffee and hot water;
Shoveled and salted pathways to the the “New Front Doors” to the Gathering Area (1) and the Church Office entrance (2) – see graphic below;
Pats on the back and hugs for all who wish to come and be the body of Christ in person;

If weather conditions worsen, we will shift to a livestream-only service out of an abundance of caution. Please check back to our website, social media and Realm for any new developments. If you feel any hesitation about coming, please stay warm and safe out of an abundance of caution and join us online for worship. As the psalmist says in our text for Sunday:

I have asked one thing from the Lord—it’s all I seek:
to live in the Lord’s house all the days of my life,
seeing the Lord’s beauty and constantly adoring his temple.
Psalm 27:4

It is both metaphorical and literal. We look forward to sharing that joy with you this Sunday.

Connecting God and Grace to Self and Community,

Out of an Abundance of Caution

The Beloved Community