Pausing In-Person Worship Offerings Until Lent
January 7, 2021
Dear members and friends,
As the calendar rolls over, so does the liturgical season. After hosting in-person worship experiences throughout the season of Advent, the Worship Planning Team, with consultation from the Administrative Board is in the process of evaluating our in-person worship experiences for the beginning of 2021. With hospital numbers at extremely high levels, a re-evaluation and deep consideration for what is best for our faith community and what is our most faithful response for our wider community considering the on-going pandemic is certainly warranted.
As you are no doubt aware, many considerations go into our decision making process about when and where to hold in-person worship gatherings. Undoubtedly, there are also strong feelings on either side of the decision among our members.
While the vaccine is hopeful, Denton County has had very few doses allotted in the first round. Additionally, our hospital numbers are at record levels and ICU beds are in critically short supply. Leaders in our healthcare community have expressed hope that Denton County will renew its efforts to avoid transmission of the virus. Lastly, businesses and bars have been reduced to 50% again. While we are not subject to this stipulation, it may still be worth pausing to consider that this threshold has been crossed according to Denton County Public Health. It also would seem, a significant surge is likely in the next few weeks as a result of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Given these factors and after reflecting on the balance of the good of gathering in person with Jesus’ great commandment to love our neighbor and our denomination’s first rule of life to “do no harm,” we have decided to pause our in-person worship offerings until Ash Wednesday, February 17 and the season of Lent.
This pause on in-person worship will allow us to regroup related to our own safety protocols for in-person worship, and, most importantly, will provide some time between the holidays and the vaccine rollout to see if there are any positive developments in case numbers and hospitalizations.
We know that online worship does not connect with all of our members and guests. We will continue to look for meaningful ways to engage our congregation and keep everyone connected as we continue through this pandemic. As the Gospel of John reminds us, light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. We will make it through this together.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns. We sincerely appreciate your support as we continue to navigate these difficult times.
Peace,
Rev. Don Lee
Lead Pastor