Email from Pastor Cliff
Dear Church Family,
It is good to see our worship attendance gaining each week. Yesterday I was happy to see a total of 110 people in the service. My prayer is the numbers will continue to increase each Sunday. One thing which has caught my attention is the makeup of the congregation each Sunday. What has impressed me are the families with young children coming. Let me quickly add, their children have been great during every service. Remember, reservations are no longer needed and we have a special place for you this Sunday. Repeat worshippers are not only needed, they are welcome!
Since the COVID shutdown, we have intentionally planned the services to be more fast paced. For example, we no longer have the meet and greet, the offering plates are not passed, only one special music, and the sermons are typically more brief. In my opinion, the spirit of the services has been quite good. Something else I have noticed, when we first came back people seemed cautious, but now I sense a more relaxed attitude. One thing which is obvious to me, the people want to get together. Sunday, I personally felt compelled to be out in the foyer after the service. It felt so good to get off of the platform and do what I have always done, interact with everyone. Many came to me and said they are tired of all of the restrictions, and we are ready to put COVID behind us. As I have said before, I believe the worse is definitely behind us and the end of COVID is near. By the way, most so called experts, but not all, believe with the heat of summer the virus will disappear. If that is true, the 96 degree high expected today, and the hottest day of the summer predicted tomorrow, should cause the virus to burn out. Let’s pray that will be the case!
Now, let me be clear, we will not drop all precautions, but we are definitely making plans for the coming weeks. Our first church wide event will be our Annual Patriotic Family Gathering, Sunday, July 5, from Noon to 2:00 P.M. This event begins with lunch, but instead of having everyone bring food placing it on the serving tables, each family will bring their own “box lunch.” The church will provide tea, coffee or water, paper plates, eating utensils and napkins. There will be a water feature for the children and the adults may bring their table games. This will be an afternoon of fun for all ages and we hope you will make plans to come.
We are also making plans to resume childcare on a limited basis for the morning worship services. Beginning Sunday, July 5, childcare will be provided, but only for birth through age 3. At this time we do not feel we should go back to our regular program. It may surprise you, but it has only been in recent decades that children have been separated from their parents for worship services. When our children were growing up, once they turned 4 years old they went to “Big Church.” You may find it interesting, but on our mission trips to Romania the past 17 years, the one thing which gets our attention and admiration as Americans is how well the Romanian families worship together. In their churches there are no childcare facilities and the children truly behave like little adults. What makes it even more remarkable is their services are much longer in length than ours. During all of our trips, since 2003, I cannot remember seeing any child taken out of a service. So parents please come to the services and bring your children. It will actually provide you a great opportunity to teach your children the pleasure of worshipping together as a family.
This Lord’s Day I am expecting to see our largest attendance to date. Finally, my sincere thanks to each of you who remain so faithful in your giving.
Blessings always,
Pastor Cliff