September 6, 2021

Dear Road Church Family,

Our All-Church meeting on Monday, August 30, 2021, was our first in many months. Our primary intent was to hear financial and committee reports, and discuss where we go from here. Not too long ago, as Covid protocols were being relaxed, and cases were receding, some of us had hoped that by Labor Day we could begin to bring our Sunday worship service back to the way it was prior to the Pandemic. But the resurgence of the more contagious Delta strain of Covid over the past month, and a sharp rise in infections, has forced us to reconsider our plans about how to proceed between now and the end of the year. The situation is fluid so all our plans are subject to change. All of us want to move ahead at just the right pace with a minimum risk to the health of everyone.

Here are some of the things we talked about:

·  It was suggested that we extend our 30 minute service long enough to include a time of sharing joys and concerns. All of us who have been attending our Sunday worship regularly have been vaccinated, so our Sanctuary is a very safe environment, and we continue to practice social distancing.

·  We also thought we could safely sing a closing benediction chorus as we are dismissed, especially if we are wearing masks.

·  For the time being we ask that everyone wear a mask to church, but once seated each person can choose to keep it on or not throughout the service if they are vaccinated.

·  We talked about bringing back our social time after the service. It would offer coffee or water. We could hold it outside if the weather is good, or in the Parlor.

·  The hope of everyone in attendance is that these adjustments to our weekly Sunday worship service represent small steps forward that will enrich our worship time together. 

NOTE: If you are looking for more engagement with others and the scriptures you might consider our in-person BIBLE STUDY and discussion group that meets in the Parlor each Wednesday at 10 am. This week we will begin a survey of the Four Gospels.

Mark your calendars, Monday, September 27, 2021 at 5:30 pm in the Parish Parlor—this will be our next All-Church meeting. Please consider yourself invited!

May God bless us all with good health and happy hearts.

Pastor Norm

860-759-6720

normerlendson@gmail.com