Just in time for Pentecost: WORSHIP TOGETHER

We will be officially gathering for worship this Sunday, May 31, Pentecost Sunday, at 8 am and 10 am, in our sanctuary. Pentecost is the second highest Sunday of the Christian year, behind only Easter Sunday. We will celebrate Pentecost by reading together the story of the birthday of the Church, from Acts chapter 2, and by sharing in Holy Communion together.

During our “Greeting & Announcements” time we will pause for a prayer of thanksgiving to God for bringing us back together, and we will observe a moment of silence for those who have succumb to the virus sweeping through our world.

I want to encourage as many of you as possible to come to the 8 am service because we are going to have to limit ourselves to 40 people at any particular service, in order to maintain safe distancing (every other pew is taped “closed”). We ask that you come and sit in “family” groups with people with whom you already have close contact ... or by yourself (couples or singles may safely distance at far ends of a single pew).

In order to serve communion safely, you will remain in your pew, and I will bring the elements to you. The bread will be cut into cubes, and each cube will have a toothpick in it for you to grasp. The communion cups will be in our regular trays but spaced in such a way that they will not be touched by anyone except the person who drinks it. There will be a foil pan in each pew for your discarded toothpick and communion cup.

If you want to sing (and I hope you do!) I ask you to wear a mask while you sing or if you do not have a mask please cover your mouth with your hand as you sing like you would for a cough or a sneeze (coughing, sneezing, and singing are very similar in their projections).

At the end of our 10 am service, our Confirmation Class will enter the sanctuary, and those present will have the opportunity to proclaim our responsibility and our intention to continue to help these young people grow in their walk with Jesus. We will have a private service for our Confirmation Class and their families at 11 am.

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday or as soon as you feel comfortable returning. I am also willing to bring communion to wherever you are. Please pray for everyone’s health and safety.

Your Brother in Christ, Mike