Church Update - June 17, 2020
These past three months have been difficult as we try to navigate how we can live our lives the way we always have, and how we can be safe. I have had to make the difficult decision to keep our church closed to keep our people safe. Having large gatherings in an enclosed building for an extended time is the most difficult and precarious decision we will make.
Our churches have advisory teams that are working to determine how our church can safely open. It is complicated.
Currently, our New York State government is asking churches to limit worship gatherings to no more than 25% of our physical capacity with significant social distancing, disinfecting, and monitoring. Even if we began meeting right now, it would not be like it was.
Also, our congregations contain many people who are in vulnerable populations and many children who do not truly understand social distancing.
Some churches are moving quickly to reopen, and others are waiting. While we have often been a church in the lead, at this time, we are more concerned about doing things right than doing things first. In the midst of all of this, we have a new Senior Pastor coming to take my place July first, and I will be holding my last worship service on June 28. While I would love to have you all join with me in a farewell worship service, it would be devastating for me to leave a legacy of hearing many became sick because of my desire. It would also be incredibly difficult for a new pastor to be expected to “open the church” three days after she arrives.
At this point, we will work with our advisory teams and continually evaluate our preparedness to open. We can’t do this (worship in the church) without you. It will take many volunteers to make this happen. Are you willing to help? To get your name on a list, email theoffice@pcumc.org. The advisory teams will provide a formal update mid-July.
In the meantime, please engage with our worship online, and I look forward to seeing many of you in a goodbye opportunity on June 28, where we will also have the chance to share previously consecrated communion elements. If you would like to celebrate communion, please bring a cup for everyone in your car.
Pastor Tom with Pastor Cathy
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