Friends,

Like me, perhaps you are beginning to see some positive signs of improvement in the Covid 19 pandemic – and still a few worrisome trends.  As I’m writing today, the positivity rate across the state and county is continuing downward.  While still higher than we would wish, it is moving in the right direction.  While the vaccine rollout is moving slower than hoped for, we likely know a few people who have been vaccinated or have upcoming appointments.  We also hear of new highly transmissible variants and reports that there remain some hard months ahead.

While I don’t yet think it is prudent to move quickly back to in-person worship, I have visited with church leadership about being tentatively optimistic that we might resume in-person worship on or soon after Easter, which is April 4th.  We, of course, continue to watch positivity rates, transmission trends and hospital occupancy rates.  We will only move back to in person worship when we feel it is safe and responsible to do so.  Let’s continue to be hopeful!

While we wait, there are several things that we are continuing – and a few new things that we are working on as we move towards the Lenten season – that we hope you find meaningful.Our worship service each week continues to be provided online and can be accessed from our aldersgatedsm.com website and through the Saturday email reminder.

  • Links are sent out each week for Wednesday Youth Group, and Sunday 10:00 Intergenerational Sunday School and 10:45 Coffee, Conversation and Connection.
  • We are finalizing plans for Ash Wednesday “drive thru” opportunities on February 17th to receive an imposition of ashes as a way of beginning the Lenten journey.
  • We will be offering an online Lenten study entitled, Seven Words: Listening to Christ from the Cross. Look for more information next week in the newsletter about the resource, when the class will be offered and how to get a copy of the book.
  • There will be opportunities each week during the Lenten season to come to church for individual refection using a “Stations of the Cross” devotional model.

 

As we anticipate resuming in person worship within the next couple months please,

  • Continue to be patient and offer grace to our church staff and to each other.
  • Check in with each other with cards, emails, texts and phone calls.
  • Let the church office know if you, or others you are aware of, need contacted.
  • Wear a mask! Stay home when you don’t need to be out! Get vaccinated when you can!

 

Thank you for all the ways you are, and continue to be the Church!

I hope to see you soon!

Eric