Dear CSPC family,

Many of you have expressed longing to be back in our sanctuary for worship. I am grateful for your love of that holy place, and for your patience as the leadership of CSPC has diligently worked through the safest ways to go about reopening.

This week, Session voted to pursue the goal of reopening the church building for in-person worship services on Sunday, July 5, following the recommendation of our Reopening Task Force.

We want to reiterate that there is no “safe” way to gather in large groups as long as the SARS-COV-2 virus is still active in our community; there are only ways to mitigate the risk, which we will follow as fully as we can. We encourage you to remain healthy at home if you have any concerns, and especially if you are physically vulnerable by because of your age, health conditions, or inability to follow protocols of mask-wearing and physical distancing. We give thanks that God’s Spirit is everywhere present in our world.

Those who choose to gather in person will be required to attest that they have no COVID symptoms before entering the sanctuary, wear masks, and keep six-foot social distance between themselves and others. We know that you have missed each other, but now is not the time to break out the hugs or even handshakes! Other activities that require close contact or sharing supplies, like passing the peace, passing offering plates, or providing a nursery–will not be part of our worship experience for the foreseeable future. We will also not be able to have congregational singing, as singing is a particularly effective means of sharing the virus. We will also follow other guidelines as determined by the Reopening Task Force.

We will continue to livestream our services via Facebook and Zoom for those who will participate from home, and to make every effort to maintain the unity of our congregation across platforms.

Because the pandemic situation is ever-evolving, July 5 is a goal, not a promise. For example, if there is a spike in ICU bed usage prior to July 5, we will push back our opening. We will communicate primarily through Mailchimp, so please contact Pastor Carol if you do not currently get our Mailchimp e-mails. We will also call folks who do not have an e-mail address.

I give God deep thanksgiving for the work of Session and of our Reopening Task Force (Dr. Mark Boyd, Sarah Cottongim, Katie Cook, and Tim Reed) during this time. I give thanks also for the resiliency of this congregation, that has weathered so many storms in the past and is weathering this one with compassion, grace, and faithfulness. I am proud to serve as your pastor, and glad to continue to worship alongside you, whether you are in the sanctuary or at home.

Peace,
Pastor Carol
The Session of CSPC

“Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)