Friends,
Right now the biggest thing on my mind is the fact that we will be going back inside for celebration this coming Sunday, October 24.
A return to the sanctuary has been a long time coming, but unfortunately, this doesn’t mark the end of the road for MPC’s COVID era. We will still be taking a lot of precautions and following a lot of rules as we gather under the A-Frame roof by Temescal Creek.
But I hope you will not be put off by or intimidated by the rules, which are designed to make a return to indoor celebration as safe as possible for everyone. A significant number of folks in the congregation have concerns about returning to indoor celebration, and that is understandable. In fact, I share some of those concerns. Even though I am vaccinated, I’ll be giving myself an at-home COVID test each week before celebration just to double check. We all know breakthrough cases can happen and because I will be preaching, I want to make double sure that nothing but the Word of God comes out of my mouth, and that when I exhale, nothing more serious than mild halitosis is borne on my breath (and for that I have Altoids). The word “pastor” means “shepherd” and Jesus once said a good shepherd cares for the flock. I intend to be the best pastor I can be.
I hope that when you come to church on Sunday, that you will feel as safe and as confident as possible. We will all be vaccinated*, there will be as much ventilation as possible (so bring a coat), and we’ll be social distancing in the pews. We will be singing less and everyone will wear a mask when not speaking from the lectern or pulpit (we’ll be using both a lectern and a pulpit for the time being as a way of maintaining distance in the chancel). We’ll also offer the option of sitting outside under the shelter of the Thornhill Room’s roof and watching the service as it is broadcast on the big screen TV; we’ll also be livestreaming the celebration in the MPC Sky Room, and recording it for publication on YouTube. So, lots of options for every level of comfort.
Most of the rules and procedures will apply to the celebration leadership. For people coming to church, we have lots of signs, and most of the rules are things you are doing anyway: you will need to wear a mask and stay socially distant in the pews (we’ll help with that by marking places where you can sit). The most important out of the ordinary requirement is that if you are over the age of twelve, you must show proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test before entering the sanctuary.
This makes the Church a little bit like a restaurant or bar in San Francisco. On Friday I ate breakfast at a place on the corner of Sutter and Steiner; I had to show proof of vaccination to get in but it was worth it. The eggs benedict were divine, and my prayer is that our congregation’s commitment to safety will enable us to celebrate together in ways that are as transcendent as was my breakfast last week.
God’s Peace,
Ben