COVID19 Update: November 2020
Dear Friends:
It is with heavy hearts and great disappointment that the Executive Committee has to inform you that we have determined not to begin holding in person worship on Sunday mornings just yet.
Our staff and committees had been working out details – we were poised and ready to begin in person worship just in time for Advent on November 29th. Unfortunately, the COVID cases have surged not only throughout our nation, but also in VT – even in Essex. COVID cases are expected to continue to rise as students return home from college and as we all begin to move our lives back into confined spaces for winter. In their press conference yesterday, Governor Scott and the Vermont Department of Health sounded a warning for all of us to take the threat seriously. We need to limit the number of people we interact with and the size of groups with which we engage. All of us on the Executive Committee were saddened because we crave to be together as a community of faith, especially during the Advent and Christmas season. While we are postponing the in-person worship, we have not decided, at this time, to reimpose stricter requirements on the groups currently meeting at the church. If the case counts continue to rise, we will have to revisit the restrictions.
On a brighter note, the staff has already begun to prepare for the Christmas services. The Deacons are coming up with a plan to decorate our newly painted sanctuary with our Christmas decorations [will it be bright red or burgundy no one knows….!]. Anita and Elaine are working hard to get our Giving Tree Program up and running this year. Laurie is working on streaming our Annual Christmas Pageant. Carol, Rick and our musical groups are already singing some favorite carols for Christmas Eve Services. Rev. Mark, Rev. Josh, and Laurie are preparing to present the Christmas story [pre-recorded] in costume and character for their annual 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Service. We are working on a few other surprises so our community will get the flavor of our Christmas Spirit despite our lack of physical presence at traditional worship services.
So despite our disappointment in this setback, we are moving ahead with our celebration of Christ’s birth and the many blessings we have in our lives. It will not be the same, but it will still be joyous and good. All of you will be invited to join in as always. Then when this surge of COVID is passed and the new vaccine is closer at hand, the EC will revisit the issue and begin in-person worship as soon as we can do so safely. Until then keep the faith, stay hopeful, call the ministers if you need someone to talk to, and remain steadfast in the Lord.
Blessings from the Executive Committee,
Maureen Evans – Cathy Shearer – Christine Sinkewicz – Mark Mendes – Ann Gray – Josh Simon – Alison Wermer