Dear Elmhurst Presbyterian Members and Friends -
When will we go back to church? When can we gather in small groups? How will we know when it's safe to resume church activities? Will we worship outside? Can we come together at a distance, just to wave at one another? These are the questions I, and every pastor I know, is wrestling with, every day. I've attended conference calls, listened to reports, read studies on how far spit travels when we sing, prayed, wondered, thought. There's a mountain of information to be poured over, at every turn. These are the biggest questions on my heart and in my mind right now, and I know they're on yours too. I think about it, constantly.
I wish I had concrete and clear answers, but so many of the answers to these questions are "we must wait and see and discern." Session, Trustees, and I are working together on this, and we pledge to keep you informed as we do. A few guiding principles I am thinking about as we consider how to reopen, and when.
We will continue to innovate and be creative: As I've said since the beginning, we are the church wherever we are. It reminds me of the children's song "The church is not a building, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people." We will continue to improve our worship (whether recorded or livestreamed) we'll continue to give money and resources to mission. We'll continue to find creative ways to connect and be together. We'll continue to find ways of being the church, even though we're weary and tired of sheltering in place.
We will operate with caution and safety as one of our highest priorities: Unfortunately, I've read many accounts of churches that were hot spots for COVID19 infection. Even small gatherings, where many precautions were taken have proven to be, in hindsight, too risky. I will be urging our congregation to be proceeding with caution, knowing that we don't want to regret our decisions. We treasure every single member among us, and we simply can't put our people (and their families) at risk. I urge you to read THIS cautionary tale. By resisting the urge to do too much, too quickly, we might save lives.
We will not operate out of fear: We are people of resurrection and hope. We are not terrified. We do not give up. As we think about what is next for us, we will not panic or exaggerate the risks. We will look at our situation with level heads and know that this, too, shall pass. Resurrection sometimes takes awhile.
Decisions will be made by our leaders: Our Session, Trustees, and Deacons are full of wise and thoughtful leaders. We will be relying on their wisdom and leadership as we move through these next weeks and months. Please pray for your leaders as they wrestle with these tough calls. It's an honor to minister alongside such capable leaders.
Remember, we are the church wherever we are.
With grace and peace,
Traci