Beginning this Sunday, March 28, we will return to our schedule of two services at 8:45 and 11:00. Having two services will enable us to more safely distance during worship. The 8:45 service will be live streamed.
The Session has voted to resume in-person worship in our sanctuary on Sunday, March 21st!
A few important facts:
· In-person worship will be held at 10:00 AM on Sundays.
· Ushers will be on hand to help us maintain social distancing.
· Masks and social distancing will be required.
· Hand sanitizer is available for use upon arriving and departing.
We will closely monitor the number of folks who attend to ensure we are observing appropriate social distancing. If our numbers exceed social distancing requirements, overflow seating will be available in Fellowship Hall, where we will live stream the service. We will be aware of our numbers and will move to two services if necessary.
Please do not feel obligated to attend in-person worship just because the doors are open! We want everyone to worship in the manner that best fits their needs. Online worship will continue as usual. If you feel uncomfortable attending in-person worship or if you are unable or prefer not to wear a mask, we encourage you to join us online. Of course, if you are not feeling well, please remain home for the safety and well-being of everyone.
We look forward to worshipping with you all, in-person and online, starting Sunday, October 21st.
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” Psalm 95:6
Beginning March 7, our worship services will be livestreamed at 10:00 a.m. (still ONLINE ONLY at this point). You may access the live stream via Facebook and YouTube directly. We will also send the link via email each Sunday morning. If you miss the livestream at 10:00, the service will be available via Facebook and YouTube anytime after.
Parker County Hospital District | Scheduling and Booking Website (New appointments are released at 8 am on Tuesday and Thursday, but go quickly) https://pchdtx.simplybook.plus/v2/
As you will recall, we suspended in-person worship in mid-November due to the spike in the number of cases of COVID-19. We set January 17 as a possible date to resume in-person worship, thinking that three weeks past the Christmas holiday the numbers of infections might be in decline. Unfortunately, our COVID numbers locally remain quite high and show no decline in recent weeks. Hood County remains at “substantial” risk for COVID transmission. Additionally, several of our church members have had or currently have the virus. The ad hoc committee charged with evaluating the pandemic numbers and reporting to the Session has continued to meet regularly to review weekly statistics.
We feel the safety of our congregants is of the utmost concern and that with no decrease in the number of infections it is unwise to resume in-person worship at this time. We also think it prudent to suspend small group gatherings – PW, Men’s Study and Sacred Space, etc. – until we can more safely be together. We will continue to review the situation weekly and will return to in-person gatherings when a decline in case numbers and an increase in vaccinations indicates that we may do so safely. Please know the decision to suspend in-person gatherings is not one we take lightly and it’s disappointing to have to do so. We simply feel it is the safest way to proceed to ensure the safety of each member of First Presbyterian.
We will continue to monitor the situation and we will keep you posted on decisions going forward. Your support in these past many months has been tremendously gratifying. Thank you. Please continue to join us for worship Sunday mornings via YouTube and Facebook.
Join us for an encore presentation of last year’s Christmas Eve worship service with all the traditions and carols we’re accustomed to. The video premiere on both Facebook and Youtube on Christmas Eve. The video will premiere at 3:00 on December 24th and will be available for replay at any time. We can’t share our traditional service this year but hope you’ll gather in your homes and join us online!
The Christmas Joy Offering reflects that God is with us, through the generous gifts that support church leaders among us, retired, present and future, who have pointed us to God. Even as we support our current and former church leaders through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, God is calling new leaders for our Church and world, through the ministry of Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color — offering students the means for a brighter future and enhanced opportunities to use their talents and skills to serve God, the Church and the world for years to come.
The Christmas Joy Offering has been a cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s. The Offering distributes gifts equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.
OR you can write a check to the church with a note designating it Christmas Joy Offering.
The Christmas Joy Offering is one of four annual special offerings. The church-wide Special Offerings of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) play an important role in defining what it means to be a connectional church in the 21st century, bringing together the diversity of the PC (USA) to focus and take faith-based action on shared concerns. The Special Offerings offer opportunities for partnership, learning, and witness and they profoundly affect the life of the church as a collective witness to Jesus Christ’s love for the whole church.
As you will recall, we suspended in-person worship in mid-November due to the spike in the number of cases of COVID-19. We set January 17 as a possible date to resume in-person worship, thinking that three weeks past the Christmas holiday the numbers of infections might be in decline. Unfortunately, our COVID numbers locally remain quite high and show no decline in recent weeks. Hood County remains at “substantial” risk for COVID transmission. Additionally, several of our church members have had or currently have the virus. The ad hoc committee charged with evaluating the pandemic numbers and reporting to the Session has continued to meet regularly to review weekly statistics.
