January 2021
My fingers fumbled as I typed 2021 for the first time! It seems as though 2020 year has flown by, even as some aspects of it, mostly connected to the global pandemic, have dragged by. As I look back on the year just past, I’m amazed at all that we have accomplished, and all that we have learned.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE VIRTUAL CHURCH – Perhaps the biggest step was taking so much of our church activity online when we could not meet in person. That will continue as we wait for the time when we can resume activity together in our building; and some kind of virtual presence, on the website, Facebook, and YouTube will continue even after we are back in person. Worship on Sundays at 10:30 AM is now a hybrid of live and recorded material on the North Congregational Church Facebook page, as well as simultaneous posting of the recorded service on our website and on the North Church Communications YouTube page. We continue to work on ways to bring worship to those who don’t have the internet.
WE ARE WORKING ON SOME WAYS TO COME TOGETHER OUTDOORS AND SAFELY – the Fellowship Ministry Board is looking at future parking lot events, and the Worship Ministry Board is considering ways to have some outdoor activities as the weather improvise.
A REDESIGNED WEBSITE IS COMING – now that so much of our ministry is conducted online, we’ve been working on a new version of our website, with a more streamlined main page that will include direct links to our service, as well as to the Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram accounts. The visual menu will link folks to other areas; and of course, as with every construction project, we will be finding places to tweak and expand our offerings to make ourselves available to the folks who have found us online, as well as to our members.
ONLINE FELLOWSHIP, BUSINESS MEETINGS AND SUNDAY SCHOOL CONTINUE using Zoom have been a real revelation! As we’ve gotten the hang of the platform, it’s made our meetings and our offerings for children and youth available not only in quarantine, but also for those who live far away.
OUR REOPENING TASK TEAM IS KEEPING TRACK OF THE DATA – Moderator Kevin Gromley is producing a weekly dashboard with case and mortality counts as well as what is happening in other faith communities. Absent any kind of guidance from CDC due to separation of church and state, we’ve set our own benchmarks for returning.
In the midst of all the changes and uncertainties, I am again reminded that our true hope is in God, and it is a hope that does not disappoint us!
Happy New Year,
Rev. Mary E. Biedron
My fingers fumbled as I typed 2021 for the first time! It seems as though 2020 year has flown by, even as some aspects of it, mostly connected to the global pandemic, have dragged by. As I look back on the year just past, I’m amazed at all that we have accomplished, and all that we have learned.
WE CONTINUE TO HAVE VIRTUAL CHURCH – Perhaps the biggest step was taking so much of our church activity online when we could not meet in person. That will continue as we wait for the time when we can resume activity together in our building; and some kind of virtual presence, on the website, Facebook, and YouTube will continue even after we are back in person. Worship on Sundays at 10:30 AM is now a hybrid of live and recorded material on the North Congregational Church Facebook page, as well as simultaneous posting of the recorded service on our website and on the North Church Communications YouTube page. We continue to work on ways to bring worship to those who don’t have the internet.
WE ARE WORKING ON SOME WAYS TO COME TOGETHER OUTDOORS AND SAFELY – the Fellowship Ministry Board is looking at future parking lot events, and the Worship Ministry Board is considering ways to have some outdoor activities as the weather improvise.
A REDESIGNED WEBSITE IS COMING – now that so much of our ministry is conducted online, we’ve been working on a new version of our website, with a more streamlined main page that will include direct links to our service, as well as to the Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram accounts. The visual menu will link folks to other areas; and of course, as with every construction project, we will be finding places to tweak and expand our offerings to make ourselves available to the folks who have found us online, as well as to our members.
ONLINE FELLOWSHIP, BUSINESS MEETINGS AND SUNDAY SCHOOL CONTINUE using Zoom have been a real revelation! As we’ve gotten the hang of the platform, it’s made our meetings and our offerings for children and youth available not only in quarantine, but also for those who live far away.
OUR REOPENING TASK TEAM IS KEEPING TRACK OF THE DATA – Moderator Kevin Gromley is producing a weekly dashboard with case and mortality counts as well as what is happening in other faith communities. Absent any kind of guidance from CDC due to separation of church and state, we’ve set our own benchmarks for returning.
In the midst of all the changes and uncertainties, I am again reminded that our true hope is in God, and it is a hope that does not disappoint us!
Happy New Year,
Rev. Mary E. Biedron