June 2020
I’m writing this alongside my preparations for Pentecost Sunday, May 31, which celebrates the gift of God’s Holy Spirit that came onto the apostles and (literally!) inspired them to become the church. It’s a good reminder for us all, as we are looking for – and finding – inspiration for how to be the church in these times. Even though our building is closed, church is NOT cancelled.
As the shut-down has progressed, I’ve worked together with the music folks and the people of North Church to make our virtual church services more interactive. We’ve added a children’s message at the start of the service, and music recorded either in past worship services, or by our soloists working at home, as well as church members reading scripture and leading the Lord’s Prayer. You can find the services, on Facebook Live on the North Congregational Church Facebook Page at 10:30 on Sunday mornings, and later on the church website NorthCongregationalChurch.org, where we have a link to all the online services.
I also have been sharing a more casual Wednesday Inspiration, also on Facebook Live, at 3 pm each week. These have been a nice break in the week, and, as with the worship services, you can watch them live or as a recorded event on the North Church Facebook page.
Some of our folks don’t have the internet – and we are aware of this gap and working to resolve it. If you are a family member visiting someone who isn’t online, try sharing the recordings of worship and listening to them together! When the staff is able to safely work in the building – hopefully by mid June – we can try making DVD’s to send out. For some people, though, this will not be possible – and this is where you come in: make a phone call. Send a card. Reach out in any one of a number of meaningful ways and spend time with a church friend, especially the folks living alone or without internet capability. This is part of being the not-cancelled church!
In this newsletter, you’ll find a listing of what Virtual Church events are going on, as well as a description of the work of the Reopening Task Team in our Moderator’s article. Other links and information are on the church website. For now, we are all still in some ways home-bound, but the fire of the Holy Spirit burns in our hearts and in our fellowship, helping us at all times, in all places, to be the church.
Faithfully,
Rev. Mary E. Biedron
I’m writing this alongside my preparations for Pentecost Sunday, May 31, which celebrates the gift of God’s Holy Spirit that came onto the apostles and (literally!) inspired them to become the church. It’s a good reminder for us all, as we are looking for – and finding – inspiration for how to be the church in these times. Even though our building is closed, church is NOT cancelled.
As the shut-down has progressed, I’ve worked together with the music folks and the people of North Church to make our virtual church services more interactive. We’ve added a children’s message at the start of the service, and music recorded either in past worship services, or by our soloists working at home, as well as church members reading scripture and leading the Lord’s Prayer. You can find the services, on Facebook Live on the North Congregational Church Facebook Page at 10:30 on Sunday mornings, and later on the church website NorthCongregationalChurch.org, where we have a link to all the online services.
I also have been sharing a more casual Wednesday Inspiration, also on Facebook Live, at 3 pm each week. These have been a nice break in the week, and, as with the worship services, you can watch them live or as a recorded event on the North Church Facebook page.
Some of our folks don’t have the internet – and we are aware of this gap and working to resolve it. If you are a family member visiting someone who isn’t online, try sharing the recordings of worship and listening to them together! When the staff is able to safely work in the building – hopefully by mid June – we can try making DVD’s to send out. For some people, though, this will not be possible – and this is where you come in: make a phone call. Send a card. Reach out in any one of a number of meaningful ways and spend time with a church friend, especially the folks living alone or without internet capability. This is part of being the not-cancelled church!
In this newsletter, you’ll find a listing of what Virtual Church events are going on, as well as a description of the work of the Reopening Task Team in our Moderator’s article. Other links and information are on the church website. For now, we are all still in some ways home-bound, but the fire of the Holy Spirit burns in our hearts and in our fellowship, helping us at all times, in all places, to be the church.
Faithfully,
Rev. Mary E. Biedron