Guidelines for In-Person Worship

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Written by Lon Lorton Lon Lorton

Our Session has voted to resume in-person worship next Sunday, May 24th.  Obviously, the services will be a bit different from those pre-Covid-19.  Here are the guidelines we will be following as we reopen our doors for worship.

CHURCH GUIDELINES FOR WORSHIP IN A COVID-19 ENVIRONMENT

We have to assume that simply because we have a date to begin worshiping again that it does not mean we simply go back to the way it was, or that the way it was will even be available to us for quite some time.  We need to deal compassionately and carefully with those already in the church family and with those in the community we would want to reach.  Attending an in-person worship experience should not be seen as a test of our faith.  It is not God’s will that we endanger ourselves or the community in order to maintain our previous faith practices and traditions.  By adapting to serve in new ways we may actually be able to better honor both God and neighbor.  Attending to the needs of anyone uncomfortable with or unable to attend worship is an important shepherding task as we discern which activities we can and should designate as in-person.

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Lon's Lessons

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Written by Lon Lorton Lon Lorton

Here's "Lon's Lesson" for today, 05.22.20.  God tends to bless those who put themselves in unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable situations for Him.

Pray with Dependency and Expectancy

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Written by Lon Lorton Lon Lorton

Well, friends, here is your FPC newsletter for May.  These have certainly been strange times.  Who would have ever thought we would, as an entire nation, voluntarily shut down nearly every aspect of life as we have come to know it?  In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I do hope you have found some time to reacclimate yourselves to some core values we have as followers of Christ.  One area that has smacked me in the face has been the acknowledgement that my prayer life has needed some major attention for quite a while.  With that, I offer this Scripture passage and some honest thoughts on prayer.

Then Moses climbed the mountain to appear before God.  The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “Give these instructions to the family of Jacob; announce it to the descendants of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians.  You know how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.  Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.  And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’  This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”  Exodus 19:3-6 NLT

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