Hi First Presbyterian,
It’s Pastor Aaron. In these days of COVID, communication is difficult but more important now than ever. I am trying to improve the clarity and effectiveness of my communication all the time, just as all of our staff and church leadership are trying to do. Toward that end, you can expect to begin receiving a weekly email from me. The purpose of the email will be to keep in touch with you and to keep you updated on church news, whether that’s about the status of re-opening or anything else relevant. The last few weeks, I have been focused on learning the ropes here at FPCP, working with staff, and helping to continue the development of our online worship, and trying to get to know as many of you as I can. Church leadership and I have also been working to lay the plans for re-opening.
Today I’d like to update you on an important development about re-opening. The Session met last evening and decided to hold outdoor worship services. Our first outdoor worship service will be this Sunday, August 16, at 8:30am. I know this is short notice, but once we made the decision, I wanted to make this service available as soon as possible. Social distancing and masks will be required at this outdoor service. It will be a simplified version (including some hymn-singing) of the live-streamed 10:00am service. It will take place on the church’s front lawn, and each person will need to bring her or his own chair. If it will be difficult for you to bring a chair, there will be some at the church for you to use. Per the Town of Pittsford, only 50 people can attend a gathering of this type. If you would like to attend the outdoor worship service this Sunday, please reserve your spot by emailing connect@pittsfordpres.org no later than Friday at 4:30pm or by calling (585) 586-5688 Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 8:30am-12:30pm. I am looking forward to beginning to gather together again!
In addition to that decision, the Session also decided to re-open for worship in our sanctuary on Sunday, September 13 at 8:30am. To keep each other as safe as possible, we will all be wearing masks and social distancing at this indoor morning service as well. This service will replace the outdoor service that would have been held at that time. You can expect more details about the indoor service soon.
The 10:00am live-streamed service will continue as usual for everyone who would like to continue to worship from home.
These have been and continue to be difficult days, because of the coronavirus pandemic. I realize that not everyone has been satisfied with forgoing in-person worship for as long as we have. I also realize that not everyone is comfortable with the idea of returning to in-person worship already.
The decision-making process that has brought us to this point has been grounded in prayer, in closely following the ever-developing research on COVID-19, and in the careful deliberation of the Session. In my own thinking, two guiding principles have influenced me: the primacy of worship and maintaining solidarity with our whole membership. You and I exist to worship God. We must continue to worship, and, indeed, we have been continuing to worship online for the past five months. Make no mistake about it - worshiping online during a pandemic is real and acceptable worship to God. I am proud of all of us as we have learned to use this new technology in order to continue worshiping while keeping each other safe.
Showing solidarity with our whole membership is also an important (and I would go as far as to say a necessary) part of our faith. James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” When James refers to “orphans and widows,” he means “the weakest and most vulnerable among us.” Our faith must always prioritize the most vulnerable and at-risk among us. Think of it this way: Christianity is never just about “me;” it is about “us.” If some among us are vulnerable, then all of us must move at their pace. It is a distinctive aspect of our faith that we set aside our own desires to better care for our vulnerable sisters and brothers.
I am pleased that we have been able to worship God in heart-felt honesty (cf. John 4:23) these past two months I have been with you, and I am confident that we will be able to continue to include equitable access to worship for our most at-risk members in the plan to re-open the Session has adopted.
Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron