Friends in Christ:
It’s hard to believe that it’s been eight weeks since we last met in person for worship and fellowship. Our world and our lives have changed significantly in that time, and we’re all wondering what a new normal will look like after this pandemic comes to an end. While we do not yet know what the future will hold, or even when that future will arrive, we do know that God walks with us in love. We, likewise, are called to walk with one another in love (not physically, of course!). In times like these, it is especially important to remember that Eliot Church is not a building but a community of people redeemed and called by Jesus Christ. We can maintain the bonds of community even when we cannot gather in person.
The governor’s current executive order mandates the closure of all non-essential businesses through at least May 18. Even after that, we expect to see constraints on what kinds of business can open and under what conditions. I expect that large gatherings (like worship services) will be suspended for some time. When we are permitted to gather again, we will need to adapt to guidelines for social distancing. The session will make final decisions about how to return to in-person worship and will follow the guidance from the commonwealth, our presbytery, and denomination. We intend to keep our most vulnerable neighbors safe. At Eliot, we are especially mindful of the large number of healthcare professionals who need to stay healthy to do their jobs and who are likely to come in contact with COVID-positive patients in their work. (Thank you to all the nurses, CNAs, and other medical workers in our congregation. We see you and we love you!) Whenever we gather again, we will do so with wisdom, compassion, and a willingness to adapt.
As we wait and plan, I continue to give thanks for the faithfulness of God and the incredible resilience and generosity of our church community. You all have adapted with grace to this new world. You are learning new technologies and continue to engage in “disbursed” worship on Zoom and Facebook. You have reached out to one another in a variety of ways. You have upheld your financial gifts to the church and the wider community, allowing us to maintain our staff and even offer new uses of our building in the community. I thank God for you every day.
I remain available by email, phone, text, Facebook, WhatsApp and any other way you can find me. Please be in touch! Enclosed with this letter are a few resources to encourage and sustain you in the weeks ahead. I hope that they serve to remind you of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the community we share through the Holy Spirit.
Be well,
Pastor Heather
pastor@eliotlowell.org | cell: (410) 300-4543
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