We, the Session, take very seriously our responsibility to be spiritual leaders and discern God’s will for God’s congregation, the congregation we love and call ‘Calvin,’ and our community. We strive to discern out of love and not fear. We strive to contextualize for Calvin, the CDC, PA Dept. of Health and local guidelines, while putting aside our own wills, passions, desires, beliefs…. Though it is impossible to eliminate all risks, it is our responsibility and commitment to reduce risk to the best of our ability. At our Tuesday, May 18, 2021, meeting, Calvin’s Session discerned that it is God’s will for Worship to move forward as follows:
9am Indoors: No Attendance Limits, Mask at Own Comfort (if not vaccinated or not immune, then mask required), Communion Each Sunday (handed out at entry), Congregational Singing, Families with Unvaccinated Children Welcome in Friendship Room, Coffee Hour (once volunteers in place), Prayer Ministers (once organized and immediately after worship), Fellowship Hall Video and Audio available for those who desire more distancing during the service.
11am Outdoors: Mask at your own comfort level, open to all.
Online (at Any-time, with Anyone, and from Anywhere) and FM Transmitter: Will continue to be available as is. We believe this is a vital ministry in Calvin’s future (watch and listen for more to come).
Next Steps: As we continue to re-open and re-imagine the new future Calvin is living into, we believe that both services will be able to move inside without restrictions once the air ducts are cleaned and the air mitigation system is installed.
We would also like to take this opportunity to share with you that Session discerned that it is God’s will to proceed with haste to get the air ducts cleaned[i] and air mitigation system installed for a total of $15,500.[ii] While these are unplanned expenses, Session felt it was God’s will to temporarily cover the expenses and not delay by running a campaign. Thus, if you would like to give to this vital layer of protection, please do so by indicating in the note or memo “Calvin Air Mitigation Fund.”
Friends, we are better together! The days when we will be together without restrictions or concerns or… are in the near future. With your prayerful help, those days can be sooner rather than later! Let us move forward as Christ’s beloved friends “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3).
Godspeed! (On behalf of Session)
Rev. A. David Paul, M.S., M.Div.
[i] To the best of our knowledge the air ducts have never been cleaned. [ii] At Session’s April 2021 meeting, up to $2,100 was approved to get the air ducts cleaned, before installing the $8,000 air mitigation system. When the air duct cleaning bids received were as high at $9,500 and as low as $7,000, Buildings and Grounds had to come back to Session. At the May 2021 Session meeting, Session discerned it was God’s will to spend a total of $15,500 to get both the air ducts cleaned, and air mitigation system installed.