In the past nine months, I have asked myself a zillion times, “Is The Downtown Church going to be OK?"
I don’t mean the building - that has withstood almost 120 years of midwest weather and, although it needs care, it's solid. My concern has been about the people who call us their church home. We officially began as a new congregation in June 2019 and we were doing a great job building relationships, serving our community, and growing in faith. In March we discovered it all had to change. The word I heard most often was pivot.
So we pivoted. We brought worship online. When we could, we masked, socially distanced, and Zoomed (not all at the same time) in order to have small groups and to build a youth ministry. As we were able, we opened our doors to community groups. We’ve sent packages for Advent. Sometimes I get a bit dizzy from all the pivoting. Yet it still feels like there is a great need to connect in another way.
Starting in January and for the coming year, we are beginning a new ministry called The Connect Team. This group of volunteers, organized by Peggy Lindsey, will make contact once a month with the many members and regular attendees (such a last year expression) who call this their church home. There is no agenda, just time for conversation and an opportunity to build a new relationship or grow an existing one. Please let me know if you are new to our church family, maybe have only been with us online, and would like to be included to receive a call.
And to the question, “Are we going to be OK?” the answer is yes. Over and over God has shown me that this church is in God’s hands and there, all will be well.
I'll see you online for worship and Christmas Eve,
Lori
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