How very good and pleasant it is

   when kindred live together in unity! 

It is like the precious oil on the head,

   running down upon the beard,

on the beard of Aaron,

   running down over the collar of his robes. 

– Psalm 133: 1-2

Worship Changes and Opportunities

It feels important to use my blog to remind folks that we are returning to in-person worship this week, both indoors at 10 am and outside at 11:30. The fact that we’re offering both is probably symptomatic (excuse the pun) of where we’re at as a congregation…and as a nation! Though we are one congregation, we encompass some different opinions about how to do church right now.

Some are very comfortable with getting back to worship in person in the sanctuary. Maybe they’re vaccinated, and feeling safe. Maybe they’re longing for worship not only with their church friends and family, but longing for worship in that sacred space. Some have chafed under the restrictions we’ve imposed. Some feel we should have been worshiping in the sanctuary all along, as “some other churches” have been doing.

For Others, This Feels Like a Bridge Too Far

That’s okay, too. Some people aren’t ready to be inside with others yet. There are those who love our outdoor worship and the comfort of sitting in the sun. They enjoy being out on the lawn. Some say they feel “closer to God in nature,” and if you feel that way, who I am I to tell you you’re wrong? The good news is that you have a pastor who’s willing to preach two services, and who is comfortable leading multiple instances of worship. Dawn Sorensen, our Coordinator of Christian Education, has also been willing to do both.

The more challenging news is that it’s time for us to start thinking about what it means to be open again! It means volunteers who may have been dormant need to activate. When we’re inside, we need to use the rules we’ve put in place to keep us safe. It also means that things we’ve been taking for granted (i.e. how people live and move in our spaces) can’t be taken for granted any longer.

And This is Just the Soft Opening!

Look around the church: we’ve got all sorts of bulletin boards that reference events that occurred right before we closed the church for the pandemic. That was okay before, but it’s time to handle how we present ourselves again. We also have to get our heads in the game of considering what it means to be a church in the first place! This is where we come to worship, to have a voice with each other and for each other. Attending church once a month may be easy enough…but it doesn’t allow the church to feel like we’re up and running.

I propose that if you’re comfortable coming, you consider committing to at least twice a month (or more) at either service until we get to summer. That will allow us to start feeling “like a church” again, as in, like a group that gathers weekly to worship God. I know Summer is coming, and I know what that means…things get quiet. I’m a New England Pastor, I’ve made my peace with it. But until then, I hope our EventBrite signups for worship will be strong!

When you come to worship, you don’t just support your own faith: you’re supporting the faith journey of others too!

Stages of Opening

Are we back to normal? Nope. Not yet. But the newer normalcy won’t be like the old normal for a long time. Still no singing. We are still working with limited numbers. We’re still observing room capacities and wearing masks. But for all of that, we are still the church that serves God at Pilgrim Congregational in Southborough!

Thank you for coming and making it a reality again. I look forward to seeing you in worship. And if for any reason, you still cannot participate, our live stream will continue at 10 am to serve anyone who can’t be with us in person. Thank you for showing up there as well!