Steps Forward

If you did not have time to read last week’s newsletter, I encourage you to go back and do so!  In it, I discussed what it will mean for Incarnation to restart certain activities and move forward in our calling in the community. 
 
James 4:13-17 cautions us to hold our dreams lightly and keep the perspective of “if the Lord wills” whenever we plan for the future.  The fact that we are worshiping outside and are susceptible to the weather and a last-minute change of plans has reinforced that perspective in my mind.  In that vein, if the Lord wills, we hope to take concrete steps forward every couple of weeks to grow and enrich the church.  Our target is not just what the church was before the season of coronavirus, but instead what we hope to become for the years ahead.  Some of the early steps will be reengaging things we have always done, but others will be new things that have opened up.  As we take these steps forward, we will use a section of the newsletter to keep you informed.  As always, if you have questions or ideas, don’t hesitate to talk to a staff member, the governance team, or the outreach committee (the list of names was in last week’s newsletter).
 
This week, our concrete step forward will be offering a basic kids’ program during the service again.  Initially, this will only be for children ages 2-6.  We will continue to provide activity sheets on a clipboard for children who remain with their parents, and we continue to encourage parents to bring a blanket, toys, books, and snacks for children who remain in the service.  The children will be meeting outside whenever we are outside, and in the fellowship hall whenever we are inside.  Both of these locations will allow us to spread out and be sanitary.  When outside, they will meet on the playground side of the church.  All of the children will be brought back to their families at the peace for communion, just as we have always done.  If you have questions about the specifics of the plan, please reach out to Katherine! 
 
Keep praying for the church and for our community as a whole!  Pray particularly that we can begin to share the Gospel with those who don’t attend church anywhere.  My heart’s desire is that we will be a place that expands the Kingdom of God.
 
In Christ,
Steven+

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