If you are a regular attender of Restoration, the email you received on today's date (June 11th) will contain additional details, such as the names of those serving on the Regathering Team.
Dear Restoration,
Yesterday, Minnesota’s Stay Safe Plan moved into Phase 3. The governor’s office now permits two different kinds of outdoor gatherings: small social gatherings no larger than 25 people and large, socially distanced gatherings no larger than 250. What does this mean for Restoration?
Regathering Team
I’ve asked three experts to be on Restoration’s Regathering Team. This team will be looking at health guidelines, local trends, and venue requirements that will inform Restoration’s ability to regather together for worship. Then, this Team will offer rubrics for the staff and ministry teams as we begin to come together.
We will not be designing a worship service that undermines either our Anglican identity or church values. We do not want Sunday Worship to feel like a trip to the DMV. Rather, we want our Sunday Worship to continue to be a source of Beauty, Grace, and Truth.
Outdoor Eucharist
We are making loose plans to hold an Outdoor Worship service on Sunday, July 12th. This isn’t our first rodeo —we’ve actually done outdoor services before. But there will be some differences, such as a minimized liturgy, social distancing, and a plan to distribute reserved sacrament for those who are unable to attend.
When the hammer dropped and we no longer could meet in person, I had no idea it would last this long. My soul is hungry. I am obsessively thinking about celebrating Eucharist together, and my prayer is that an Outdoor Worship service on July 12th will be a source of strength and encouragement to us all.
But please keep in mind that this is still several weeks away, and as we all know, the situation is constantly changing. So please do hold this date loosely.
Life Groups and Sessions
I’ve asked Life Group leaders to discern whether or not your group should reconvene in-person gatherings. Some of you are itching to do so, and others would prefer to still hold off. Each group is different, so please talk to your leaders about next steps that honor all your members.
Sessions are one-time, relaxed events that provide space to meet new people and have fun. Jess Preston is currently coordinating these Sessions. We’ll continue to hold Zoom Sessions, but are going to be adding several in-person, outdoor Sessions, too. We want to fill our calendar with these, so if you have ideas, reach out to Jess or visit our website.
Anything else?
Originally, I was planning for this Spring to be when we launched Membership and our Parish Council. I’m still working towards this, but it won’t be happening as soon as I had liked. Oh, and we want to reconvene Newcomer Dinners, Baptism Classes, and other regular Church Life events. Please be in prayer as we try to launch and relaunch these various things.
I miss you all so much! I can’t wait to see your faces again, exchange peace, and feast at the table. Please be in prayer for Restoration as we begin to regather and enjoy life together!
In Christ
Rick+
