I was asked this the other day. ”What do you miss most about not being together for church?”. I did not have to think about it long. ”Sharing with others. Seeing, talking, praying, laughing, crying!”(I left out ‘touch’ to be CDC guideline appropriate.) We can replicate on video a semblance of a worship service, some music, scripture, a prayer, a sermon. But it is difficult, nearly impossible to pretend that it is what is called in the original Greek of the New Testament ‘koinonia’. Some say this equates with our modern word fellowship, but I think that just doesn’t measure up.

Because I believe this ‘koinonia’ is just as vital a part what it means to be the church as worship, nurture and mission I am proposing an option that might offer us at least some sense of ‘koinonia’,  by offering each week via Zoom something I will call for now ‘Check In’. It will give an opportunity for us to spend 30-40 minutes ‘together’. I see it as part prayer meeting, part conversation about what is going on in each of our lives, and part just sharing. I need your input on when the best day/time to have this ‘Check In’. I am leaning toward a mid week, perhaps on Wednesday evening (In the time frame we normally would have Choir, PW, etc).

It’s that time of year, ‘back to school’. But everything seems different this year. I would normally write to you some nostalgia about getting new blue jeans, freshly waxed floors in the school hallways, the peculiar feel of a new desk and new classmates, but not this year, this is the year of COVID 19. From the very young (my grandchildren), to college students (that my wife will teach), all are going back to school in one form or another. I asked Ellen Goodman what our  congregation could do as schools prepare to open, and what a list she gave me. Let me encourage you to take at least one of these, each day, and pray:

• For teachers and administrators to be able to focus on new protocols and procedures regarding health and safety needs for staff and children (students).
• Patience as they are trained on how to perform virtual instruction and to make it developmentally appropriate, and how to adjust to virtual, face to face, etc.
• To connect with the families and students so that they can meet the many needs, educationally and emotionally, so that every child/student has a successful school year.
• To be flexible as procedures change; often day to day!
• To accept changes in classroom setup and instructional methods required to met social distancing requirements.
• For families and students to be respectful of teacher and administrators as decisions are made on how to safely offer instruction. Educators want only the best for children/students; decisions may change as information changes.
• Get information from reliable sources, not necessarily from social media of word of mouth. Trust the educators!  Work together—home and school—to provide the best for each child/student.

Whew!  All of this (and I did a summary of Ellen’s list!) and all of the above added to the tremendous challenge of just teaching. I know in years past we have had a Sunday to pray for students, teachers, blessed backpacks, recognized promotions, may this be the year we, with intention, fervently pray for all involved in going back to school!

Also a mission opportunity is possible in this season of back to school. In continuing a tradition we have done for may years at FPCUSA, we are asking for you to consider making donations for Childcare Centers. The needs this year include face masks, cleaning supplies, and extra school supplies because they are not receiving any government funds to provide these items in response to CDC guidance on how to safely meet the new health needs in the classrooms and throughout the centers. Limited class sizes means lower income and hence a challenge to provide quality instruction, basic school supplies and cleaning needs. These centers are vital to provide working families with safe childcare!  Contact Ellen Goodman for more information.