Pastoral Message

     I want to be ready!  I am ready to get ready!  When can we get back to "normal"?  What does the "New normal" look like?  When can we know that and do that?  It's spring and I am done with everything pandemic related.  Ok, only the first half of that sentence is actually true.  It's spring. 

      The second half is a wish, a prayer, a desire that I think many are sharing in: I am done with everything pandemic related.  But we are not yet done.  It seems so close - how much longer? 

     I once had a running coach (when I did a couch to 5k program) and she would describe what it felt like to be out on a really long run, to be tired and ready to be done but knew she was "still a ways away".  Eventually, her nose would catch the scent of her barn and then she would have a pretty clear idea of how far away she was, she could turn on the final speed and get home.  She called it "smell the barn" time.  We've had a lot of scents come our way.  The problem is, we've thought every one of them was our barn.  This pandemic stuff is still so new and different, we don't know what the scent of our barn is.  It is frustrating to be out for a really long time and still not know when we'll be safely in our barn.  So, to carry on with the analogy, it's not yet time for the final homestretch speed.  We have to keep going along slowly and impatiently.  We might even have to circle the barn a couple times to see if it has changed.  To ensure it is safe. 

     Our Church Leadership Team (Church Council) meets regularly (via zoom) to discuss when and how we will eventually re-open.  If you are not on the team but want to offer input - please do!  You can reach out to Pastor Kristi, leave a comment on the website, leave a comment on Facebook.  Log on to a coffee hour zoom and offer up your thought, idea, or suggestion.  Yes, please offer thoughts and ideas!   Remember that some are fully vaccinated, some are partially vaccinated, some are still not yet eligible for vaccination, some are caring for folks unable to be vaccinated. 
I want to be ready!  I'm ready to be ready!  I want to see you all and worship with you and get back to all the stuff we did! 

But for now - keep going.
Blessings,
Pastor Kristi