This information was published in the July 30 issue of The Weekly Liberal. Read the full newsletter here.

In mid-March, the church suspended all in-person gatherings. This included Sunday services, small groups, committee meetings, and in-person, in-building work for the majority of staff. We went completely online in an effort to ensure the safety and health of the congregation and to do our part to ensure the church was not a vector for transmission of COVID-19. In the months since, staff and lay leaders have spent countless hours working to make church happen virtually. As a community, we can be proud of what we’ve accomplished in such a short period of time. We’ve shown each other patience, acceptance, creativity and grace, knowing that we’re all doing the best that we can in very difficult circumstances.

As we enter the final weeks of summer and look toward the Fall, we are writing to share some updates about how we’re moving with the reality of COVID-19 and its many impacts on our lives.

Commitment to Safety and Accessibility

Like many of you, we miss the joy and warm connection of gathering in person – and we miss being in our beloved sanctuary. What is also true is that in shifting to online church, we have opened up access to many people who previously had not been able to participate. Whether it was a move that took them out of state or health conditions that prevented their being physically present, we’ve heard from so many who are overjoyed to be able to join us in this online format.

As a faith community, we are committed to welcoming, affirming, and protecting the light in each human heart, and flowing from this commitment, we are reaffirming our commitment to remaining closed to in-person gatherings, including worship, small groups, and educational events, for the foreseeable future. We know that many parts of our state and the wider society are “opening up” – and we also know that cases of COVID-19 are on the rise. Very little has changed since March. The virus is still spreading in our communities. It still poses a real and significant risk. We will continue to monitor the situation, and if factors change, will revise our decisions, but for now we remain closed – and expect to be closed through at least the spring of 2021. 

We are exploring ways that we might be able to invite folks to walk/roll/drive by church at staggered intervals in a way that minimizes risk, similar to Rev. Ruth’s goodbye from the steps of the church. With some creativity, we can preserve and even build upon some of the important rituals we share, such as Water Communion, Backpack Blessing, and welcoming new members. Stay tuned as we move into the new church year.

Commitment to Supporting Each Other

We know that the current state of physical separation and distance is extraordinarily difficult for many of us. In conversation with members of our community, we’ve heard that this is a particularly difficult time for folks living alone, single parents, and others who are acutely feeling the impact of lack of in-person contact on their mental health. If you count yourself among this group, we want to support you. Please reach out to Rev. Karen Hutt (revkarenhutt@gmail.com) and let her know what’s happening with and for you. We’re exploring the possibility of one or more groups that would meet online and be a space for support and connection for those of us who are experiencing a sense of isolation.

Anecdotally, we know some folks are getting together in informal groups for physically distanced backyard gatherings or walks in ways that adhere to MN Department of Health guidelines for gathering. We know that these gatherings invite a kind of conversation and negotiation of boundaries and consent that not all of us are practiced at. Much as we teach our children to negotiate boundaries and consent in Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education classes, now we all need to engage in conversations about the personal, nuanced decisions necessary in this time. Please reach out to a minister or staff if you need a listening ear and support as you discern your needs and how to navigate conversations and boundaries.

We are making a turn. It seems likely that here in the United States we will be living with the reality of COVID-19 for quite some time. As this understanding becomes more deeply integrated into our hearts and minds and bodies, as a church we are making a turn from enduring to embracing. What we once felt we needed to endure until it was over – physical distancing, limited in-person contact, absence of in-person gatherings, etc – we are now turning to embrace, and we’re asking ourselves, “If this is how things are, what is the very best we can make with what we have?” We look forward to exploring these questions and answers with you as we continue to make our way forward, together.

Warmly,

Justin, Jen, Lauren, Arif, Karen, and Jenn S.