Hybrid Worship Updates
Our journey continues into what lies next for worship at Western! During the month of July, we’re raising the funds to support tech upgrades. To find out more about this effort and how you can be a part, click here.
Beginning Sunday, August 8 and running through the month of August, our 10 am worship will begin our test run of hybrid mode. To quote another pastor, “Especially at first, we’ll all feel like newcomers.”
Yes, it will still be Western’s worship, but with some differences in how we do things, in recognition that our faith community will join in our sanctuary and on-line.
A Word from Laura: More Light Sunday
“And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace…”
The words of the hymn ring in my mind, long after I previewed the hymn video we’ll use as we sing together in worship this Sunday.
I hope you’ll join our on-line community as we celebrate our connection with More Light Presbyterians. We’ll hear a sermon from Rev. Annanda Barclay, former co-chair of the board of MLP, who currently pastors Mission Bay Community Church in San Francisco.
A Word from Laura: Days of the Most Light
“Lift ev’ry voice and sing…” I imagine heavenly choirs singing as Juneteenth became a federal holiday yesterday, commemorating June 19, 1865, when newly liberated Black people in Galveston, TX received federal proclamation of their freedom.
The proclamation came just before a weekend in our family that was already overbooked. We’re welcoming family to celebrate Ginny’s promotion from middle school, Will’s graduation from high school, Father’s Day, my own birthday-that-rhymes-with-nifty. It’s all exciting, but I had forgotten how crazy a calendar can get when you’re not worried about a pandemic.
Session Notes
Your Session sat, by Zoom, for its regular monthly meeting this week.
After last month’s presentation from the Antiracism Coordinating Team on how we might approach the missional work of antiracism, we followed up in small groups to further discuss their proposals.
At the Session meeting, we shared our hopes and fears regarding antiracism and discussed how we felt God was calling us to act. We then adopted two resolutions. They are:
A Word from Laura: Abide No Hatred
I tried to order the flag, but it sold out in less than a week from one of my favorite on-line sources. The Bitter Southerner began printing the t-shirts after editor Chuck Reese wrote about the events in 2017 in Charlottesville, concluding: “White faces have to look straight into the eyes of other white faces and say: I will not abide your hatred.” Reese was right, but there’s more.
In a life of faith, stopping at “no hatred” sets the bar dangerously low.
A Word from Laura: Changing While Moving
You’ve heard people talk about change happening in the midst of keeping an organization going.
“We’re changing tires while driving… we’re building a plane in mid-air.” I wouldn’t wish for either of these in real life, yet it’s happening here at Western. And it’s inspiring to be pastor.
As more people are vaccinated, as the mayor opens up other businesses in light of CDC guidelines, as Miriam’s Kitchen prepares to serve from the dining room after bathroom renovations are complete this fall, Western’s leadership is preparing for hybrid worship and the next transitional phase.