This time of uncertainty in our world has changed us. Each day we wonder: “How long will this go on? When will things return to some sense of normal?”
As the leadership of Sacred Place has considered when it will be safe and best for us to gather again, the thing that has been at the forefront of all of our minds is that we are a people of justice, inclusion, and family first and foremost.
Our journey over the last 11 months has reminded us that the Church is not a building, but it is the people gathered whatever we are, however we gather. This time of gathering online has shown us new ways of being Church that seemed impossible to us before. So, in our planning for the future, we know that things will be slow to return to some sense of normal and, at Sacred Place, keeping everyone safe is one of the most important things we can do.
We were early to stop gathering in person for many others did. And, in the same light, we will be a slow to return to gathering in person with everyone. We will wait until it is safe for all of us, not just some of us, to be together. I can’t imagine us gathering and not being able to have a children’s ministry or have contact with one another or to be able to sing. All these things that won’t be safe for a while.
We don’t know how long it will take for a vaccine to be available and exactly when all these restrictions will be lessened. It will be a long time: not days or weeks, but months, before we are fully gathered as a faith family. This is difficult… and hard… and not easy, but I think it shows the world who we are; that we’re not gonna gather until everyone can be there.
It’s unfair to make someone to choose between keeping themselves safe and being with their family.
So we will wait. We will stay safe.
We will find new ways for us to gather online, and in small groups down the road, so that everyone will have a Sacred Place.