Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
In the sixty-three years of Calvary’s history CLC church councils have been called upon to make momentous decisions on behalf of the Calvary community.
They planned and executed five building projects including the first sanctuary which is now the fellowship hall. They initiated six call processes and recommended candidates who have faithfully served Calvary in the past and in the present. In council retreats they imagined staffing that expanded our ministries in youth and music and worked to make the dream a reality. They initiated sound fiscal policies and established the position of Business Administrator. They recommended the purchase of two pipe organs which the congregation approved. Calvary has been well served by its servant leaders.
No previous CLC council has had to make a decision as momentous or as difficult as this council has been asked to make. With limited and often conflicting information the council has had to weigh the cost of reopening in terms of human lives, yours. However, what is clear is that in the past week the number of cases in Tarrant county has spiked significantly, including hospitalizations.
When we first discussed reopening, we wanted to wait for a fourteen day decline in reported cases. In light of Governor Abbot’s reopening recommendations for the state and a flattening of the curve we thought this Sunday would be safe to reopen with the proper safety protocols.
On Tuesday Tarrant County raised the Community Spread Level to Substantial. In light of this we do not believe it is possible to safely gather in the sanctuary for worship.
We know many you RSVP’d for Sunday and were looking forward to worshipping together so we will hold an outside worship service in the courtyard this Sunday, June 14th at 8:30 am and live stream a sanctuary service at 10 am as we have been doing. For those worshipping in the courtyard at 8:30 am, please bring a lawn chair for each person attending. |
The courtyard provides plenty of space for social distancing so that everyone who planned on attending 8. 9:30 or 11 can attend the outdoor service. According to studies face masks are optional when you are outside as long as you maintain social distancing as the issue with transmission stems from being in a confined closed space.
We are all desperate to get back to what the communal and worship life was like at Calvary before the shutdown. We know there will be a day when that will happen. We just don’t believe it is now.
In the meantime, we ask you to trust the church council you elected and the pastors you called.
Yours in Christ,
The CLC council and pastors |
