To everything there is a season …
Dear Saints of Grace:
As we move into a new spring, the Easter season and the time of planting and growth, we are challenged by God to use our talents to show off his love. Show it to be abundant. Show it to be for all people. Show it to be generous beyond human conception.
Spring doesn’t happen overnight. First you see hints of the crocuses, then a tiny shoot from a daffodil. Then the tulips. Then the peonies, then the lilacs. Each in their own time. Slowly revealing their part in God’s spectacular creation.
Grace is also not fully springing back from the era of the pandemic. But we are emerging. We are adapting. We are changing, even as we hold strongly to our core belief that God loves the whole creation and that we can respond to that love by caring for each other and the rest of creation.
In the last three years, Grace has made tremendous progress in creating a quality hybrid worship experience that values both those present in worship and those joining by Zoom. We have experimented and we will continue to experiment with better ways to include those who join by Zoom within the on-site worship community. Our Technology Team will try several solutions and then will ask for feedback both from those on-line and those present in worship. As we build a consensus around a particular proposal, we will seek funding from one or more memorials. In the meantime, I’d like to offer a few Zoom etiquette tips:
Please be sure your microphone is muted unless you have a speaking part in the service.
If you have your camera turned on, please be aware that folks present in worship can see you!
If you choose not to activate your camera, please consider substituting a photo of yourself for the benefit of those in worship. If you need help with this process, please contact Michael Drelicharz for technical assistance.
A major way in which Grace can express God’s love for the world and our part in the care of creation is our LIVING GREEN EXPO II, that will take place on Saturday, May 20, from 10am to 2pm. There will be green-themed activities for all ages AND LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR VOLUNTEERS! Watch the weekly announcements for more details. I plan now to participate!
I wish you a meaningful Holy Week and Easter experience, and I look forward to our work together to show the world the self-giving love of Christ!
In his love, joy, peace and hope,
Pastor Daniel Schwick