Our Status on Reopening
With increased vaccinations, decreasing Covid-19 cases, and some neighboring counties restrictions being lifted, we sense some momentum toward Sonoma County opening up. When that happens, we want to be ready and in a position to safely resume some in-person church activities. Having come so far with disciplined, preventative measures in place, we will continue following safety precautions even as we anticipate being together again.
With some urgency the Reopen Task Force and Session are developing an updated plan which identifies when and how we might gather and under what conditions, following the State of California’s tier criteria system (from most to least restrictive) and Sonoma County’s tier status (which measures the case and positivity rate.
- Purple—Widespread: many non-essential indoor businesses are closed
- Red—Substantial: some non-essential indoor businesses are closed
- Orange—Moderate: some non-essential indoor businesses are open w/modification
- Yellow—Minimal: most non-essential indoor businesses are open w/modification
At present, our county is in the Purple—Widespread tier with the highest level of restrictions. As an essential service, our Presbyterian Preschool is open and functioning on our premises as the only group to do so. When public health officials announce that Sonoma County has been moved into the Red—Substantial tier, we will be ready to host in-person gatherings of small groups, committee/team meetings, fellowship activities, and special events on campus. Participants of such gatherings will be asked to abide by health protocols including wearing masks, social distancing, and sanitation practices. Meanwhile, as weather permits, we are formulating plans to support meaningful outdoor activities.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that churches cannot be forbidden to gather for worship, but state and local authorities may restrict the size and conditions of such attendance. Even when the Yellow—Minimal tier is reached, worship attendance is still limited to 50% seating capacity. We will resume in-person worship as soon as possible, but only when we can do so in a safe and reliable manner.
Meanwhile we remain active throughout this pandemic with online worship, educational classes, small group fellowship, and missional activities so that as a congregation we are able to fulfill Jesus’ command to “love our neighbors as ourselves” by preventing the further spread of this deadly virus. Let us continue to grow in our commitment to Christ and one another in fulfillment of our call to serve God’s world with acts of love, grace, and justice.
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Sunday February 28
Pastor Emily focuses our attention on the “I Am” saying of Jesus from John chapter 14: “I Am the way, the truth, and the life.”
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The Cosmic Christ: Paul’s Letter to the Colossians
Taught by Rev. Dr. Kent Webber
Monday, March 1, 7:00-8:15 PM
Zoom Link for Class
Meeting ID: 843 4109 4365 Passcode: Letter
For previous class recordings, click here.
The Color of Compromise Discussion Group
The Case for The Color of Compromise
Wednesday, February 24 at 7:00 PM
This series will run eight weeks.
March 3 Theme: Making Race in the Colonial Era
and Understanding Liberty in the Age of Revolution and Revival
Video discussion facilitated by
Michelle Huntley, Penny Cleary, Rich Mason, Donna and Mark Thomas
Are you interested in joining the conversation about race? Consider journeying with us as we go through The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby. This work tells the history of race in our country thought the lens of the Church. Of this work Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile stated: “Tisby points courageously toward the open sore of racism - not with the resigned pessimism of the defeated but with the resilient hope of Christian faith.”
This material is available as: a paper book; an electronic audio book or eBook from the Sonoma County library; a DVD which can be purchased or loaned (by us) or available on a streaming network. The book and video cover the same material so any format you choose will give you plenty to join our discussion group. If you have questions about how to access this material in any of the formats or would like a scholarship to purchase this material, please contact Mark Thomas (707) 292-5788 or by email.
Your weekly (approximately 40 minute) investment will be to watch a short video (or two) or read or listen to a chapter or two before our Wednesday evening meeting. We will have discussion questions for each week and will use our time together to share our responses to this compelling material in conversations in community via zoom. We would love to have you join the conversation.
Movie Discussion Group: Loving (PG-13)
Friday, March 19 at 7:00 PM via Zoom
Loving is the absorbing and true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, whose 1958 arrest in Virginia for their interracial marriage led to a legal battle in 1963 that resulted in the Supreme Court's historic 1967 decision, Loving v Virginia, which struck down Virginia's miscegenation law. Please view the film in advance via Netflix or stream it on Amazon for $3.99. We also have a few copies of the DVD for those who prefer. To RSVP to join us and/or arrange a loan of the DVD, contact Allie Shoulders at 707-890-8010 or via email.
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Missions Prayer Group
Tim Stafford conducts weekly prayer requests (very brief!) for our missionaries. If you would like to join the list of those who receive the requests, drop Tim a quick note and he will add you to the list.
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To use Zoom by phone for any Zoom call you may dial one of these numbers:
+1 669.900.6833
US (San Jose)
+1 346.248.7799
US (Houston)
For outside the US, locate your local number here. |
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