A Word from the Pastors | 07-27-2021

From the Pastors

A Word from the Pastors

Church Council

Your elected servant-leaders gathered for a Zoom meeting on Monday, July 25. It was a called meeting to discuss one agenda item: the cost of the video equipment upgrades to enable “hybrid worship” as we anticipate a return to public worship in our Sanctuary. Like so many other congregations responding to the pandemic guidelines and limitations by having online worship, St. Peter’s has been blessed with a steady number of “remote” worshipers both local and scattered in other states. And like so many other congregations, St. Peter’s envisions post-COVID “hybrid worship” that would include connection and interaction between our “in-person” worshipers and our “remote” worshipers after this long journey through the shadow of the valley of COVID-19 ends or becomes manageable. Our “ballpark” estimate for what we envisioned was $15,000. This included the cost of a camera, TV monitors, computer, installation, and WIFI upgrade. Initially, our Council thought that our funding (we had received a generous contribution from a former member of St. Peter’s and a contribution from a St. Peter’s member who serves on our Church Council, for a total of $6,000) would limit our video equipment project to a “first phase” that would eliminate TV monitors. At Monday’s meeting, Church Council individuals pledged an additional $2,500 from their pockets, agreed to apply $3,000 from our congregation’s Building Fund, and allocated $3,000 from our general funds. Praise God! We are about $500 short of our estimated costs. That’s close enough to try.

    So the video equipment project that we have envisioned in order to have “hybrid worship” is moving forward! However, it might also be delayed. Airwaves Electronics has reported that some equipment is currently on “back order”. It seems that everybody is trying to do the same thing at the same time… and that the COVID pandemic has also affected manufacturing, shipping, etc. Maybe it will all work out faster than the U.S. passport process, which now has that estimated wait of eighteen weeks, shortened to twelve weeks if you pay those extra dollars to “expedite” it. We don’t know.

    We are continuing to use September 5 (Labor Day weekend) or September 12 as target dates for the first in-person worship in our Sanctuary. Perhaps there will be some necessary adjustment of the “when” and the “what” of re-opening based on our project progress and/or where these next weeks of a potential COVID surge take us. Our intent as a congregation is to move slowly and carefully and safely. This is a journey, not a race. And we are seeking to GIVE LIFE rather than SACRIFICE LIFE for the wrong reasons.

 

Gratitude

Thank you, thank you, thank you to:

  • Volunteers who have helped clean up, clean out, and organize rooms, areas, and items throughout our church property;
  • Contributors to our Thrivent Action project of providing the Feast Incarnate meal, a weekly ministry of University Incarnation Lutheran in West Philadelphia, on July 20 for 100 people;
  • Workers and contributors at the July 24 ELCA Youth Gathering “Car Wash and Barbeque” ($750 was received toward our preparations for the summer of 2022);
  • Our Whole Foods volunteers who help pick up and distribute food, caring, and kindness to neighbors twice each month;
  • Each and all of you who seek daily to walk the walk and to talk the talk of Jesus as you interact with others… as you offer affirmation, compassion, help, aid, and assistance in planned and unexpected ways

 

Be humble, strong, and courageous as you face this week!

     Look carefully where you walk and make wise use of your time! 

     Stay safe! Stay sane! Stay in the Spirit!  

     With our sincere love and prayers,
       Pastor Neil & Pastor Gwen