“Gifts of the Dark Wood” Worship Series Continues

In-Person Worship Option Offered Three Times in August

A big shift in our worship life started on July 11:  our Pastors start a new worship series, and we had our first experience with hybrid worship.

“In a dark time, the eye begins to see,” wrote American poet Theodore Roethke. This paradox – that often in our times of greatest turmoil or confusion, we can begin to see more clearly – is at the heart of the new “Gifts of the Dark Wood” worship series that started on July 11. The series continues through August.

The series acknowledges that sometimes periods of great bewilderment can reveal great insight; sometimes, by getting lost, we may actually find our way. The experiences what feel like darkness – desolation, failure, uncertainty – are unavoidable and they can be key to finding our way.

At the same time this new worship series launched, we had our first experience of hybrid worship. About two-thirds of the congregation were gathered on Zoom and the other third in the sanctuary. Some worship leaders were on Zoom and others were in the sanctuary. The assessment of this first time out is that it worked well.

Our Pastors and Jim Thomas continue to work on the technical logistics. Their goal is to make the experience as meaningful and seamless as possible – or at least to keep the technology from getting in the way of the worship experience. Because we want to have a 100% accurate listing of those who gather in-person for worship, we are asking that everyone register for each worship service they plan to attend by 1:00 on Saturday and then to check in when they arrive. Registration for the in-person option is at bit.ly/inpersonsignup. You can read more about signing up and about other liturgical shifts in the July 5, “A Pastoral Word” email, available at bit.ly/July2021PW.