Loving each other.
The health and safety of our church family are at the forefront of our minds this Christmas as we watch the quickly-spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19. With the guidance of the Regathering Taskforce, charged with helping the church establish responsible policies, we have adjusted our traditional Christmas Eve services this year.
Our usual Children and Family Service has been replaced with a two-and-a- half hour window of opportunity, from 1:00-3:30 p.m., to walk through an outdoor tableau with children sharing the Nativity story and taking their parts among live animals at the manger. There also will be a prerecorded Christmas Eve Service video, created by our Children’s Ministry, that will be available on the Season of Advent page on our website on Christmas Eve.
The Service of Lessons and Carols at 7:30 p.m. will be livestreamed from the Sanctuary for all to enjoy concurrently from home, and it will be available to view afterward on the livestream page on the church website.
We invite those who would like to come in person to abide by these guidelines:
- A properly-fitting mask will be required throughout the service.
- Ushers will help direct people to their seats to assure social distancing.
- If the Sanctuary begins to fill, with distancing, overflow space is available in Congregational Hall where the livestreamed service may be viewed on a large projection screen.
- Childcare is not available during this service.
- We urge those who are not fully vaccinated or anyone with any cold or flu-like symptoms to stay home and worship via the livestreamed service.
Loving Christmas by loving each other.
We know how important celebrating Christmas at BMPC is to our congregation and community.
Let us remember, that like the very first Christmas, we find ourselves in a season filled with complications, fear, concern, anxiety and confusion. We also know that the Holy Child of Bethlehem was and is Emmanuel, God with us.
Wherever we are this Christmas Eve, God is with us. Guided by faith and by the best available scientific precaution, we continue to be the church together.
On behalf of pastors, musicians and lay leaders of the church, I pray that the peace of Christ may dwell in your hearts, and our love of God will be reflected in our love for neighbor.
Merry Christmas,
Agnes
