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New Office Hours

Good morning, everyone.  I hope this email finds you well.

We have shortened the office hours for the church.  I will physically be in the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Right now the plan is for me to be in the office from 9am to 1pm.  These hours may change, though, depending on work needed to be done.  I will be working from home on Mondays and Fridays.  Thank you to our Church Council for allowing these changes so that my exposure to the “outside world” will be minimized.

We will be making a weekly mailing with a scaled down version of the Sunday bulletin and other information.  Our hope is to send these out every Wednesday until we are able to fully reopen the church.  Please let us know if you do not want to receive these mailings.

Rest assured that you will still receive the weekly email blast, and phone calls and emails will be responded to.  Please feel free to call or email the office if you have questions or concerns and I will get back to you.  As always, Pastor Patricia is available by email at patriciamakesjam@gmail.com or phone at 503/510-9976.

Thank you for your understanding.  Take care!

Janet

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praying and support

Friends, the world, and our corner of it in particular, are responding to the spread of the COVID-19, or Coronavirus. It behooves people of faith to respond with love, prayer and preparedness.

It is my prayer that each of you is in a place of safety, away from those already infected, and that you are preparing for a quiet few weeks. As of last night, Salem Keizer Schools will close by Mar 16, reopening on Mar 31. Our governor has stated no gatherings of 250 are allowed at this time. While Holy Cross is not that large a church, we must still pay attention.

For three weeks, we have altered our communion practice, our passing of the peace practice (we speak a greeting, but do not touch – our hands are held in a prayer position), and I have been refraining from shaking your hands at the door. We have a large beautiful sanctuary and I have been advising you all to sit apart from each other. So many preparations. But now, I think we need to pause and speak plainly.

The church has always been a place of safety and of solace. I know many of you go to church for that, though seeing your fellow believers is also high on your expectation. Therefore, this sunday, March 15th, the church will be open for worship, and prayer, with special emphasis on prayers for those affected, and those concerned about the virus. You, however, have an important part to play. PLEASE Self-select (that means decide to stay home) if you are in a vulnerable population, or have high concern for your own and others safety. We at Holy Cross (pastor and council) wish to make our space available for prayer and worship in this time of uncertainty. But your job is to DECIDE IF YOU OUGHT TO COME.

On the practical side, we also will cease any food or beverages served on our premises for the time being. We will monitor and abide by governmental directives regarding gatherings like ours. Be safe. Be well. Pray. For others.

As the picture attached to this document tells you, there are many affected  more than you and I. Our job, as Christians is to pray for them. Call me, or email me if you want to talk

Pastor Patricia