This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Stand at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message:

“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord.'” Jeremiah 7.1-2

It is our natural desire to hear the Word proclaimed corporately – together - yet the nature of our world has prevented that for two months. The words of Jeremiah are calling us to come through the gates and worship the Lord in his house. Yet our circumstances are unique to our nation and our community in this time and place

Your Session met on May 21 with the purpose of determining when 1^st Presbyterian will re-open its doors to corporate worship. It was decided that June 7^th would be a good time, and would allow us to review the progress of the health picture in Casa Grande before re-opening happens.

The main concern of the Session was our older demographic and the endangered nature of a lot of our congregation to the coronavirus. A date of June 7^th would allow us to observe two weeks of “partial re-opening” in our community. A conference call meeting for the Session on Monday, June 1^st will allow for final approval of the services on June 7^th at 9 a.m. in the Sanctuary and 10:30 in the Family Life Center. The office will be open beginning Tuesday the 26^th of May (the day after Memorial Day), usually Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon. Heather will still be socially distancing, though, so please only come for vital or necessary business that cannot happen online. The pastors will be available by appointment.

Things will be different, of course.  The Sanctuary will be configured for only 50 attendants due to social distancing.  More space is available in the Family Life Center.  You will receive a letter via hard copy and email the first week of June asking for RSVP's for that 9:00 am service so we don't try to put too many people into too small of a space.  It will also alert you if there is a change in these plans due to late breaking news.  We will also be asking for the number of people you will be attending with so we can utilize every available seat (six feet away from other open seats).  Please call the church office at 836-5981 the week before to let us know you would like to attend.

You might see a camera visible as we continue our online ministry for those not able or desiring to attend in person. We will ask all attendees to wear masks. We won't pass the peace or take communion. There will be no bulletins to share, although there will be a virtual, online bulletin emailed to you Sunday morning or Saturday evening. The Sanctuary and Family Life Center are both fully equipped with WI-FI so you can access them. We will not take an offering, although baskets will be available at the exits for you to leave your donations, which of course are needed now more than at any other time.

The new normal will probably be anything but normal. What will be the same is our fervent desire to share the love of Jesus Christ to all around us.

There is one more thing the Session wanted to share with you. Please use your best judgment on when you will personally be able to return to worship. Many in our church are in an “endangered” category due to ill health, age, or other reasons. Please do not feel an “obligation” to attend services just because they are being offered.

As Americans, we all share a deep seated nature of individuality and self reliance. Let's use our love for each other and the desire to keep each other healthy as our guidelines for returning to worship, wearing a mask, and washing our hands.

I love each of you with the love of Jesus Christ. Please be well.

Pastor Paul