Dear Grace Community

On June 21, the Grace Session again addressed our safety protocols for Sunday morning. Our mask policy remains the same. Anyone who is fully inoculated may choose whether or not to wear a mask while at Grace. This includes worship, meetings, and events. Masks are still required for those who are not inoculated. The Session will look at this policy each month at its stated meeting.

We made changes to other policies, and these go into effect in July.  We’ll no longer have tape on the pews in the Sanctuary. The space technically seats 300 (though that is hard to imagine.)  On Sunday, June 20, we had 99 in attendance, our biggest crowd since we’ve been back. Even when we increase in size, there should still be room for people to spread out as they are comfortable.

Also in July, we begin to pass offering plates again, and the coffee bar returns. For now, the windows remain open in worship, and the outside doors remain open as well. We continue to use the pre-packaged communion sets.

It’s wonderful to see so many of you in person, be it in worship or during the week.

In Christ,
Catherine

The Grace Session met on May 17, 2021, in the church alcove/on Zoom.

• The meeting was opened and closed with prayer.
• The Covid safety and mask policies were discussed. The mask policy was updated to match the (then new) CDC guidelines that fully inoculated people do not need to wear masks, but everyone else does.
  • The Session will look at the guidelines each month.
• The financial reports were given and received.
• The large gas bill from the deep freeze in February was discussed. Martin Burch met with a representative from Symmetry Energy, and we have two options: spread the payments out over six months or pay now with a 45% discount. The trustees will make the decision. (Note: the trustees voted to pay it with the 45% discount.)
• It was reported that we have contracted with an organ consultant to help us understand the current state of our organ and to guide us as we consider renovations.
• Commissioners to the May presbytery meeting gave reports.
• The nominating team filled two of the unexpired terms. Texie Randle will serve as a trustee for the class of 2022, and Bruce Gealy will serve as a deacon for the class of 2022.  The Session called a congregational meeting for June 13 to elect them.
• There continue to be frustrations about the failings of our streaming during worship.