Friends,

Here’s the upfront warning: this is going to be a longer note than usual—we’ve got much to cover in it. We have posted portions of this on our website to refresh memory and reach out to our community. Grab a coffee and launch!

The coronavirus has captured public attention. We’re paying close attention to the information provided us by the CDC,  the WA Department of Public Health, and the King County Public Health Office. As a church, we’re also receiving information from the PCUSA at the national level, and at the local level from our own presbytery. We are committed to following best practices and guidelines in preventing the spread of coronavirus within our congregation, preschool, and the larger community who use our facility. In keeping with recommended practices, we are committed to the following:

• If you are sick, please stay home until you have recovered. This applies to church staff, the preschool community, and to the congregation at large in terms of worship services, group meetings, etc.
• We have instructed our cleaning crew to initiate a deep clean protocol for our facility—the crew works in the public school system as well and is familiar with these standards and practices.
• We will make hand sanitizer available in public areas—the upper foyer, the narthex, Fellowship Hall, the preschool entrance—please use them regularly.
• We will have tissue boxes available in the pews for your use. Please don’t leave used tissues behind. Stash them away for deposit in trash receptacles.
• We have posters in the washrooms reminding users to wash hands with soap and water.
• We will change our snacks during the fellowship time after the morning service. We will be serving bananas, bagels, and have coffee available. The food items will no longer be self-serve, but served by a gloved attendant. The coffee and tea pots will remain self-serve and be wiped regularly.
• We will no longer pass an offering plate down the pew. Instead, we will have offering plates available at the entrance and exit doors where those preferring to give this way may continue to do so as they enter or leave the sanctuary. An usher will be close by to keep the plate from walking away. As many already do, you may elect to give electronically—there are a few different ways to do this -- Pushpay, auto bank withdrawal, online bill pay, text "LFPPC" to 77977. These helps are published in the weekly bulletin as well.
• We also release all from the “obligation” to shake hands. Just a friendly smile will do nicely for greeting one another.

Thank you for practicing good hygiene and being sensitive to the health concerns of the larger community. We will continue to monitor public information and allow best practices to reasonably guide our collective response to the current situation. Please let us know of ways we can assist you during this time. I remind you that we do not live in fear, nor do we operate from a sense of scarcity. God provides for us personally and as a community of Christ followers—we rest in Christ’s provision and are generous with this as we have opportunity. 

Last Sunday, during the worship service, we had the opportunity to be introduced to our incoming Youth Director and his wife—Kim and Gabi Herbert. This Sunday we’ll have a chance for a “meet and greet” during the coffee and chat time in Fellowship Hall following the morning service. Come and get acquainted with them in an informal setting—you will find them easy to chat with and eager to know you!

Sunday evening at 5PM will be Jazz Vespers in the Sanctuary. There will be an insert in your worship service bulletin—this is both to remind you of the event, but it’s also a great way to invite others to the event! Just hand them the insert and tell them you’ll meet them there to enjoy an hour of great music up close and personal. You may have noticed the images posted throughout the church (thanks Dave Walton!) profiling the musicians who play during Vespers. These are some of Seattle’s best musicians—come and be refreshed.

And finally—plan on being in the service Sunday. We’ll be in John chapter 3 listening in on a conversation between Jesus and a fellow named Nicodemus, AND, I’ll be making an announcement on the basis of our 2020 Vision Team Report and session. It’s a great time to be part of what God is doing among us. Do join in!

See you Sunday!
--frank

Don't forget... this weekend we "spring forward".  Saturday night before going to bed be sure to adjust, one hour forward, your clocks that don’t self-adjust. Forgetting to spring forward may make you late to worship on Sunday. Sorry, you lose an hour of sleep but, you gain an extra hour of daylight later in the day!