News for Aug 17, 2021
This Sun, Aug 22
This Sunday, join us for worship online. Rev. Polly will preach about “Fiddler on the Roof,” one of the most popular musicals ever written. There will be a guest appearance by Deirdre on the violin. Join us via Zoom a few minutes before 10 am.
Listen to last Sunday's message
Check out the sermon and worship slides from Sun, Aug 15, when Kevin Doyle spoke about “South Pacific.” (Also, Karen C. writes: “For those who were inspired or had their curiosity tickled by Kevin’s wonderful reflections this last Sunday, I highly recommend the books ‘Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia’ and ‘Come on Shore and We will Eat You All,’ both by Christina Thompson.”)
Evolving patterns of worship
Several weeks ago, we asked how you'd like to participate in Sunday morning worship this year — in person, online, or both? 49 people responded between Jul 24–Aug 3. Here's what they said:
• Entirely in person: 6%
• Mostly in person: 14%
• Half on Zoom, half in person: 29%
• Mostly on Zoom: 41%
• Entirely on Zoom: 10%
Read more survey results here. Your council and staff are trying to honor the results — and take into consideration the reality of the Delta variant. Please join us for our next in-person worship on Sun, Sep 5 at 10 am. We'll meet outdoors (weather-permitting).
Links and resources
• Essential reading on how the pandemic ends
• Religion News Service: 5 Afghanistan must-reads
• NYT's Ross Douthat: “A Guide to Finding Faith”
• Quanta Qualia by Patrick Thomas Hawes
Quote of the week
“A superficial freedom to wander aimlessly here or there, to taste this or that, to make a choice of distractions, is simply a sham. It claims to be a freedom of ‘choice’ when it has evaded the basic task of discovering who it is that chooses.”
—Thomas Merton
Weekly online events
• Women's group: Mondays at 1 pm
Usually on Zoom; third Mondays at Fiero Caffe
• Meditation: Wednesdays at 7:30 am
In person at the church building
• Worship service: Sundays at 10 am.
Usually on Zoom
Image: A recent outdoors, in-person worship service.
