August 16 Update
The FPCR Session met yesterday and crafted a interim plan for in-person gatherings and Church activities. In the near future, the COVID-19 Task Force (which will now also include Session members Jan Warner and Kathy Rice) will craft further guides for the safety of our congregation. The availability of vaccines has altered some of the ways we will respond as a congregation, but everyone should be reminded that we are not out of the woods just yet! As one member of the Task Force recently put it: "The COVID-19 pandemic is a very fluid situation and things change on a daily basis." The ways our congregation has responded to this developing situation with flexibility, patience, and understanding is most appreciated.
In brief, here is what the Session has decided:
- We highly encourage and recommend that everyone that is eligible for the vaccine get vaccinated!
- As a congregation, we will participate in a "covenant of care" for our community. This includes self-screening before participating in Church activities and staying home if we exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19. As a reminder, in some individuals, the Delta variant may present symptoms as mild as a summer cold, sinus infection, or allergies. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, please stay home and get tested at your earliest convenience.
- Due to the high number of vaccinated individuals within our congregation, our gathering plan and protocols will no longer be tied directly to Dallas County and RISD guidelines, or directly to local hospitalization statistics, although the Session and COVID-19 Task Force will continue to monitor and use these factors in the decision making process.
- In-person worship will resume on August 22nd. Pews will again be marked off to help the congregation to disperse throughout the Sanctuary. Socializing (chatting, talking, hanging out with friends) is encouraged to take place outside and not in the Welcome Center or Narthex. As you enter the Sanctuary, you are encouraged to take a seat and prepare for worship.
- At all indoor Church activities, we will continue to mask (covering both mouth and nose), social distance (6+ feet of separation recommended), and employ good hygiene practices. Moving gatherings outdoors is recommended when possible. Masks are especially encouraged when adequate distancing is not possible outdoors or when larger groups are present.
- Special efforts are being made to provide high quality livestreaming for those who are worshiping from home. Recent events have proven that Facebook is poorly equipped to handle the increased traffic on Sunday mornings. Every effort will be made to livestream the worship service on YouTube at 10:30 a.m. and to provide the uploaded service on both Facebook and YouTube by Sunday afternoon. This process is still being developed and updates will be shared as plans solidify.
- Small groups (including adult Sunday School and Youth Group) may resume meeting in the Church building. Masking, social distancing, and good hygiene practices are required of all groups at this time.
- Choir rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, August 18th, in Ernst Fellowship Hall. RGHC rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, September 8th. Masks, social distancing, and good hygiene practices will be required of all participants.
- Food is allowed at gatherings, assuming that all participants will remain masked when not actively eating or drinking.
- Indoor programs for Children will continue to be suspended until further notice. Please contact Pastor David or Pastor Rosy if you have questions about Children's programming. These plans are in a state of flux, but we will most probably need additional adult volunteers in order to facilitate ongoing programming for children.
- All are encouraged to keep up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 news and to make informed decisions about gathering in-person. The Session recognizes that this is a particularly difficult time for families with children who are not yet eligible to receive a vaccine. If our FPC community can be supportive in any way, please contact a member of Session, a pastor, or the Church office.
Blessings,
Rev. David Schaefers
Pastor and Head of Staff
It's Time For Tools 4 School!
We will be collecting financial donations for Network and school supplies for Mark Twain and Terrace Elementary. Baskets will be available in the Welcome Center and the office for your donations. Lists with the specific items needed will be available Sunday.
Child Protection Training
For anyone who works with children or youth and missed the in-person training this past Sunday, please watch the child protection training and send in a signed Covenent for Volunteers. Child Protection Training is required of all Sunday School, First Friday, and Youth and Children's Ministry volunteers. Since we did not provide a training last year, due to the pandemic, almost everyone is due for a refresher.
Mitchell/Tufts Scholarships Awarded
This year we are thrilled to announce that two members of our congregation were awarded scholarships.
Jay Eoff, who will be entering Michigan State University in the fall was awarded $6,000. This was the first time the committee had ever awarded that amount and only two students were chosen to receive the $6,000 award. I beamed with pride when that was announced.
Also receiving an award was Wayne Geyer, who is pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts--Visual Communication at Texas A&M University, Commerce. We have all seen Wayne's great work in visual communication since he has designed our church logo and many posters and brochures for our congregation. The scholarship committee has never awarded money to go toward a graduate degree, but they felt that Wayne's contributions to First Presbyterian Church deserved special recognition.
A Note from the Pastor » May 12
Our Called Congregational Meeting will be Sunday, immediately after worship. The link may be found in the "Week at a Glance" section below. In that meeting we will hear from the Nominating Committee (see below) and elect new elders to Session, elect at-large members of the 2022 Nominating Committee, Acknowledge our graduating Seniors, and go over the procedures and protocols for limited in-person worship beginning on May 23.
Specific instructions on how to RSVP for in-person worship will be coming soon. We plan for there to be an emailed RSVP link and a link in the Online Worship section above. Alternatively, one may also RSVP by calling the Church office or by emailing Lisa Carter, our Office Administrator. The RSVP system will open at 9:00 AM on Monday mornings. There will be no early registrations.
The Session has compiled the protocols for in-person worship. You are encouraged to review this document prior to registration. Read the Protocol to Resume In-Person Worship.
I look forward to seeing you at the Congregational Meeting!
Blessings,
Pastor David
Update on our Reuter Pipe Organ
After being damaged by the leaky roof several years ago, it is finally time to do a proper repair and refurbishment of our Reuter pipe organ. We expect the work to begin in May or June and take 6 weeks to complete.
Read the full story from Ralph Stannard
Network Needs
They are currently in need of the following items:
- Hygiene products
- Detergent
- Diapers all sizes
- Toilet paper
- Easy box meals (such as hamburger helper)
- Chef Boyardee
- Flour and baking supplies
- Cooking oil
- Spices/seasonings (such as oregano, cumin, and more to season beans and rice)
Kid-friendly foods will be distributed at both Network and the 8 mobile food pantries each week, in addition to nutritional food boxes. Items needed are:
- Pop topped kid-friendly meals,
- Mac and cheese, granola bars, applesauce cups, oatmeal, cereal, peanut butter, and other healthy snack options
Network is also in need of new men's, women's, and children's underwear, infant socks, baby and toddler clothing, children's clothing, and shoes (all sizes).
As always, thank you for your generosity and being a blessing to those in need.
PO Box 831985, Richardson, TX 75083
271 N. WALTON STREET @ LASALLE
(972) 235-2316
