Posts by administrator

A People and A Verb “Although the building is closed, the church has always been open because the church is you.” These are the words that I used at the start of every worship service since the beginning of the pandemic. With this message, I hoped to highlight an idea that is often discussed among Read More

Pastoring During the Pandemic—Some of What I Have Learned Among the many words that are used to identify clergy, the term “pastor” is one that I have struggled to wear comfortably. Earlier in my career, I most often used the words minister or preacher to describe my ordination. My friends outside the church often call Read More

Almighty God, give us wisdom to perceive you, intellect to understand you, diligence to seek you, patience to wait for you, eyes to behold you, a heart to meditate upon you, and life to proclaim you, through the power of the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ.       Attributed to St. Benedict (480-553) The words of Read More

On Monday, March 1, I was invited to participate in a COVID Memorial Day Service for the City of Newburyport. The event was organized by Mayor Donna Holaday and included several local clergy: The Rev. Rebecca Bryant of the First Religious Society (Unitarian-Universalist), the Rev. Dr. Sara Singleton of Old South Presbyterian Church, and Fr. Read More

During this past year a committee of church members have met bi-weekly to discuss Pandemic topics and to forward advice and recommendations to the Church Council, Diaconate, etc. The resumption of in-person worship has been a constant topic during our discussions. Contemplating a return has been problematic due to a number of items mentioned in Read More

By Heather Alterisio halterisio@newburyportnews.com Mar 31, 2021 Newburyport — Many sanctuaries may still be closed due to COVID-19 concerns, but religious leaders have found new ways during the pandemic to connect with congregants and keep services available, whether online or outdoors. A little over a year ago, just before stay-at-home orders were issued by the Read More

Following guidance from the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ (SNEUCC) we ceased in-person worship on March 8, 2020. WHY? To protect the health of our congregation In person worship is one of the riskiest activities because speaking, singing, and praying propel the air-borne particles that carry the virus Many members Read More

In mid-April, I heard reports from two colleagues in New York City about the impact of the pandemic there. The Rev. Emma Jordan-Simpson, the Executive Director of Fellowship of Reconciliation and pastor of the historic Concord Baptist Church in Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn and the Rev. Kaji Douša, a leader in the New Sanctuary Movement and pastor Read More