We are two weeks into Advent and there is a sense of Christmas on the horizon; cooler temperatures, the hustle and bustle of shopping, the baking of cookies and the decorating of Christmas trees. All of these are earthly signs that Christmas is on the way. Trinity is well into the Christmas spirit as well. The sanctuary is decorated, Trinitree is in full swing, and the Christmas story is being told through sermons and songs. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
However, this is not a normal Advent and Christmas season. We find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic, with the numbers of positive cases on the rise both nationally and in S.C., U.S. daily death totals surpassing 3000, and the percent positive rates at all time highs. And of course, flu season is on the way.
With this information as our backdrop, the Worship Team met earlier this week to discuss plans for Sunday worship along with Christmas Eve services. After a lengthy discussion, the Worship Team made the tough decision to once again have virtual-only worship services. So, beginning this Sunday, December 13, Trinity will be providing virtual-only services with the Contemporary Worship Service starting at 9:30am and the Traditional Worship Service at 11:00am via Facebook Live and YouTube. Virtual-only worship services will be in place through Sunday, January 10, 2021. We will be monitoring the COVID numbers as we begin 2021 and may adjust our in-person start date. Also, going virtual only worship means there will be no in-person Christmas Eve service. There is a special virtual only Christmas Eve service that is currently being planned.
The church buildings will be closed and the church staff will be working from home. The TLC will remain open as they follow the ebb and flow of the Richland 2 school calendar. If you need to see someone on the church staff you must contact that person via email, text or call them to set up an appointment.
Even though the church office will be closed, please consider your financial gifts to Trinity. You may use online giving or mail your offering to the church. If you would like to make a year end contribution you may do so online at trinityblythewood.org, by mailing it to Post Office Box 864, Blythewood, SC 29016, or by contacting our bookkeeper Murphy Peele (mpeele@trinityblythewood.com) to set up an appointment to come by the church office.
We are living in unprecedented times. However, we are living in the season of Advent by waiting on hope, love, joy, and peace that can only come from the Light of the World, Jesus the Christ.
Blessings on the journey,
Pastor Scott