Dear Church Family,

May God’s grace and peace be with you!  As we prepare to regather for onsite worship services on August 9, we have enclosed a short version of the guidelines we will be following as we take this first step to regather for worship in our church building.  Please carefully read them over.  It will be important to have your support in following these guidelines in providing a safe and caring environment that will help us continue to do more effective ministry as we go forward. The full set of guidelines will be posted on our website and available to read in the church office.

We ask that as we reopen you will preregister online at our website each Sunday or call the church office letting us know how many are coming from your family and what service you will be attending.  This will not only help us to be better prepared but also allow for a smoother transition as you arrive for worship.  We will also keep providing our worship services online for those who are not yet ready to join us in person.

When you return, you will notice some changes that have taken place within our church building and our church staff.  The courtyard has a fresh coat of paint and portions of it have new carpet.  We also have two new staff members!  Mallory Arnold has joined our staff as our Director of Communication and Technology and Cheri Carey as our part-time Office Manager.  We are excited for you to meet and get to know each of them!

At the same time, we will miss Darla Hazeltine who has resigned as our part-time Director of Children.  We are so thankful for the wonderful five years of ministry Darla has provided and the impact she has made.  I am also thankful that she and Jeff will not be leaving but will stay involved in the life and ministry of our church family.  Please be in prayer for this transition in our children’s ministry.

Enclosed with this letter is an update on our finances and a financial summary from the beginning of the year.  Thank you for your faithful support through your prayers and giving during this uncertain time.  We ask for your continued support as following our prescribed guidelines, we will not be passing the offering plate during this initial regather time.

Things will not be the same for awhile and I wish I could tell you when we will be back to the way worship and ministry was prior to the Coronavirus pandemic, when we can have children’s ministry events, when the youth can meet again, and when all sorts of things will be able to happen at Bemidji Covenant.  But, as you know, we are all in a time of waiting and rapid change. We simply can’t predict what is next or how quickly (or slowly) things will move. But we will keep you updated as that time draws nearer.

But with that said, I look forward to seeing all of you, either online or at our church building on August 9!  I believe God is going to show up in power and grow our hearts as we worship Him. It is a joy to serve You, and serve our community with you…even in this very strange and unpredictable season. Remember, God loves you, He rules the universe, and He is on the throne.

Sincerely in Christ,

Pastor Todd