As the lazy, hazy days of summer draw to a close, many of us are eager to come together in worship once again, safely and meaningfully celebrating and seeking God in the midst of community.
As such, our plans for worship this September is generally to have outdoor worship services, moving into the sanctuaries if there is bad weather. This decision was made by the joint Spiritual Growth Team along with our minister, heeding the advice of re-opening committees, congregants, and the local Health Unit. Outdoor worship at this point is still considered to pose less risks, and we hope to have some nice weather in September.
For the Brussels congregation, our outdoor services will be on the parking pad beside the church, starting at 9:30 a.m.; this is a change from our summer services, which were held at the Conservation Area.
For the Blyth congregation, our outdoor services will be beside the church building, starting at 11:00 a.m. as it was in the summer.
You are invited to bring a lawn chair and your beverage of choice to worship. If you are unable to bring your own chair, we can provide chairs from the church.
For outdoor services, masks will be required when physical distancing is not possible (aka arriving and leaving), and contact tracing is required. If we move indoors, masks are required for the duration you are inside. If we are indoors, loud congregational singing is discouraged (please sing quietly or hum along to the hymns). For indoor worship, we are limited to as many people/family groups as can safely distance within the sanctuary (roughly 45-50 people at each church); we may be able to seat extra folks in other rooms in the church.
Our hope is to be fully in our sanctuaries come October, depending on various factors, restrictions, and case number trends. In all of this, please continue to care for and reach out to one another in a spirit of discipleship. We are called to care for the most vulnerable and love as God loves and Jesus taught. Seek out the Spirit as we continue discerning how best to love and care in this Covid context.
Many thanks to all of those who provided their insights and concerns when making these decisions. These decisions are difficult to make, especially as many of us are getting weary of the restrictions. But I thank each and every one of you for your faithful approach to our congregational life. If you have any questions or concerns about our worship plans, you can reach out to me (Alex), or to any one of our Spiritual Growth Team members. Blessings to you all!
Along with our worship, don’t miss out on other aspects of our congregational life and work, including our Fall food drive joint mission. Other details about youth ministry, adult faith formation, and other activities will be coming soon!
Sunday Worship at a Glance – September/October 2021
(Please note – worship in September will be outdoors, unless the weather is bad. Please read above for details and health regulations.)
Worship Times – 9:30 a.m. at Brussels, 11:00 a.m. at Blyth
September 5th – Fifteenth after Pentecost (Theme – Opening the Door to All)
September 12th – Sixteenth after Pentecost (Theme – Siblings in Creation)
- Brussels – Baptism of Mya Shirley Martene, child of Brian Martene and Sara Baker
- Blyth – Baptism of McKenzie Kelly Elizabeth Hakkers, child of Jud and Jenn Hakkers
September 19th – Seventeenth after Pentecost (Theme – God’s Weird Wisdom)
- Brussels – Baptism of Logan Edward Ellis, child of Craig Ellis and Lee Ann (McDonald) Ellis
September 26th – Joint Service at Camp Menesetung (11:00 a.m.)
- 82190 Church Camp Rd, Goderich, ON N7A 3Y3
- Bring a lawn chair and dress for the weather.
- Please wear an orange shirt or other orange clothing for Orange Shirt Day, in remembrance of victims of the residential school system.
- If you need assistance getting to the camp and/or would like to carpool, contact Alex or one of the Spiritual Growth Team members.
October 3rd – World Communion Sunday (potential start of fully in-sanctuary worship, pending regulations and other factors)
- Communion will be held at each service using pre-packaged elements.
October 10th – Thanksgiving Sunday
October 17th – Twenty-First after Pentecost (Theme – Eradicating Poverty and Starvation)
October 24th – Twenty-Second after Pentecost (Theme – Peace Sunday)
October 31st – Reformation Sunday/All Saints (and Halloween)
Brussels & Blyth United Churches 