Turning Corners. . .

It sure feels like we’re turning a corner, doesn’t it? Although we’re still firmly in the middle of winter, the sun’s light is starting to shift and change its tone. Songbirds are becoming more numerous and vocal. The days are lengthening. And mud – rather than snow – is once again becoming the natural wonder that we need to tame.

Oh, yeah… and then there are the vaccines!

While we’re still some time away from the vaccines being available to everyone in the general public, the mere fact that many people in Durango have received at least their first dose of the vaccine is cause for tears of joy and a welling up of hope. This is quite a change from where we were just a year ago, when panic about this unknown virus first started to cause an uneasy sense of dread and foreboding.

Here at Christ the King Lutheran Church we have been busy in these last several months getting things prepared for the eventuality of having people be able to gather in person once again for worship in our Sanctuary. Thanks to a gift from the estate of Roger and Shirley Buslee, we were able to upgrade the audio-visual components in our Sanctuary to allow us to continue to livestream our services for an online audience and project the words for liturgy and song on high-definition screens for those worshipping in the room. Now that our staff and some volunteers are trained in how to use these components most effectively, and now that COVID-19 rates in La Plata County have been generally trending downward, and now that we have a good plan in place to promote the safety of those present through public health recommendations and guidance, we are excited to begin offering the chance for people to gather inside our Sanctuary for worship once again.

Those who wish to join us for our worship service at 9:15am on Sunday mornings must sign up in advance. You can do so by navigating to our sign-up hub on our website (https://www.ctkdurango.org/signup/). If you do not have access to a computer, tablet or smartphone to sign up on your own, please notify Pastor Tim or the Church Office. At this time, we can accommodate up to 30 people in the Sanctuary. Masks are required to be worn at all times, and physical distancing between households is required.

Of course, we’re not really out of the woods with COVID-19 yet. Things can very quickly change in terms of transmission rates in our area; and, if that should happen, we will adjust this plan accordingly. So, for the sake of all in our community, please do your part to follow public health guidance in your everyday life, too. This is the best way to ensure a steady reopening process, not only for CtK, but for many other businesses and organizations in our area.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Be safe, everyone. And I look forward to the time when we can all see each other in person again… soon!

Peace,

Pastor Tim