Survey says...

By Pastor Peter Hanson

Thanks to everyone who completed our recent online survey regarding our initial plans for Sunday morning worship, beginning this fall.

With over 135 responses, we feel well equipped to move forward in this coming season, recognizing that while the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, we can continue to make the adjustments we need to engage in worship, nurture faith, build community, and grow in compassion in the coming months. While far from being set in stone, what has emerged from this survey is a workable plan for the foreseeable future.

On Rally Sunday, September 12, we will begin living into this new Sunday schedule. Worship will begin at 9:30 am, as it has been since the earliest days of our move to online worship in March 2020. We will continue to livestream this service, as we continue to hear what a blessing this is to elder members, members with young children, members with particular health concerns, as well as those who wish to engage in worship even when they are not nearby on a given Sunday. As conditions allow, we will reintroduce Coffee Hour at around 10:30 am or so with various options for faith formation, community-building, service projects, and even committee work beginning within the following half-hour or so. At noon, Cristo Rey will offer weekly worship in Spanish, providing a more regular gathering time for the Latinx faith community growing among us.

It is great to have had such good participation, and your staff and other leaders appreciate the input and feedback you offered. Of course, a survey is more nuanced than any sort of “up or down” vote might be. It reflects a sort of “snapshot” in time, with some issues already resolved by the time feedback is shared, while other unforeseen concerns arise even after the survey is completed. There is always room for different interpretations of the results, and those called to serve and to lead are still charged with making and implementing decisions that go beyond what can be gleaned from a handful of multiple choice and open-ended questions.

Moreover, there remains a certain level of uncertainty woven into any planning process we undertake these days, no matter how participatory, no matter how conclusive. The Delta Variant is proving to be both persistent and fast-changing, meaning that we will certainly have to set aside some of the plans we have so carefully made. If we’ve learned anything over the course of the past eighteen months or so, we’ve learned to be flexible, understanding, and patient with regard to making any plans!

The link below gives a more thorough commentary on the results of the survey itself. As these also rely on context and can be open to a variety of interpretations, we’ve scheduled a time to discuss some this survey in-person: Sunday, August 29th after worship (about 10:45 or so). Please take a look at this commentary here, and bring your questions and further insights to CtK in two weeks’ time!

Together in God’s mission,

Pastor Peter

Click here to download complete survey responses