Recap of June 28, State of the Congregation Meeting:

What follows is a recap of the Sunday, June 28, mid-year meeting of the congregation from speakers Moderator Linda Glover, Treasurer Gary Collier, Property Chair Perry Mouser and Sr. Minister Mitch Maxted.

 

More than 2000 years ago the apostle Paul experienced many of the frustrations that we currently face. Our confinement is different--we live in a relatively safe community; he was sometimes in prison or traveling on foot to visit churches. We are blessed with 21st Century technology to communicate. He depended upon his written word to reach the churches in the then Christian world.

Different centuries, different settings, yet, just as Paul and the early churches . . . we long to see one another again, we remain strong, knowing that God's truth stands firm like a great rock, and nothing can shake it. Paul wrote to Timothy to have faith and love and enjoy the companionship of those who love the Lord, he also pleaded with Timothy to use the abilities God gave him. This message remains clear for us today. Keep the faith, use the abilities God has given us, pray for direction and resolution, and remain faithful to one another.

During the past six months, while in a never before format, we have remained strong and reasonably healthy. Our foundation is built on solid ground and has withstood unprecedented times.

This morning you will hear from four of us. We comprise four positions out of the ten on the Guiding Board. Gary Collier-Treasurer will provide data on our current financial status, Perry Mouser-Property Chair, will apprise us of the work of the ad hoc Reopening Task Force, and Pastor Mitch will share his perspective.

Remember our three-legged stool--WORSHIP, SERVE, GROW?

Ours is well-built.

WORSHIP  - The worship leg is solid..secure....Today was our 15^th week of live zoom services of worship (in addition to those during Lent and Holy Week)....We have grown in attendance with regulars and folks from across the state and United States.

SERVE - Your faithful monetary giving has kept the serve leg strong as  we continue support of the RR Area Serving Center, Disciple brotherhood outreach, met payroll for staff, and maintain upkeep of building and grounds. Under our new structure routine meetings of governance  -- the board, spiritual life - - our nine elders and, programming  -- the ministries council -- each have continued to meet -- praying and planning for direction.

GROW  - the grow leg remains secure and powerful. Fellowship and opportunities to grow in the faith are numerous in small groups that meet routinely---two adult Sunday school classes, the choir, the Caring Hearts prayer warriors, two book groups, two special study groups, the Disciples Women and the Disciples Men -- all have studied and fellowshipped, reached out to community needs and cared for our own. Christian Education plans for the blessings of backpacks prior to the beginning of school.

 

Every solid three-legged stool that lasts over time and provides necessary support for all who are in need must be sustained with extraordinary glue -- the glue that holds us together is our Pasto -- Mitch Maxted, whose 24/7 devotion to our Lord and to our congregation remains steadfast. Our staff has continued in their positions as though nothing changed. They polish the stool with their talent and commitment- Randy Preston, director of music ministries, Jimmy Horowitz, keyboard, Rod Walker, praise band director, Katie Maybaum who role-transitioned from childcare to financial and technical duties, and Molly Salzwedel as administrative assistant. Then there are the folks who mow the lawn and count the offering and tear out sinks and wax floors.....It takes a village.  

 

Financials - Treasurer, Gary Collier

 

Reopening Task Force - Property Chair, Perry Mouser

The purpose of the task force is to evaluate how and when to reopen services at church with safety of all participants paramount. The group will present recommendations to Guiding Board for approval. While there is no date set for reopening, data from the these sources form the basis for evaluation and planning: National Center for Disease Control, the State of Texas, Church Mutual Insurance(RRCC insurer) and the Christian Church of the Southwest, our regional Disciples office. Task force members include Mildred Adair and Amy Tucker (Worship), Pam Knight and Amy Osteen (Christian Education), Randy Preston (Music Ministries), Gary Collier, Tricia Mouser, Gary Tucker (Guiding Board), Linda Glover, Pastor Maxted (ex-officios), Perry Mouser, chair.

To date the group has met twice via zoom and once at the church with safe distancing to make a walk-through of procedures for congregants.

• Minimum 6' social distancing throughout with a maximum capacity of 42 seats
• First "in", last "out" entry/exit
• Disinfecting before and after service

Please click on http://www.rrdisciples.org/re-opening-news.html to view photos showing social distancing.

 

Property

• Preparation for a new library has begun with the gutting of the old kitchen (Perry Mouser, Jim Kessler, Gary Tucker). A Library Task Force, chaired by Gary Tucker, has formed.
• Gym floor had been partially stripped with a refinish and tough tape to mark for volleyball and basketball to follow.

 

Pastor Maxted concluded the meeting by thanking our leadership and reflecting on how the pandemic challenge is producing good fruit in our church family. Before dismissing the congregation with prayer, he read from the epistle to James 1:2-4

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind,

consider it nothing but joy, 

because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance;

and let endurance have its full effect,

so that you may by mature and complete, lacking in nothing. NRSV

ATTENTION WORSHIP LEADERS!

We need you to please go to sign up genius and pick out a date or two that you would so graciously serve as worship leader. We appreciate your leadership in this capacity.

Thank you.

Worship Team

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

Re-Opening Task Force Conducts "Practice Walk-Through"

of New Worship Procedures to Re-Open

The RRCC Re-Opening Task Force met Tuesday, 6/23/20 at the church to "walk through" the new steps that will be needed to maintain social distancing, once the church building re-opens for in-person worship. No date has yet been set for a return to our campus.

 

Special thanks to Task Force members for their on-going work on this effort; Perry Mouser (Chair), Mildred Adair and Amy Tucker (Worship), Pam Knight and Amy Osteen (Christian Ed), Gary Collier (Treasurer), Gary Tucker (Vice-Moderator and Elders), Tricia Mouser (2 nd Year Trustee), Randy Preston (Choir Director and Worship Team), and ex-officio members Mitch Maxted (Minister) and Linda Glover (Moderator).

 

The meeting at the church was a stark reminder that although the church doors will be open, it will be with a very limited capacity and six foot distances between family units, to be safe... VERY DIFFERENT!

 

The best way to visualize the process and distances needed, is to be very visual, through pictures. Please click on the link below to see additional pictures of the 10 members of the team who were present.

 

RRCC Re-Opening News and Process

 

A short description of the "New Worship Process" follows:

 

1. Congregants will be asked to "register" for worship via sign-up genius, so that we will know the number to expect and not exceed the capacity of the sanctuary (which is 30-40)

 

2. Congregants will enter from the back parking lot (with exceptions as needed to use the porte-cochère ) and observe the taped markers for six foot distancing on the sidewalk and in the church.

 

3. Upon entering the Welcome Center, a gloved Deacon will direct families to the table with the hand sanitizer and face masks (if needed) and families will take the number of communion packets needed, in addition to a zip lock bag to hold their trash following communion.

 

4. Families will then enter the Sanctuary through the West doors and follow the marked arrows, six feet apart, along the west wall. They will indicate to the first gloved Deacon the number of chairs needed for their family unit (1 finger held up for one, 2 fingers held up for 2, etc)

 

5. There will be 3 rows of chairs in the sanctuary and the first families inside will be seated on the front row, by a second gloved Deacon who will move chairs together as needed to accommodate the family.   The second gloved Deacon will then distance the next group of chairs six feet away.

 

7. The order of Worship will be similar to recent services, with families taking communion using the disposable packets. The trash should be placed in the zip lock baggie and held to be placed in the trash can at the back of the sanctuary. The offering plate will not be passed, but will be located on the table at the back of the sanctuary for offering placement upon entering or exiting the sanctuary.

 

8. Following worship, Deacons will direct congregants to exit through the East doors, beginning with the back row, then the second row and finally the front row. Families may visit in the parking lot, following social foot distancing.

 

9. In the event the restroom is needed for use; the door must be propped open and the "IN USE" sign placed on the door. There is only 1 person allowed in the restroom at a time.

 

10. There will be several signs placed throughout the church to indicate the flow of traffic and remind people of the need for safe practices and social distancing.

 

While we are all excited about the prospect of being with our "Church Family" again, it is extremely important to realize that the current pandemic is not subsiding and we must maintain vigilance in being cautious and safe. We will continue to host weekly worship services on Zoom and also plan to "live-stream" services from the sanctuary once they are reinstated.

 

Virtual Hugs to Everyone!

The Re-Opening Task Force