Worship, at 10:10 Sunday mornings, will be on Facebook Live (and available for later viewing) on MCPC’s Facebook page and Zoom (Zoom access requires login ID and password).

a letter from Pastor Diane Hoppe Hugo, January 6, 2022
(note…online worship will continue through February13, 2022)

Dear Friends, 

Happy Epiphany to you all!  This day has become one of my favorite holy days as it reminds us Christmas is not over after the 25^th and there is so much more to discover in this blessed season of revelation and wonder. My prayer is all may experience joy in the light of Christ as this new year unfolds. 

I write also to tell you we will be returning to worshiping online-only for the rest of the Sundays in January. 

It was not an easy decision for the Session and we hope it is very temporary.  Many of you will have seen the article with a statement from the Rev. Jane Field, Executive Director of the Maine Council of Churches, in yesterday’s papers. I learned more about what was behind the advice for congregations in Maine to return to online worship and I was moved by the pastoral heart reflected therein.  Over the past few weeks, Rev. Field received many calls from medical personnel pleading with churches to go back online to help reduce the number of people needing emergency services.  After the statement had been issued, she received more calls – this time thanking her, and Maine congregations, for the announcement. 

It has been so good for us to see each other face-to-face and it is hard to give up being in the same space with each other. I hope we can all make this sacrifice out of love and a deep desire to support those in medical fields who have sacrificed so much for all of us. From lack of rest and loss of time with loved ones to some losing their very lives, we all owe a great debt of gratitude to everyone in the field of medicine and patient care.   

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this decision, please be in touch with me or any of the elders on Session (listed below).  The building will remain open, as will Bright Start, with safe protocols in place.  Masks are required for Bright Start and encouraged for the rest of us, even the vaccinated. Let us all do whatever we can to help everyone access vaccinations and boosters as well as continue safe and preventive practices.  Thank you all for being so patient and kind. We really have learned so much together in this pandemic time, especially how dear we are to one another. You are always in my prayers as I know I am in yours.