Dear Oakdale family,
It is hard to find just one word that sums up the impact of COVID, but grief, loss, anxiety and frustration all swirl in my mind as accurate possibilities. As you all know, the COVID cases are rising again around the world and in our country. Montgomery County is experiencing that rise. The county continues to update their guidelines for religious organizations and the leadership of Oakdale continues to prayerfully seek God’s wisdom on how to be faithful during this season. Your family’s health and safety are our top priority concern at this time. Given the realities of increasing COVID cases, and more strict county guidelines, we have decided to suspend inside, in-person, worship starting this Sunday November 1st through at least the month of November. This was a difficult and, in some ways, frustrating decision. Difficult because we understand that we all need to stay connected and yet stay safe. Frustrating because I think we all just want COVID to be done.
However, we have learned that the Church cannot be slowed or closed by a pandemic. COVID has caused us to learn new ways to connect. We are still connecting, still growing, still worshipping and we will never stop. We will continue to broadcast our worship services each Sunday at 9am and 11am. Our Sunday morning worship leaders will begin to lead worship alone, since even having the worship team in the church unmasked and singing poses a danger.
We will continue to meet outside for worship each Sunday evening. We have moved the parking lot prayer and praise to 4:00pm due to the time change and will continue until the weather forces us to stop. Thank you for understanding our desire to keep everyone safe as well as to continue to be a source of hope and encouragement for you and for the world as we all pray our way through this season. I believe Oakdale is growing in strength through this season, and I am confident that who we are becoming is pleasing to our Heavenly Father. Thank you again for being a part of the family and staying on this journey together.
Your Brother in Christ,
Kevin