Dear First Pres,

Remember a few weeks ago during worship, when I said, “If everything goes perfectly we’ll have air conditioning in the Sanctuary on June 14”? Obviously, everything didn’t go perfectly according to plan. Yet, you were champions and made the best of our worship setting in the Fellowship Hall. Thanks for that. That “can do” attitude made a world of difference during these last few weeks.

Unfortunately, the lack of a perfect process has delayed the full operation of our Sanctuary air conditioning system for another week.  Nevertheless, we’ve chosen to continue as scheduled to have one worship service at 9:30 in the Sanctuary.   Here’s why we’ve made this choice.  First, we don’t have enough room in the Fellowship Hall to have everyone together in one service. This last week, we were asking folks to move from the edges to make room for folks. The Fellowship Hall capacity is about 300, and we average far more than that on Summer Sundays.  Second, we’ve already consolidated our resources for a single service schedule. In other words, the bulletin is done, the service is planned, the ushers are scheduled, the worship leaders are practiced, and the Children’s ministry team is ready for one service at 9:30 on Sunday morning. It just didn’t seem to make sense to disrupt all of that so that we might be more comfortable during the service.  So, we will be in the Sanctuary for worship at 9:30 a.m.

Rest assured, we are already hard at work to formulate a plan to make it as cool as possible in the Sanctuary.  “Operation Cool Down” is being finalized as I type this message. Plus, we’ll have an alternative for those who really need to be in a cooler spot.  I know this is an inconvenience, but I don’t believe it is any more than that. If you survived the Sunday I came to preach my “candidating” sermon in August 2012 when it was 113 and we had a packed Sanctuary and the AC went out, I know you can survive this one.

This summer we have the incredible privilege to worship together in one service with the whole church. Don’t let an inconvenience get in the way of that holy opportunity. This Sunday is going to be a powerful service including: testimony, baptism, and a tribe of new members. Plus, there’ll be a surprise on the lawn for dads after the service. 

I can’t wait to see you here.

Blessings,