This Sunday's Worship Materials can be found in the "Featured Sermon" below. We meet in person at Harper Park Middle School, and the service is also livestreamed on our YouTube channel.

Pastoral Letter for May 15, 2021

Pastoral Letter for a Faithful Church                                May 15, 2021

promises

Dear friends,

Exactly one year ago today I wrote my 10th Pastoral Letter of the pandemic to announce that we were going to resume in-person worship in June (of 2020).  At that time, I pleaded with everyone to extend grace to each other even as we are, Philippians 1:27b, “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

Well, one year later we’re encouraged by the CDCs recent announcement that vaccinated people can go without wearing masks in most indoor and outdoor environments.  This marks a significant and positive shift in our country since the beginning of this pandemic!  As soon as this announcement was made, many questions surfaced as to how we would respond for Sunday worship.

Then Governor Northam issued executive order #79 removing the mask mandate for most indoor settings.  I said, “most settings.”  Among the several exceptions he made to lifting the mask mandates were both “in congregate settings” and “on school property.”  Which means, at least for now, we will still be required to wear masks at Harper Park on Sunday.  I checked with LCPS and they have not changed their guidelines yet.  We do hope some more changes in the covid restrictions will be forthcoming, especially as some of the capacity and social distancing rules are set to be lifted by the Governor effective May 28th.  So, what that means, for now, is that all the normal rules will be in place at Harper Park for at least the next two Sundays.

Like many of you, I’m looking forward to a return to normalcy, but our approach has been to be thoughtful and prudent, taking the time to carefully assess safety issues such as this.  The Session will continue to consider changes we hope to make and what safety protocols need to continue.  We will be looking at those covid protocols over the next few weeks and hope to have an updated version for the congregation in early to mid-June.

Throughout this pandemic, we have sought to be CDC compliant, adhering to their guidelines in the spirit of love and the common good.  We will continue to take their recommendations seriously, and be prayerful around the decisions we make. 

However, we understand that many of us have grown accustomed to mask wearing. While this has become a politicized and disheartening point of public debate, it will take a while for many people to feel comfortable going without a mask.  This is okay and shouldn’t be a point of contention.  Moreover, there are legitimate reasons for people to continue wearing masks (e.g., they are symptomatic, can’t be vaccinated for health reasons, or just feel safer with one on).  Let’s not forget these things.

Finally we must continue to be led by the Holy Spirit, and, as Ephesians 4:1-3 says, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  The Evil One would love to see additional fractures and division within the Church.  This new CDC information can easily become another way to judge one another and be divisive.  Let’s be vigilant to guard our hearts and our tongues.  Even though it was planned a long time ago, I think it’s providential that our summer sermon series will be on the “One Another” commands of Scripture.

By the way, the graphic at the beginning of this letter isn’t meant to be mocking, but is actually what we’ll be hearing tomorrow as our Pastoral Intern, Timo Sazo, takes the pulpit to bring us God’s Word for the first time at Potomac Hills.  I’m sure he would greatly appreciate your prayers (and your undivided attention).

There’s no doubt that the past year has been one the most painful and disorienting years we’ve ever experienced.  Countless families continue to mourn the losses they’ve had to endure.  Many are still working through financial troubles and emotional trauma. In light of this, we’re called to be gracious to one another, in the bond of Christ’s love. 

We’ll let you know as we are able to make adjustments in how we meet together.  Pray we can do so soon.

Grace & Peace,

Dr. David V. Silvernail, Jr., Senior Pastor

Potomac Hills Presbyterian Church