Message from the Calvary Reopening Task Force

September 10, 2020

Message from the Calvary Reopening Task Force

At the direction of the Session, the Reopening Task Force has been hard at work over the past few weeks, driving forward on multiple fronts to assess our reopening opportunities.

We are leveraging best practices and learnings from other faith organizations – including local synagogues that are planning the High Holy Days right now. We are also staying in touch with City officials and local faith leaders through the weekly Faith Based Roundtable that was initiated from Interfaith Council discussions. 

We are preparing a survey for the congregation to better understand your perspectives on reopening and your current needs during the pandemic. We anticipate launching the survey in September.  We will follow up with a Town Hall meeting in October to discuss our reopening plans and get further input from the congregation.

With San Francisco’s current classification in the state’s Red Tier, San Francisco is beginning to allow additional activities for Houses of Worship. We are subject to the state’s guidelines with San Francisco’s more stringent guidelines layered on top.

We are thinking of re-opening as a continuum, not an event. As smaller indoor gatherings are allowed, how can we take advantage of that opportunity? Can we leverage the opportunity to meet outdoors in smaller groups right now? How can we continue to leverage and expand our opportunities to connect online or via phone?

We miss being with you! Until we can open our doors for gathering again, we hope you are being nourished by our meaningful online worship services and engagement opportunities. We welcome your input over the next months through the survey, the Town Hall meeting and direct outreach to Session and staff members.

More to Explore

Talking with Kids About the Order of Worship in the Bulletin.

If I visited Calvary for the first time and had not been to a Presbyterian church before, I would want someone to help me understand what I was doing throughout the order of worship. This blog provides an example of how some churches annotate their bulletins so children, youth, and adults can learn more about why we choose to read, sing, pray, and listen at certain times during the worship service. Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church (www.hbpres.net) in Louisville, Kentucky offers a model of how to explain the order of worship. Being transparent about how we worship together is in line with our reformed tradition. We can read and interpret the Bible ourselves, as well as worship and say prayers with our own bodies. Many years ago, a priest would do all of this while the congregation sat or stood. It is important for parents to share with their children that all people have the freedom to contribute to a worship service. By singing, listening, praying, and sharing, we get to know each other and witness each other’s talents and inspiring work. Fellowship and education events are only part of the ways that we form our faith together. Participating in worship is what binds us together each Sunday, so that we can support each other at or outside of church during the week.

Support Trans Kids

Calvary Presbyterian Church continues to support transgender youth and adults. March 2023 is Transgender Awareness Month. We show our continuing support through messages such as, “Trans Lives Matter,” “Believe Trans Kids,” “Support Trans Kids,” and “Protect Trans Kids.” This blog will offer some insight into Presbyterian and San Francisco organizations that actively support and advocate for LGBTQI+ people. I hope that you will take time to read through these resources. There is hope. So many inspired people of all ages are working together for freedom, safety, and love. Now that I am raising two teens I have come to more clearly understand the context and reality that LGBTQI+ youth live in every day. It is crucial to support the growth and development of transgender children and youth who sense that their “gender identity does not correspond with, or sit comfortably with, the sex they were registered at birth.” That is the definition of transgender offered by Twinkl, an education website for children ages preschool to 8th grade. See more definitions at the end of this blog. Transgender children, youth, young adults, adults, and senior adults do not want to be "othered" as they are children of God. We want to believe, support, and protect them, so that they can live safely and freely without fear and shame. When adults do not see or support children or youth as they are, the risks of gender dysphoria and youth suicide increase. God created all of us in Their image. May we have the courage to send out Jesus’ message of love and acceptance to ourselves and all people.

2022 Annual Report