An Update from Ellen Steinmetz

As summer now unfolds and I have departed for the north woods of Minnesota, it seemed like a great idea to ask the staff to help with writing the weekly piece for the Wave. Today begins that sharing and I am confident you will enjoy hearing from different members of our ministerial team as they share their particular perspectives about our life together in the Neighborhood Church family.

With Gratitude,

Rev. Dr. David D. Young

Difficult though it has been, thanks be to God!

Through our different paths of faith we have traveled this journey through a pandemic, which, pray God, is coming to a close.

At least through Zoom we could 'attend' church at a time convenient to ourselves this past year.

Then we started outside services, and now have moved inside. It definitely is different from the point of view of someone who loves to sing ,to humming gently whilst wearing a mask.

For me, singing is a method of praying, but it is certainly worth the effort praying or humming with one another - our church family - in person.

Even though I am a technological dinosaur, electronic communication has been such a help this past year. Through Zoom I have been able to see - and hear - some of our wonderful young parishioners during our Sunday 'Wee Sing Bible Songs' zooms. There have been bi-weekly Zoom meetings with other staff from the church. And seeing members of the Covenant Choir about every two weeks on Zoom has been an alternative to gathering 'live'. With David Sateren's learning the convoluted ways of putting together a virtual choir, we have been able to ultimately sing with one another for some services - also Zoom.

My husband and I have been blessed with our first grandchild - Millie Grace Magill - born April 2020. Thankfully she and her parents live in Australia where Covid has been mild. One of the reasons that Australia has avoided the devastation of Covid in the US and other countries is that Australia does not allow 'foreigners' in. Now they predict middle of 2022 their 'welcoming' US travelers. So our third set of tickets are yet again being put on hold... However, through Facetime and Zoom we have witnessed some of Millie's progress in growing!

So - thank you, God, for blessing us with our church family, immediate family, AND technology! And, thank you for easing restrictions so that we can actually see one another!

Blessings on you all -

Ellen Steinmetz
Children’s Choir Director

This article appeared in the Wave on June 2, 2021