Friends,

According to forecasts we will have between three and thirty inches of snow this coming Sunday, and I am pumped! Snow days are my favorite days. They are like an unexpected holiday that you couldn’t have planned for, and the only thing that must be done is to survive and enjoy the snow. If we do have a significant amount of snow, I plan to spend as much time as possible building snow forts with my boys, because that was my absolute favorite thing to do when I was their age.

With that being said. It will take more than a few feet of snow to compel me to cancel Church. I will fashion snowshoes of metal trash can lids and shlep over here if I must, but Holy Eucharist will be happening this coming Sunday. I want to emphasize that I do not expect the same from any of you. What I do expect is your grace and flexibility when the world does not work the way we expect. On Sunday those who can safely make it to Church, might be in Church. On Sunday, if we have Sunday School teachers and kids in need of Sunday School, then we will have Sunday School. If not, then the parents, kids and I may have a snowball fight at the 9:00 am education hour. If the altar guild does not make it, then I will set up and it will not be as orderly or beautiful, but there will be wine, water and bread ready for our service. We may or may not have music, but it will be joyful regardless. If the AV team can’t make it in, then expect a very amateur production from my cell phone.

I love snow days, especially when they fall on Sundays, because it can remind us that we are all valued, but none of us are invaluable. Regardless of whether you are scheduled to serve on Sunday, I trust you to make a decision that is right for you. If you decide to stay home, then rest assured that our worship will continue and we will be keeping you in prayer and will rejoice when you return when the world thaws!

Here is a list of Frequently Asked Questions for your convenience:

Q: Why are you not canceling Church when it could be dangerous for some to drive?

A: If it unsafe for you to go to Church then don’t! This goes regardless of whether there is snow on the ground or not. It may be dangerous for some, and not for others depending on their circumstance. Unless it is physically impossible for me to get here on Sunday, the Church will be open at 8:00 am.

Q: I am scheduled to do my ministry on Sunday, and I am hesitant to drive. Should I find a replacement or just risk it and go anyways?

A: NEITHER!!!!!! Even if you are even a bit hesitant to drive then don’t. A good litmus test is to consider whether you’d drive to the 7/11 just down the street from the Church to get a wanted, but non-essential item with all the snow on the roads. If you wouldn’t do that, then stay home. If anyone is aghast that people aren’t showing up due to any reason, then they should get over it. Things happen, plans change, and when there is a blizzard, we all need to expect to be flexible.

Q: But I’m scheduled to do altar guild/choir/vestry on duty/ preach/bake cookies and do AV, and I don’t drive in the snow. Shouldn’t we just cancel Church?

A: Read the last answer! We’ll be fine. We love your ministry, but you need to trust that we will be ok. Treat this as a reminder that the way we normally do Church is great, but it does not have to be done that way. This is true every Sunday, if it’s dangerous for you to go to Church, then don’t.

Q: Can we expect the parking lot and sidewalks to be clear?

A: I mean…maybe? We have someone who is going to plow, but if you are contemplating going from your well-plowed lot to ours, then consider the possibility that it won’t matter as it will likely snow while we are in Church, and it is supposed to snow a lot. If you are not envisioning wading through snow to get to Church and excited about it, I would stay home.

Q: I don’t care that I just had a quadruple bypass, and that I haven’t driven in snow since ’84, you can’t keep me from going to Church!

A: First of all, that wasn’t a question. Secondly, we don’t want you to get hurt. You’re right, we can’t stop you for doing anything, but I’d prefer not to visit you in the hospital to say, “told you so.”

I pray that all this bluster isn’t for nought, and that we have an epic snow fall that is disruptive, but safe, and heaps of fun. If you cannot make it to Church, know that we will be praying for you and can’t wait to see you the following Sunday.

-Nick