December 2022
As we approach the 2022 Christmas season at Calvary, I am very excited. I am looking forward to our wonderful Christmas parties along with our wonderful Christmas worship services. This year, “The Bridge Christmas Celebration” and “The Calvary Christmas Choir Cantata” will be on Sunday morning, December 11. Additionally, I am looking forward to our traditional Christmas Eve service and a unique Christmas Day worship experience.
Christmas at Calvary is always special, but this year it will be especially special due to our re-opening of the Worship Center. Soon, our Audio System Upgrade Task Force will be completing its work and both the contemporary and traditional worship services will move into the Worship Center on December 11. Additionally, we will have our newly renovated Worship Center foyer on display. I am very grateful for the hard work that our wonderful task forces have given to these important projects.
We are truly blessed with a beautiful building in which to worship our Lord. Here are a few specific blessings we will benefit from:
· We will have addressed our room acoustics and should eliminate audio problems.
· We will have upgraded sound equipment that will allow us to offer acoustically excellent services in multiple worship styles.
· We will be able to enjoy and maximize one of the most beautiful worship spaces in the city of Little Rock.
· We will have plenty of room for growth for both of Calvary’s worship services.
· We can reopen and utilize our Family Life Center for its intended purpose.
However, I do have one major concern that has led me to an important decision related to our re-opening. My concern is that we will be moving our services into a worship space that has a seating capacity of 400 (not counting the balcony). Both of our worship service attendances are far below our seating capacity. If we spread out our current attendance, the effect will be that both worship services will appear empty. This may not be a problem for long standing Calvary members, but it will be a severe hindrance to our growth potential with guests.
In response, I will be asking our people to sit in the two center sections or up close in the two side sections. And, of course, we will keep our handicap seating options open at the rear of the auditorium. For those who are concerned about close contact due to COVID, we encourage you to sit up close in the side sections as we will have several of the front row pews open. And, the balcony will be an option for those who need more isolation.
In conclusion, I know that this will be an inconvenience to some of you, but I greatly appreciate your support. Our hope is that this will be a fairly short term arrangement once our worship services grow numerically.
Wishing you all a merry Christmas season.
Scott
