168 Christmas Service Update

Dear 168,

It is with much disappointment that I need to inform you that our Christmas service (Dec. 23, 2021 @7pm) has been moved to a fully (100%) virtual platform i.e., ZOOM.  This means that 168 will not have an in-person Christmas service this year.

Why did we move to a fully virtual platform?

·        Within the 168 family (and extended family) there have been several cases of covid exposure in the last few days. Although many are getting tested, the inconsistent detection variables allot for an increased risk for exposure at our Christmas Eve gathering.  

·        During this holiday season, many people will be traveling following our gathering. Meeting virtually mitigates the spread of COVID to the most vulnerable in those settings. If December 23 was a “random Sunday” in January, we may not need to take extra precautions, as a global holiday season/family gatherings would not be planned.

·        Since November 1, 2021 Illinois has seen over a 5x jump in confirmed cases from 2,780 daily confirmed cases to 16,581 daily confirmed cases on December 22, 2021 (which is an Illinois record since the start of the pandemic).

·        The Omicron variant is known to be 4-8x more transmissible than Delta (even if Omicron is less severe).

Will 168 still gather virtually?

Yes.  

Believe it or not, multiple teams have been meeting for the past few months to plan out 168’s Christmas service. Many of those elements will still be intact tomorrow as we gather via ZOOM!

+candlelight
+dramatic reading
+creative elements
+opportunities for engagement
+encouraging Christmas message

What time will we be gathering on ZOOM and where is the link?

We will gather at our normal time of 7PM. To prevent ZOOM fatigue, we will move through elements quickly and end before the hour.

The ZOOM link can be found at the bottom of this page or here.

When is our next in-person service?

January 2nd. We are planning on meeting at our normal location at 2PM.

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If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Carl or me.  

I am so proud of this church and team. Your heart’s desire to serve the most vulnerable inspires me.

See you on December 23 @7pm!

John Jou
168 Pastor