Church encourages faithful to attend services

In 2017, we left our home in Oklahoma searching for a place to build a church. Life in an RV for a year was challenging for two adults, three youngsters and two dogs. Knowing that New England had the largest percentage of non-churchgoers, we headed east, relying entirely on the Lord to guide our way.

The year 2018 found my family settling in Wethersfield as I am a pastor for CenterPoint Community Church, a small congregation with a meeting place on the Silas Deane Highway. “Community” is not just a part of our name. We truly believe in serving our communities. Whether it be sponsoring blood drives, gathering donations for the food pantry or working at the annual town events, CenterPoint welcomes the chance to serve wherever the Lord plants us.

As senior members of our small church relocated to more affordable states, the congregation began to dwindle. By late 2019, we had decided it was time to make a move. Before another home could be found, the Lord presented us with another challenge: COVID-19 struck, making it impossible to find a new location. We were homeless.

During the warm summer months, CPCC met on the lawn outside Soundbridge School in Wethersfield. With the onset of a cool autumn and a colder winter, the search began again for an indoor location to hold Sunday service.

Through negotiations with First Congregational Church in Cromwell, Pastor Doug van Veldhuisen made his church available to CPCC on Sunday afternoons. First Congregational Church holds Sunday service at 9:30 a.m. Beginning Nov. 1, we will be holding it at 12:30 p.m.

Appropriately enough, my message series for the month of November is “sanctuary.” Our church is a true sanctuary, a place of safety for all. We are eager to meet with the folks in Cromwell and open our arms to everyone.

First Congregational Church is located at 355 Main St., Cromwell. Following CDC and state regulations, everyone is required to wear a mask. Temperatures will be taken at the door. There are plenty of seats available, but capacity does have a cap.

If you haven’t been to church in a while, or maybe not at all, please come visit us starting Nov. 15. We are here to help you grow your faith. No need to dress up, the Lord doesn’t care what you wear. He just wants to see you again.

The Rev. Philip Barnes, CenterPoint Community Church, Wethersfield