Monthly hybrid worship & potluck

It was great to have hybrid worship on August 6! The space turned out to be completely suitable, and the mix of people in person and on Zoom was very grounding.

In-person participation is not better or more valid than Zoom. However, we know that many of us suffer from “Zoom fatigue” or have other reasons to prefer gathering in person. We hope that our return to this option will be welcome news.

At Business Meeting afterwards, we decided that for now, moving forward, we will do hybrid worship on a monthly basis, and combine it with a potluck meal after close of worship. (Thank you to the Friend who noted that Meeting for Worship would be followed by Meeting for Worship with Attention to Potluck!)

The space does have a small refrigerator and means of heating things up, so food safety and quality should not be a problem.

Clear Hearts requires COVID-19 vaccination for in-person Clear Hearts events, as well as masking when indoors, except if actively eating or drinking.

Opening windows and doors provides good ventilation, plus, there is an outside patio for those more comfortable with eating outdoors. Unfortunately, the patio is two steps down from the main space. We can certainly assist folks down and up those stairs, but the patio is not ADA accessible, unlike the rest of the space.

We also have a lot of flexibility in how to arrange tables and chairs inside, to create distance. Basically, we want to do everything we can to remove barriers for people who have understandable health concerns, since it is not possible to eat while remaining masked.

These second Sundays of the month have been scheduled:

September 10, 2023

October 8, 2023

November 12, 2023

December 10, 2023

January 14, 2024

If anything changes, including adding more Sundays for hybrid Meeting for Worship, we will of course let you know!

The in-person address is:

3703 César E. Chávez Blvd (just south of Powell)

Portland, OR 97202

Here is a description of the space:

“Newly remodeled commercial studio space…Amenities include a kitchenette with small refrigerator, kitchenette sink, coffee maker, hot water kettle and small convection oven…Lots of natural light through the many windows. Full HVAC with air filtration system that filters bacteria and viruses…Clean, freshly remodeled bathroom. Located near bus lines. Free off-street parking with convenient free street parking nearby. Small outdoor areas to bring chairs out to.”

It is ADA accessible.

Here is a neighborhood map:

And here is a “big picture” map:

The #75 bus stops nearby on Cesar Chavez Blvd, and the #9 bus stops nearby on Powell Blvd.

The outside looks like this, for a visual reference:

As a reminder: We do require COVID-19 vaccination for in-person Clear Hearts events, as well as masking when indoors, except if actively eating or drinking.