Memorial Lutheran Church
Returning to Worship - Phase 2
Working with the Memorial staff, the elders are finalizing plans for another step toward returning to worship. Because we hear a wide variance of opinion with regard (including among Memorial people) to safety in gathering, we will open TWO worship services beginning Sunday, June 21 –
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An 8:00 AM service with more safety restrictions
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An 11:00 AM service with fewer restrictions, approaching a normal gathering.
PLEASE WATCH YOUR EMAILS and CHURCH WEBSITE for more detail in the coming week! We will continue to offer an online worship service. The details of the timing of its weekly offering are dependent on a few technological questions still being addressed.
Again, watch for more information coming soon!
Memorial Lutheran Church
Returning to a worship schedule – Phase 1
Many of you have been asking about when we might be gathering for worship again.
Meeting together as ministry staff and as the Board of Elders, we are excited to talk about returning!
Beginning on Sunday, May 24, we will be opening the doors of Memorial to gather groups for a brief service (Appx. 20 minutes) of Scripture, confession & absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. PLEASE NOTE: We still plan to use our Sunday 9:30 internet service as the main service for the day, but will offer this new opportunity to once again begin sharing the Lord’s Supper, and to work our way back “toward normal.”
We have three teams of elders working with the ministry staff and Altar Guild to assure:
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That we can make your coming and going as safe and smooth as possible while retaining “social distancing” standards.
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That we can offer the Lord’s Supper in a way that maintains sanitary standards.
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That we prepare the gathering area for the next group of worshipers who come together.
Here’s the plan:
We will begin by offering 4 gathering times on Sunday following our online service.
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We will meet at 11 AM, 12 noon, 1:30 PM, and 2:30 PM.
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Services will run for approximately 20 minutes (see notes above).
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Please sign up for a time to be present. We need to limit the number of people we can have in our building, so it’s imperative that we know the numbers of people we are serving. (See instructions below for sign-up.)
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Plenty of hand sanitizer will be available. We request that you sanitize your hands as you enter.
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Volunteers will be present to help direct and guide traffic flow.
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We will sit in various groupings of chairs, according to family size, and according to “social distancing.”
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There will be an offering receptacle available for sharing your gifts.
To serve all involved in the best way possible, we respectfully request the following:
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PLEASE refrain from attending if you are ill – including coughing, sneezing, fever, etc.
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Consider your own and your family’s health concerns, especially if your circumstances leave you more “vulnerable” to catching an illness. Respect your own choices to stay healthy and safe! The time will come soon when you can feel safe to move about freely again.
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For the safety and peace of mind of all our worshipers, please wear a mask for entering and leaving the building. We will give further direction during the service with regard to masks and movement, especially with regard to receiving Holy Communion.
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Bathrooms will be available for emergency use only. Please be prepared!
Again, it’s important to note that our main worship service of the Word will continue to be the online service at 9:30 on Sunday mornings. The brief gatherings described above focus more on our gathering for a service of the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
It’s good to remember that this is phase 1 of our return. We will consider over the coming weeks what further steps might be required for our eventual return to being a full worshiping community. Hopefully the time is sooner than later.
We will be monitoring our sign-ups and determining if/when we need to add more gathering times.
A number of Bible Studies and other groups are currently meeting online. Please check with your leader or the church office for further information.
God’s blessings – We pray you’re doing well! It’s been good to hear from many of you. We’ve been so blessed by all your support and encouragement!
The Memorial Ministry staff and elders
To sign up for a gathering time… CLICK HERE or call the church office at 605-334-7133.