First Lutheran Church Covid-19 Plan

This letter was emailed March 13, 2020 and will be posted to all members of First Lutheran Church.

March 12, 2020

Dear People of First Lutheran Church,

After prayerful discussion, the Church Council wants to be proactive in our efforts to address the Covid-19 virus pandemic.  As people of faith, we are called to be stewards of one another’s health and care for the Body of Christ.  God also tells us over and over in scripture, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”

With that in mind and our ministry with Luther Park Assisted Living and Memory Care, the Council has voted to do the following for 30 days:

• All congregational and community group activities - except for worship - will be suspended.  Calls will be made to all coordinators of regularly scheduled weekly and monthly events. This includes Sunday school, Confirmation, quilting groups, yoga, and all community groups.
• Sunday worship at 8:15 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. will continue with the following modifications.
  • We will not serve communion.
  • No handshaking or close contact during the Passing of the Peace & after services.
  • Offering plates will be placed toward the front and back of the congregation.
  • Water in the baptismal bowls will be emptied.
  • Fellowship hour will not serve food.  We will use disposable cups for drinks.
• Wednesday Lenten Activities
  • The Soup Suppers have been canceled.
  • Evening Prayer will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
    

In addition to these scheduling changes, we will increase the regularity of cleaning all frequently used surfaces with recommended disinfectants.  Online worship resources will be offered.  Sermons are already posted on our website: www.firstlutheransandpoint.org (Praising God - Sermons - 2019/20).  The photos and reflection questions for each Gospel reading is available too (Nurturing Faith - Lenten/Holy Week - 2020).  We are looking into streaming or Facebook live sharing the worship, so those who want or need to stay home can participate.

Luther Park has enacted precautions as well.  The door between the buildings has been closed.  Residents may access First Lutheran this way for worship, but everyone else should avoid entering Luther Park unless you are family or close friends.  Signs are up and letters sent to residents and their family describing entry requirements.
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What else can you do?

• Wash your hands before and after worship.
• Stay home if you have respiratory illness symptoms, been exposed to someone with respiratory illness and/or have traveled to regions of the country where confirmed Covid-19 cases have been recorded.  This self-regulation of distancing for 10 days really does make a difference in slowing or stopping the spread of all diseases.
• Call and check in on each other, send cards of encouragement, help others who don’t have or don’t know how to access our online resources for worship and faith formation.
• Pray for those who are sick, hospitals, healthcare workers, assisted living facilities, and leaders as they seek to do the next right thing for their local communities.  Also, our support groups: AA, NA, and FA.  We do not take lightly the impact this suspension of building use means for their sobriety.  Thanks to AA, the meeting room and door knobs along that corridor have been cleaned daily, for over a week.
• Let the church office know if you are in need of anything, have prayer concerns or would like to help those who are more susceptible to Covid-19.
• Use online giving resources.  You can text 208-260-5061.  Give online with credit/debit card or ACH transfer at https://firstlutheransandpoint.breezechms.com/give/online.  We use a secure processor, Stripe.
• Remember who you are.  You are a child of God.  A member of the Body of Christ.  One poet described this connection as beautiful and terrifying.  While we may temporarily distance ourselves physically, may we all remember the strength we have together, branches of the vine, who is Jesus Christ our source of life and salvation.

We will revisit all of this on a regular basis and update you with changes.  In thirty days, we pray these measures will allow us to embrace Easter and the new life God promises to give to all, once the stone is rolled away.

Peace to You in Christ,

First Lutheran Church Council, 
​Pastors Lori Morton, and Steve Neuder