St. Andrew's Outdoor Worship, July 12, 2020
9:00 a.m
Pastor Kari Lee
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, Sully, Iowa
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Newton, Iowa
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Worshiping together safely during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The following guidelines apply to outdoor worship at St Andrew’s Lutheran. The St Andrews council warmly invites members of Holy Trinity to attend. Service begins at 9:00 a.m. Currently, outdoor worship has been scheduled for all Sundays in July, weather and health permitting. Households will maintain a 6’ distance from other households. To assist in this,spaces will be marked at 10’ intervals on the lawn. Center your household at one of the visible markers. Please bring your own lawn chairs and/or blankets to sit on the lawn to minimize the need for set-up, take-down, and cleaning of church chairs. Folding chairs will be available for those who do not bring lawn chairs. Limited seating will be available on the church benches. Please reserve the parking spots on the North side of the lot for those who have balance concerns or are unable to wear a mask. All worshipers over age 2 are strongly encouraged to wear a mask for the duration of the service. A limited number of masks will be available for those who do not bring their own. To maintain social distancing, there will be no movement during worship. The Peace will be shared by waving at your neighbors. We will not have Communion at these services until we can determine a safe way to do so. Because singing together dramatically increases the risk of spreading airborne virus particles, there will be no singing at these services. There will be no fellowship time after worship. The building will remain closed except for bathroom use. Bathrooms will be limited to the single-user restrooms, and no line will form inside the building. Anyone who enters the building for any reason will sign in/out in case contact tracing is later needed for a confirmed infection. It is our hope to have the entire service streamed live on our Facebook page for those who choose not to attend in-person services. The service will be https://www.facebook.com/standluth/. For those who are not ready to risk in person worship, worship will be on the Holy Trinity youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdNE6r1MWexEpqj8D48yPFA Anyone who has experienced a fever, cough, or sore throat in the previous week is asked to worship from home. If it is raining half an hour before the service, worship will be livestreamed online only. On hot mornings the service will be abbreviated. |
A Sneak Preview of Outdoor Worship WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
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IMPORTANT UPDATE ON WORSHIP SERVICE AT ST. ANDREW'S
OUTDOOR WORSHIP ON JULY 12TH; GUIDELINES BELOW
St. Andrew’s council has decided to plan for outdoor worship beginning on July 12th. The primary focus continues to be on safety. So, before we get into specifics let me preface this;
*Outdoor services, while safer than indoor services, still holds unknown risks.* We are asking you to use your own discretion to determining if you will attend. If you are sick, or feel sick, we are asking you to stay home. If you know or think you have been exposed to COVID, please stay home. If you fall in the at-risk category due to age or health conditions please be advised of the risks before attending any sort of in person gathering. If you are healthy and young, please know that while the risks are statistically less likely for you, there are young and healthy individuals who are encountering life altering deprecations from catching COVID. We do not share this to scare you. Only to respectfully note that there is no way we can ensure risk free services. And that is why we have built the following boundaries and regulations around outdoor in-person services at this time.
*Online services will continue to be offered for those who will not be meeting in person.* There is no shame is worshiping from home, even if you fall in the less at risk category. And you will not encounter any judgment for desiring to meet in person for worship. Worshiping at home with your bulletin and hymnal or online still counts as real authenticworship, even if it’s not your preferred means of worship. Worshiping in person comes with some trade offs to allow us to be good neighbors and stewards of each other.
What can you expect if you do attend outdoor service on the 12th:
1. It will not feel like normal worship. It will be simple and life giving, but it will not feel“normal”.
4. Other churches are gathering in their sanctuaries, singing and having communion outdoors. Why can’t we?
One of the most painful things about this time is that there is still so much unknown. Health professionals are still learning about the spread of this disease. The record highs in places like Florida, Texas and Arizona this past week is proof that heat and humidity do not kill this virus. But being outside and properly distanced offers some mitigation. Even if a vaccine is identified by October or September, it will still need to go through more observed trials and then will take 6 months for the vaccine to be widely circulated enough for us to be able to worship in person with fewer precautions. We will be at this for a long time. If you are tired and feed up with this pandemic season keep doing that grief work and lamenting. We have a long way yet to go. I take comfort that Moses was called to do great things for the sake of God’speople and his reward was to wander in the desert for 40 years and never enter the land of Canaan. While this is painful, it’s in our faith tradition to endure great hardships for the sake of God’s never-ending promise of liberation and reconciliation. This too shall pass, but it hasn’tpassed yet.
As your pastor I am here for the long term with you all. This time of separation continues to heightens our anxieties of what our congregations are hoping to be and to accomplish. My commitment as your called rostered minister has not wavered. We will all learn how to pivot and remain a church during this time. Please continue to reach out and share your concerns, frustration, or hopes. You are not alone. God continues to be good a faithful. Cling to the promise of Hope in Christ, for it will not fail you ever.
Humbly, Pastor Kari
*Outdoor services, while safer than indoor services, still holds unknown risks.* We are asking you to use your own discretion to determining if you will attend. If you are sick, or feel sick, we are asking you to stay home. If you know or think you have been exposed to COVID, please stay home. If you fall in the at-risk category due to age or health conditions please be advised of the risks before attending any sort of in person gathering. If you are healthy and young, please know that while the risks are statistically less likely for you, there are young and healthy individuals who are encountering life altering deprecations from catching COVID. We do not share this to scare you. Only to respectfully note that there is no way we can ensure risk free services. And that is why we have built the following boundaries and regulations around outdoor in-person services at this time.
*Online services will continue to be offered for those who will not be meeting in person.* There is no shame is worshiping from home, even if you fall in the less at risk category. And you will not encounter any judgment for desiring to meet in person for worship. Worshiping at home with your bulletin and hymnal or online still counts as real authenticworship, even if it’s not your preferred means of worship. Worshiping in person comes with some trade offs to allow us to be good neighbors and stewards of each other.
What can you expect if you do attend outdoor service on the 12th:
1. It will not feel like normal worship. It will be simple and life giving, but it will not feel“normal”.
- There will be no communion, no singing (humming is ok), no passing of the peace, or fellowship time afterwards.
- You will be asked to sit 6 feet apart from others that are not in your immediate household. (There will be markers set out to help people identify appropriate distancing.)
- This will not feel natural to you. You will have to physically restrain your-self from touching or standing close to those you love. Please be mindful while that is hard on everyone who loves that in person contact, it’s particularly hard for the children who will attend. We must model good practices but also compensate for that in different ways. Big waves and calm demeanors are some great ways to still be welcoming.
- Numbers could be small. (Which is sad but safer.) Numbers could be high (In which case the sound and experience quality might be lacking so extra grace required.)
- Just be prepared with humble hearts for some awkward but spirit filled experiences.
- A chair for sitting, a printed copy of the bulletin, and your green hymnals. If you
don’t have a green hymnal yet one will be provided for you to keep during the
duration of this pandemic. - Masks are not required, but strongly, strongly advised. These are not political statements. While they may not be comfortable, I learned years ago from a dear friend who lives with Cystic Fibrosis, masks protect others from what viruses you are caring. They are not a sign that you are afraid. It’s a gracious sign of respect for those whom you might unintentionally infect. I, as your pastor, will be wearing a mask to service. If I take it off to preach, I will be more the 6 feet away from all people and it will go back on immediately after. I could be a carrier with not symptoms and as the one speaking at this type of service it’s my responsibility torespect you enough to wear a mask. If you do not have a mask please let me know so we can get one to you, or have extras available.
Some of you may have some questions based on what I have just shared.
4. Other churches are gathering in their sanctuaries, singing and having communion outdoors. Why can’t we?
- Now more than ever, communal expressions of faith are encountering a time of compromises and risk assessment. Congregations that are meeting inside are taking greater risks than I, your synod, and this council are willing to make. I as your pastor, with the support of this council, am committed to finding creative life-giving worships solutions with less risk. To be clear, no in person worship is without risk. Online, or personal at home worship is the safest even if it is very different.
- I am unwilling to gamble with your safety and health at the risk level that indoor worship presents. I do not wish to encounter a marathon of funerals, nor lead us into a situation where we could be the cause of an outbreak that could lead to legal ramifications from the state or county. (Even with the permission of any state, if your congregation is the place of an outbreak you can be on the receiving end of legal proceedings.) Please be praying for congregations that are meeting in person and indoors during this time. It’s risky. Life giving I am sure, but risky for the physicalhealth of it members and the mental health of it’s leaders. You may think that I (and the health leaders that advise me) are over reacting. I can live with that if it means I can keep living and worshiping with you for years to come.
One of the most painful things about this time is that there is still so much unknown. Health professionals are still learning about the spread of this disease. The record highs in places like Florida, Texas and Arizona this past week is proof that heat and humidity do not kill this virus. But being outside and properly distanced offers some mitigation. Even if a vaccine is identified by October or September, it will still need to go through more observed trials and then will take 6 months for the vaccine to be widely circulated enough for us to be able to worship in person with fewer precautions. We will be at this for a long time. If you are tired and feed up with this pandemic season keep doing that grief work and lamenting. We have a long way yet to go. I take comfort that Moses was called to do great things for the sake of God’speople and his reward was to wander in the desert for 40 years and never enter the land of Canaan. While this is painful, it’s in our faith tradition to endure great hardships for the sake of God’s never-ending promise of liberation and reconciliation. This too shall pass, but it hasn’tpassed yet.
As your pastor I am here for the long term with you all. This time of separation continues to heightens our anxieties of what our congregations are hoping to be and to accomplish. My commitment as your called rostered minister has not wavered. We will all learn how to pivot and remain a church during this time. Please continue to reach out and share your concerns, frustration, or hopes. You are not alone. God continues to be good a faithful. Cling to the promise of Hope in Christ, for it will not fail you ever.
Humbly, Pastor Kari
WE LOVE TO TELL THE STORY
To be Rescheduled
St. Andrew's 150th Anniversary Celebration
1870-2020
Bird's-Eye View of St. Andrew's
Thank you, Julie and Ben Safrafrowich, for this unique view of St. Andrew's.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW! We'd love for you to join us!
Contact Norene Paulson at 641-527-2284 if you or someone you know is in need of prays. All requests from members and non-members are welcomed.
Thank you for taking time to visit our website. We hope that after getting to know a little about us, you'll come and visit. Everyone who worships here is considered family. Whether a first-time visitor or a returning member, you are WELCOMED! We look forward to sharing worship with you soon.
To gather with God's people in united adoration of the Father is as necessary to the Christian life as prayer.
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If you are interested in finding a church home or worshipping more regularly, St. Andrew's family welcomes the opportunity to help you strengthen your spiritual relationship with God. Join us on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Click on the above tabs to learn more about us. We'd love to see you here.
"Small but Mighty"
St. Andrew's is a member of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). First established in 1870, St. Andrew's has been ministering to generations of area families for over 144 years. Although a small, rural church, we are "Mighty in Mission." Just as Martin Luther wrote, "Faith is a living, creative, active, powerful thing," so is St. Andrew's a living, creative, active, powerful faith family. |
