RESUMING IN-PERSON WORSHIP
In preparation for resuming in-person worship, know your Church Council’s priority is the health and well-being of all. Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10), and “Love your neighbor in the same way I have loved you” (John 17:35).
Your personal health is equally important as your spiritual health. All guidelines are for your safety.
Thus, the 1st guideline pertains to health:
Persons with significant pre-existing health conditions should remain at home.
Persons invulnerable category of 65 and older or those who live with person in this age category should remain at home.
Persons remaining at home are encouraged to use the weekly Service of the Word service and on-line worship services. Council plans initiating live-streaming of services as soon as feasible. Such live-streaming requires the purchase and installation of additional audio/visual equipment.
Pr. Christopher Mietlowski, assistant to Bishop Paul Egensteiner recently coined a new Beatitude that serves us all well in these changing times: “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape."
In preparing for resuming in-person worship, Council faithfully read and reviewed guidelines by the Metropolitan NY Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the NY Annual Conference of Methodist Churches, the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, the NYS Council of Churches and the Wisconsin Council of Churches. They read a lot!
