Friends in Christ,
On March 30th the board of elders met again to discuss how the church would proceed with services, as we planned to do when we met back on the 17th. At this meeting we decided to extend our cancelation of services and activities through April 24th. The board of elders plans on meeting again on April 21st to evaluate our situation and needs going forward.
Since this extended date means we will not be conducting regular services during Holy Week and Easter, the board considered how we might meet the needs of our congregation while also being cognizant of individual and community safety. Working within the constraints set forth by the Missouri governor and DHSS of a 10 person group, and following the guidelines given by the president of the Missouri District of the LCMS, we have decided to make communion available to individuals or small family groups. Our plan is to schedule 15min. time slots (to avoid overlap) on Thursday April 9 th. These short services would be held outside and every effort will be made to minimize contact and maintain distance. If you would like to participate, call the church office to set up a time. More information will be available as the date gets closer.
For Easter, we have entered into discussions with the 66 Drive-in Theater about using their venue for an Easter service that would be attended exclusively from one’s vehicle. As of this writing we are scheduled for a service from 1-2pm on Easter. More information will also be available about this service as details are worked out and the time gets closer.
I would like to say thank you to all of you for being patient and understanding as we try to navigate these times here at church. We are trying to serve you all as best we can while also keeping everyone safe. To that point, if you are uncomfortable taking part in any of the church’s various activities over the next few months, I do not want you to feel obligated to come. If you do not come to take communion you still have salvation, your sins are still forgiven. Communion and even meeting together are gifts of God that not all Christians over the years have been as blessed as we have been to receive with regularity. And yet, they all still had Christ’s promise. They all received salvation. This world may change but what Jesus has done for us will never change.
Speaking of change, do keep an eye on our Facebook, website and your inbox. Many of the plans I laid out above could change significantly in the next two weeks. We will do our best to get information out as soon as possible. It would also be nice if you shared this info with people you know would not otherwise receive it. Thank you, and do not hesitate to let us at church know if there is a way that we can better serve you or your neighbor.
In Christ,
Pastor Mehl