Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In this post:
Important Worship Update
Worship and Education for Sunday, April 25
News Update
IMPORTANT WORSHIP UPDATE
At their April meeting this past Monday, Messiah's Church Council ratified a change to our current Guidelines for In-Person Worship brought forward by the Board of Elders. This change provides an exemption to our face coverings requirement for those who are medically unable to tolerate a face mask. The Council also emphasized continued attention to social distancing throughout our time together at worship services.
The revised section of the Guidelines can be found just below; changes are emphasized in italics. Click here for the complete revised document.
Precautions
The following precautions are currently in place for in-person worship:
Please exercise personal discernment when it comes to your health. If you are feeling sick, waiting for COVID-19 test results, in recommended quarantine or isolation from COVID-19 exposure, in a high-risk category, or not comfortable or ready to attend in person, please stay home. Services will continue to be livestreamed as noted above.
You will be welcomed in person at the sanctuary door as you enter. All inner doors will be kept open.
To minimize potential spread of COVID-19 in this public setting, wearing of face coverings (fabric masks) are required at all services.
Those who are not medically able to tolerate a face mask are exempt from this requirement. We ask those who are medically exempt to wear a face covering to and from their seat in worship. (If you are not medically able to tolerate a face mask, face shields are an acceptable alternative.)
If you forget a face mask or don’t have one, please don’t let this keep you from attending; we will gladly provide you with one.
Please maintain minimum 6-foot social distancing before, during and after services.
To assure social distancing during worship, we strongly encourage advance RSVPs for all services. Sign-up options are available by phone, email and Internet. 26 seating spots for families or individuals are available in the nave of the sanctuary for each service. Additional seating space is available in the choir area and the narthex. Generally, more seating is available for the 8:30 am service than at 11 am.
Worshipers will sit on the opposite ends of alternate pews. Designated seating will be clearly marked for “8:30 (1st service)” or “11:00 (2nd service)”; other pew entrances will be roped off to assure social distancing.
Following announcements, dismissal by families will begin from the back of the church. Please continue to be mindful of social distancing as you greet others and exit. When weather permits, we encourage you to greet others outdoors!
Requirements for wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing continue to be in place for gatherings outside of worship, and for other building use. Please be mindful of how, in this time of continued uncertainty, we can continue to love one another, bearing each other's burdens as Christ bore ours, looking to others' interests as well as to our own. His Holy Spirit will give us the will and the ability to do so, whatever the difficulty!
WORSHIP AND EDUCATION FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 25
The Divine Service for Sunday, April 25th will be led by Pastor Dieter Haupt; there will be two identical services at 8:30 and 11 am. The 11 am service will also be livestreamed at:
The home page of our website www.messiahgr.org
Our Facebook page www.facebook.com/messiahgr.
Please RSVP by calling or emailing the church office (616-363-2553, goodlans@messiahgr.org) or by clicking here to sign up.
Our Sunday education hour also continues on April 25th at 9:45 am with:
Sunday School for children in preschool through grade 2 in the downstairs classroom; Children will continue to learn how God Protects His People in Egypt and the Exodus.
The Sunday morning LifeLight class, The Time Between the Testaments, held in the upstairs classroom.
Adult Bible Class in the sanctuary, continuing our trek through the book of 1 John, the source of this Easter season's Epistle lessons. The focus for this week's lesson is "Love One Another." Click here to read 1 John 3:11-24; click here for a study guide. This study will also be livestreamed on YouTube, the home page of our website and our Facebook page.
NEWS UPDATE
Pastoral Call Update
At the April Council meeting, Pastor Peterson informed us that the LCMS Council of Presidents will finalize the assignments of seminary candidates at their next meeting on Saturday, April 24th. Very soon after that meeting, we should learn whether Messiah will receive a seminary candidate and (if so) what Call Day service we should pay attention to!
In-person attendance at Call Day services is limited due to the pandemic; both seminaries will livestream these services. As soon as we know more, we will update you with information, including an online link to watch the appropriate Call Day service. The Call Committee will also host a live viewing of the appropriate Call Day service in our fellowship hall. Again, watch for more details as soon as we know them!
This coming Sunday, our readings and hymns focus on Jesus as our Good Shepherd, who knows His sheep and laid down His life for them. As we rejoice in His care, may we fear no evil, even in the valley of the shadow of death. Out of the abundant life He gives us, may we love one another as He has loved us, and join Him in bringing others to His fold!
Yours in Him,
Rick Krueger, Parish Assistant
