ZOOM picture of the Council meeting this week
Today we enter our seventh week of ministry in the context of social distancing. Wow! Has it been that long? Yup. Sadly, some days it feels like it has been seven times seventy!
Earlier this week, I had an opportunity to ZOOM with both the full staff and the Council of St. James. We talked about our ongoing need to keep social distance in our ministry. I shared with both groups that in many ways the first phase of St. James's response to COVID-19 has come to a close. Quickly, we adapted to the crises by shifting ministry from in-person to connecting through technologies (online, phone, and mail.) Through applying creativity and a strong desire to connect with others, we shared God's love even as we were physically apart. Stage two involves maintaining that ministry until we can safely return to in-person ministry.
Before we go into the next phase of our COVID-19 response, I want to take a moment and share my appreciation for the efforts of our ministry team of staff, volunteers, and congregational leaders that worked together. We spent many hours behind computer screens and cameras to go online. Everyone had to learn new skills and redeploy abilities. We connected on the phone, through social media, multiple mailings, and ZOOM. Again, I have a deep appreciation for each person. Each of you has been a blessing to our community of faith and struggle. Thank you!
At the risk of missing someone, I want to name names because it is essential to see that our ministry over these past seven weeks has truly been a team effort.
Special thanks need to go to Pastor Nancy Connor, Kelvin Miller, Jan Pofahl, Jeff Andrews, Mark and Noah Lichtenberger, Matt Schaefer, Ainsley Fuerst, and Kate Andrews for the weeks of multiple online worship opportunities. What a joy to also have Kjersten Dysthe, Kari and Jeff Owens also provide music for online worship. Thanks go to our Pastoral Care Team for staying in weekly contact with over sixty people - Pastor Nancy Connor, Birdie Olson, Greta Soleim, Kari Owens, and Karen Krafka. Thanks go to Patty Seewald for providing weekly Sunday School online, to Siana Adrian for weekly confirmation online, and to Katie Lichtenberger and Casey Fuerst for weekly SPARK (youth) online. I am grateful for the thirteen FAITH TEAM leaders who are meeting weekly with over sixty adults in small pray/chat groups. They are Ben Barnard, Pat Byrne, Gary DeKrey, Sylvia Dobrovolny, Starlett Drader, Ainsley Fuerst, Konrad Gastony, Jon Heimer, Sam Hosszu, Barb Kleinfeldt, Megan Kuneli, Joann LeClair, and Deb Mueller.
St. James is blessed to have Doreen Evans. Not only is she overseeing our financial situation and managing operations, but she has also coordinated mask-making efforts, arranged for the distribution of 1440 lunches from Chipotle for medical workers, and worked on our application for federal payroll assistance. I am also grateful for Kjirsten Pearson, who has supported our multiple communication efforts, including mailings, our website, emails, and social media. It was a blessing to have Casey Fuerst design initial logos and postings.
As you see, this is a big list of names. Many hands are doing Christ's work during this pandemic- most of them are behind the scenes. Please join me in raising a prayer of thanks for each of them.
Pray also that God might strengthen as we enter stage two of living with this virus. Now we face the challenge of sustaining our efforts for an undetermined length of time. According to the wisdom of medical professionals, we will need to remain diligent in our social distancing, lest infections flare-up. Our sprint has turned into a marathon. It will be some time until it is safe to return to in-person ministry.
I am confident by the grace of God that we will continue to connect with God, with each other, and with our neighbors. Thank you for your prayers, words of encouragement, and continued support. I am also thankful for you and for this ministry that we share.
In Christ's Light,
Pastor Walt