Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ!
Have you wondered, as I do on a regular basis, when will this pandemic end? As COVID-19 continues to spread in our community, there doesn’t seem to be a finish point anytime soon. There will, of course, but not yet. Sadly, with the communal transmission risk as high as it has been, we must remain vigilant even as we want it all to be over.
Throughout the pandemic, our Phase Regathering Plan has been an invaluable resource allowing us to be consistent and move forwards in our approach to COVID. The Return to In-Person Ministry Team formed our strategy based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and the Minnesota Department of Health. Our diligent and dutiful team has been monitoring local COVID numbers ever since the beginning of their ministry. The phase of our regathering is determined based on statistics from Scott and Dakota counties.
Recently, the numbers have moved in a negative direction. Although we were almost ready to move to Phase 3c, we moved backward two stages to Phase 2. The last time we were at this point was a full year ago. In December 2020, we were ministering largely online with in-person gatherings outside in the parking lot.
Fortunately, the vaccinations became available early this year. I remain grateful for this life-saving medicine that has both held off spread and lessened the deadly effects of infection. In light of the most recent recommendations from CDC and MNDH, which take vaccination into account, St. James Return to In-Person Ministry Team has recently revised our Phase Regathering Plan. For the revised version (click here).
Keeping folks safe when we gather in-person remains a priority at St. James Lutheran. We have been especially concerned for the most vulnerable in our midst. As a result, we are taking the following precautions while we remain at Phase 2:
We are strongly encouraging the wearing of masks for worship. (note: for Funerals, they are required)
Winter coats can be put in the pews in front of you. The narthex coat racks are not being used at this time.
We are using ropes in the pews to establish safe distancing.
We have a maximum capacity of 125 people.
Pre-registration is being required for Christmas Eve, Funerals, and other events where we might exceed our capacity.
You are invited to go directly to and from your pew and asked not to congregate inside narthex before/after worship. Please save your conversations for the parking lot.
Meetings of more than four people are occurring online through ZOOM.
While in Phase 2, we are offering the following:
Four worship options every Sunday - Inside and Parking Lot at 8:00 a.m.; Inside and livestream at 9:30 a.m.
The air exchange system in the sanctuary and fellowship hall cleans the air every half-hour.
Sunday School is online; Confirmation is hybrid.
I am grateful that we are able to still worship both in-person and online and appreciate your ongoing support of the ministry that we share. Now more than ever, it is important for the good news of the life of Jesus and God’s undying love to be proclaimed in what we say and do.
In Christ’s Light,
Pastor Walt