Members and Friends of Immanuel
In consultation with our executive council we have decided to hold worship services this Sunday as well as Sunday School and Adult Bible Study.
Serious thought and consideration has been given to this decision and the decision was not made lightly, especially in respect to our county health board’s request to limit gatherings over 25 people. While we will still have our 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. worship services we do so with the following important qualifications as laid out by our congregational chairman, John Sprinkle, who is also one of the managers at Kishwaukee Hospital’s laboratory, and an expert on such matters:
We should be able to continue worship but a few modifications may need to take place.
- Encourage those that feel unwell and those at risk populations to stay away;
- Make sure our contact list are detailed, meaning making sure individuals are filling out the contact form;
- Limit physical contact
1) No common cup for communion
2) No handshaking at end of service.
Sunday school will be doing a craft project that focuses on God’s love while addressing our need for human contact. I think it will be an awesome project and message!
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. Like so many other situations, this unprecedented event offers us an opportunity not only serve the Lord and our fellow humans, but also to point to His peace and comfort in unsettling times. I feel good that it does not seem like we are panicking yet and are taking seriously the dangers to our community, as well as our calling to support those in authority (4th commandment) and assist them in their calling.
If you choose not to attend worship on Sunday remember that you can listen to the service on the radio at 10:30 am on WLBK 1360AM. Know also that you are still very much part of God’s family and our Church family even if you are not sitting in the pews during this time. I also am happy to serve you should you have any special spiritual needs during this time.
I’ve talked it over with Krista and she will be staying home with Sadie and Carter this Sunday as they both are type 1 diabetics and could face an increased health risk. We are hoping as a family to role model a healthy response to this situation.
As things continue to evolve we’ll keep you posted about our plans for Wednesday worship and future Sundays.
We are suspending Lenten dinners until further notice and will consider the possibilities of rescheduling them at a later date.
Little Lambs Preschool will be closed through March 27, 2020. (March 23-27 was previously scheduled as Spring Break.) During the week Little Lambs is closed our staff members will be in the building performing deep cleaning and disinfecting of all preschool and shared communal areas. The Used Book Sale will be extended through a date yet to be determined.
The office will be open Monday – Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Please call if you have questions, concerns or needs. We will continue to accept registrations for Little Lambs Preschool for the 2020 – 2021 school year, which were scheduled to open to the community of Monday, March 16, 2020.
Thank you all for the many and various ways you serve the Lord through His Church.
This is a time of opportunity just as much as it is a time of challenge!
Embrace the opportunities! I love and am proud of you all.
