{"id":763,"date":"2020-03-19T12:55:01","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T17:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/firstlutheranri.org\/?p=763"},"modified":"2020-03-19T12:55:01","modified_gmt":"2020-03-19T17:55:01","slug":"going-forward-as-a-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/firstlutheranri.org\/?p=763","title":{"rendered":"Going Forward As A Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Based\non the recommendation of the CDC and the President of the US, as well as the\nconsistent though not unanimous actions of our Christian peers, the pastor and\ncouncil have determined that we will suspend all worship and activities through\nthe end of March, to be reevaluated at that time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know this is a difficult and unprecedented situation for us\nall. Please know that while we do not fear (1 John 4:18) the coronavirus or the\nCOVID-19 disease that it causes, we must exercise\ncaution and take reasonable measures to help ensure the health of our members,\nfriends, families and neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a challenge to us and siblings in faith. Bishop Jeffrey\nClements addressed rostered leaders in the Northern Illinois Synod by email on\nthe  afternoon of March 16 advising that congregations suspend worship\nservices. We as a church council were already moving forward with this process\nthough I am glad that we are in line with the recommendation of the synod\noffice and with the best practices that are being established as we respond to\nthis crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bishop Clements sent a letter the next afternoon, March 17,\nintended to be shared with congregation members. His words are included at the\nend of this message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In lieu of gathering for worship, I will provide a reflection for you each Wednesday and Sunday on the First Evangelical Lutheran Facebook page<\/a>. Perhaps more often than that even. We will look at how we can make that available to a wider audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through these next weeks of us not gathering, I need\nto communicate that your offerings are still important. Please, if you normally\nbring your offering on Sunday Morning, mail it to the office. Therese and I\nwill continue to hold regular office hours, check mail, monitor email, etc. Your\ngifts are vital to our ongoing ministry. I suspect they become even more\nnecessary as we determine how we as a faith community can respond to the\ncurrent health crisis in the US and around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Ash Wednesday, my practice has been to pray for\neveryone in my directory by name. Though I may not know what you are facing in\nyour life at this time, know that I plea with God to love you, reassure you,\nassuage your fears, and make you brave in the face of trials. God continues to\nbe with us and sustain us, even beyond this crisis, wherever that may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peace to you and those you love.
\nPastor Chris Lee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 17, 2020
\n 
\nDear siblings in Christ:
\n 
\nHear the words of the Psalmist:
\n 
\nGod is our refuge and\nstrength,<\/em>
\n    a\nvery present help in trouble.
\nTherefore we will not\nfear, though the earth should change,
\n    though\nthe mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
\nthough its waters roar and\nfoam,
\n    though\nthe mountains tremble with its tumult.<\/em> Psalm 46:1-3 (NRSV)
\n 
\nThere is something about these days that is simply disorienting. The world we\nknow has been upended and is not feeling very comfortable. In fact, it is just\nkind of scary. As we face the COVID-19 virus, allow me to remind you that God\nis with us. Everywhere and always. God is our refuge and strength. So, this is\na time when we must intentionally stay connected to God.
\n 
\nIt is difficult to stay connected to God while we are distancing ourselves from\neach other. We depend so much on our corporate worship for both connecting to\nGod and to each other. If your congregation has not yet done so, I am\nrecommending that all congregations of the Northern Illinois Synod suspend\nworship for the remainder of March. Our local, state and federal officials have\nasked for our cooperation. Now is not the time to think that you are the\nexception. \u201cSocial distancing\u201d is meant to protect all of us.
\n 
\nIn recent days, I have also suggested to your pastor, interim pastor, vicar or\nSynodically Authorized Minister, to prepare for the possibility of not being\ntogether for Holy Week or Easter worship. I am not sure that you can understand\nhow hard it is for me to even imagine that. I am, however, asking congregations\nto remain nimble enough to resume worship quickly when it becomes safer.
\n 
\nI am encouraging congregations to find ways to stay connected, using technology\nwhen it is possible. I have asked pastors to stay in communication with you and\ntend to your spiritual needs. The Internet has made many options available to\nus that we have not had in the past.
\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\nare three things we can do to keep the church strong in these difficult days:<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
  1. JOIN TOGETHER IN PRAYER. <\/strong>I am calling this\nsynod to pray together at noon each day. Please stop and take a moment to pray\nfor your congregation, the Northern Illinois Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran\nChurch in America. Pray for your members. Pray for yourself. Pray for the ill,\nthe frightened, the vulnerable, and the poor. Pray for the dying. Pray for\nworld leaders and our own elected leaders. Pray for our healthcare workers.\nPray for researchers. Pray for the unemployed, underemployed and laid off. Pray\nfor all students from college to kindergarten who have been forced away from\nschool. Pray for your pastor or whomever leads your congregation<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Will\nyou join me in prayer at noon beginning tomorrow and continuing through May 13?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n