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INDOOR WORSHIP is PLANNED to RESUME SUNDAY, MAY 23

MLC Council voted to begin weekly 11:00 a.m. services of worship inside Messiah Lutheran’s Sanctuary on Sunday, May 23  That is Pentecost Day and will be Confirmation Sunday for three disciples who have been studying our Christian faith for two years.

We will start out cautiously and over time add all the components of worship we cherished before the pandemic.  Masks will be required, and social distancing will be kept with Sanctuary attendance limited to 96 people.  If more than 96 arrive for 11:00 a.m. worship some will be directed to the Parish Hall where the service may be viewed live via streaming video. 

Congregation singing, unfortunately, heightens the risk of spreading the virus.  So, initially we will have responsive readings and spoken liturgy together, but not have the entire congregation singing hymns or liturgies.  Yet, music will be a significant part of our worship.  The hymnals and Bibles are back in the pews.

Our HVAC units will run non-stop for maximum air circulation.  The service will last about one hour.  Our hopes and prayers are that no surge in Covid cases delays this plan. 

Service of Worship Schedule beginning Sunday, May 23:

Outdoor Service at 8:30 a.m.  Masks are optional.  Hymns and liturgy will be sung.

Indoor Service at 11:00 a.m.

The 11:00 a.m. service will be livestreamed on MLC’s YouTube channel for those at home and viewed live in the Parish Hall for ‘overflow’ seating.  The live service will be recorded to be available for viewing later on www.mlutheran.org

Please gather and visit together outside before and after worship.  Please do not gather to visit in the narthex or other places in the building.

This cautious re-start of indoor live worship is not the ‘first choice’ for any of us.  Yet, this is a big step toward getting there together.  Despite all the challenges of the last 13 months, the vibrancy and the mission-focus of you as faithful disciples have remained strong.  Our Lord continues to be at work among us and through us. 

What lessons have we learned that will bless our community in the days ahead?

Grace and peace,

Pastor Scott Peterson