Dear Friends in Christ,
The congregational council, staff, and I have been praying and discerning our response to the unfolding news of the coronavirus COVID-19. As you know well, it continues to unfold quickly. In times like this we can respond with panic or fear, or we can rely on God’s love and wisdom, as well as the strength of our faith community. We are choosing the latter, which has prompted us to discern our next steps as a congregation.
Today, the Minnesota Department of Health has urged all people to practice social distancing. Recognizing our responsibility to those who are most at risk and vulnerable and seeking to contribute to the health and well-being of our congregation and our wider community, we will suspend in-person worship services (Sundays and Wednesdays) through April 1. At that time, we will reassess the situation. We hope that we will be able to resume worship together on Palm Sunday, April 5. For now, we will be cancelling all programming at the church, including worship, Sunday School, Sunday and youth forums, fellowship, musical rehearsals, Bible study, etc.
We will be sharing worship with you virtually through Facebook Live at 9:30am on Sundays. If at all possible, join us virtually.
Holy Nativity meetings, programs, and gatherings will be postponed or will shift to electronic venues. The office will remain open, so feel free to continue to call the office with pastoral care concerns and prayer requests, as well as anything else you may need.
We encourage you to continue being generous with your offerings and giving. You may mail in your offering or make use of online giving through our website. Thank you for your continued generosity!
Please know that we understand how difficult this is and we do not make this decision lightly. We are still community together, even if we can’t physically be together at present. Please pray for the most vulnerable in our community, for health care providers, our leaders at every level, and for one another in this challenging time.
In God’s amazing grace,
Pastor Jason R. Wahlstrom
Senior Pastor