Pastor's Letter to Congregation

GRACE  LUTHERAN CHURCH

745 South Ingraham Avenue  • Lakeland, FL  33801  •  863-686-5585

www.gracelakeland.com

April 14, 2021

My dear people of Grace,

He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

What a joy it was to be together again for worship on Easter Sunday. Whether you joined us through livestreaming or participated in person, it was wonderful to rejoice in the Festival of the Resurrection. Together.

In accordance with the plan established before Easter, the Council met Tuesday evening to consider the resumption of in-person services. After good and careful discussion including the input from many of you, the Council approved this beginning this coming Sunday, April 18th. We will have a service at 8:30 and at 10:00 and the second service will be livestreamed.

The same safety protocols that were in place for Easter will continue. My personal thanks to each of you who were with us for Easter Sunday for your spirit of cooperation and love in following the guidelines. I know that some were inconvenient and seemed odd, perhaps, but our highest priority is keeping each other safe as we worship God together.

So, this is what we need from you:

· If you plan on worshipping, please pre-register with the office. This enables us to be sure that safe distances are maintained, nametags can be prepared, and a comprehensive list available in the event that contact tracing is needed.

· Please, of your Christian charity, wear your mask and maintain the recommended 6’ distancing. Some may think this is unimportant because you have been vaccinated. Yet, please be mindful of this – there may be many among us who are at particular risk because of underlying conditions such as diabetes or obesity or treatment for more serious illnesses a risk that we may not even see or know. Out of love and care for them, please keep a safe physical distance.

· If you have been vaccinated and are willing to share that information, please include that in your registration. If you have not for whatever reason, there is no need to say anything.

· We can use the help of several to assist on Sunday mornings. If you are able to help with greeting or ushering or helping with worship, please let me know.

As with anything new, there will be adjustments for us to make and things may not go as smoothly as we may like the first few weeks. Yet, we can do this together!

If you have any questions or would like to talk about this further, I would look forward to those conversations. You also can contact any member of our council. May God bless you richly during this Easter Season as we move forward as a community of faith of “Easter People!”

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Pam Smith

Our mission is to share God's love with each other, our community, and the world.

What to Expect

Safety Practices for
In-Person Worship

· If you feel ill or you have been exposed to someone with a positive Covid-19 test, please stay home and join us through FaceBook or our webpage.

· Please keep a safe physical distance of at least 6’ at all times. Very brief exceptions when passing someone in a smaller space, receiving Communion, and the like · Masks covering mouth and nose must be worn at all times.

· Please use hand sanitizer when entering and leaving the church.

· Enter only through the narthex doors. Pick up your worship folder. Just like at a wedding, an usher will show you to your seat.  People in the same household or “pod” will be seated together.

      · People will be seated beginning at the front and dismissed beginning at the back

      · Please be mindful of maintaining safe distance from those outside your “pod” throughout the service.

· As much as we want to, no hugging, handshaking, etc. Smile with your eyes! Let the love in your heart shine through!

· During worship, we will sing silently in our mind; there will be only limited congregational speaking. This will be indicated in the worship folder.

· Fellowship Hall and the kitchen are not to be used. Bathrooms can be used only for urgencies or emergencies (plan accordingly).

· Please don’t leave anything in the pew when you leave. Take your worship folder with you along with anything else you may have used. There will be wastebaskets at the narthex doors.

· There will be specific guidance on Sunday about offerings, Holy Communion, and other matters that may come up between now and then.

Enjoy the service. Participate as you can.
Pray for those who are unable to attend at this time.
Remember all of our Grace community.

For in the day of trouble, God will keep me safe in God’s dwelling. Psalm 27:5