News and Notes | stlukes

The church building may be closed, but we have never stopped working as the church together! “The church is not a building," as the song goes, and we are learning new ways to connect and worship and hold one another in God's love. These new forms of reaching people in their homes will help us from here on out, long after the pandemic threat has subsided.

Priority One: Strengthening the new connections across our community and helping everyone have access by phone or internet to our St Luke’s UMC circle of compassion and care.

We will continue checking on one another by phone; helping others connect to our worship opportunities, prayer meetings, and Christian Education opportunities. These are all vital connections for growth now, and we must not wait for business as usual to share the good news in these ways.

Many of us are praying about the best practices for re-opening the building for worship at St Luke’s. It will take a special team with gifts of compassion and care to help all those who may want to worship in the church building. For example, minimizing touches for our member and guests with door handles, and offering instruction for all before they enter the buildings will require greeters, ushers, and helpers assisting in new and intentional ways before and after services.

Let us not rush.

Nobody is expected to come worship in the church simply because others may be led to open and serve in this capacity. We will continue to broadcast our worship services each Sunday morning for the community, and I encourage you to take care of your family and the needs of your situation.

Priority Two: Building a willing, trained, and ready team of hosts and helpers for welcoming and guiding neighbors and members who will eventually come back inside the church for worship.

For you that have expressed interest in serving like this, I invite you to continue in prayer for discernment as we learn, listen, and look for best practices moving forward. Is serving like this best for you and your family members? Think about it, pray about it… and begin learning with us in through some the resources listed below: Please contact us in the office and tell us you would like to serve if you are sensing a call to help us host worshipers in the building.

We are especially praying for helpers knowledgable and willing in the gifts of…