Updated Guidelines, April 13, 2022
With the decrease in COVID cases in Koochiching county, First Lutheran Church Smart Team made the following recommendations:
Church Council approved the above recommendations and changes have been implemented. The Smart Team will continue to monitor positivity rates and make subsequent recommendations accordingly.
Please continue to watch for updates on our website or Facebook page.
- Masks are optional during church service and other activities.
- Continue to practice social distancing.
- Resume Fellowship with coffee after services.
- Resume Confirmation classes.
Church Council approved the above recommendations and changes have been implemented. The Smart Team will continue to monitor positivity rates and make subsequent recommendations accordingly.
Please continue to watch for updates on our website or Facebook page.
Updated Guidelines, December 12, 2021
In the spring of 2021, the First Lutheran Church Council appointed three people to the COVID Smart Team according to synod guidelines. Over the course of the past 18-20 months, several changes have occurred in worship protocol to keep our members safe, including: closing the church to all but the pastor; modified opening with contact sign-in sheets; online worship prepared by the pastor; fully outdoor drive-in worship via radio transmission; soft opening with social distancing and some members still participating from from the parking lot via radio; modified worship with limited speaking and no singing; open worship without masks, but no singing; fully open worship without masks with singing and coffee fellowship.
Due to the rise in COVID numbers, as of November, the First Lutheran congregation is encouraged to be fully masked and practicing social distancing during worship, and fellowship is a "take-out" coffee and treat.
Release Time and confirmation, which began this fall, has been curtailed until the new year.
Please continue to watch for updates on our Facebook page.
Due to the rise in COVID numbers, as of November, the First Lutheran congregation is encouraged to be fully masked and practicing social distancing during worship, and fellowship is a "take-out" coffee and treat.
Release Time and confirmation, which began this fall, has been curtailed until the new year.
Please continue to watch for updates on our Facebook page.
June 14, 2021
The First Lutheran Smart Team, which looks at the various guidelines to determine how best to move forward during the Covid-19 pandemic, met on June 14th and approved these changes to the practices of the congregation. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about these changes, please contact Pastor Erin or Council President Kathi Henrickson.
Worship Service
Coffee Hour
Coffee hour will return to Memorial Hall, with coffee and treats available for those who wish to be outside in the fresh air.
Funeral Luncheon
Funeral luncheons can serve the full array of food again, while encouraging people from different households to social distance during the luncheon.
Worship Service
- Congregational singing will resume with the opening and closing hymns.
- Masks, while not required, are encouraged to be worn during singing as the safest way to prevent any possible spread of Covid.
- The Sharing of the Peace will resume without shaking hands-- participants are encouraged to wave, nod, or send a peace sign to those around them, much like we do during cold and flu season.
- The worship leaders will resume processing in and out during the hymns at the beginning and end of service.
- The Kyrie will be sung by the worship leaders only.
- Hymnals, Bibles, and prayer cards will be returned to the pews.
- Social distancing is still encouraged as a way to care for others in our congregation.
- On July 4th, continuous communion by intinction will resume. Ushers will dismiss people from their pews to go up for communion, helping to maintain social distance between different households.
Coffee Hour
Coffee hour will return to Memorial Hall, with coffee and treats available for those who wish to be outside in the fresh air.
Funeral Luncheon
Funeral luncheons can serve the full array of food again, while encouraging people from different households to social distance during the luncheon.
May 20, 2021
At the congregational council meeting on May 20, the following new guidelines were approved for the congregation.
- Wearing a mask in the church building is optional and unison speaking will resume during the worship service.
- Social distancing will continue to be followed while in the church building.
- Prepackaged communion will be picked up on the way into the sanctuary for worship and will be consumed in the pews, with trash cans available after the service for disposal of garbage.
- Alternative ways of worshipping will continue to be provided.
- The service will be broadcast over the radio transmitter for those who do not feel comfortable in the church building but wish to attend worship, as well as livestreamed and available on the church website.
Message Sent Out on April 29, 2021
The percent positivity rate for Koochiching County is holding steady below 5%. This means that worship in the sanctuary will resume this Sunday (May 2) with masking and social distancing. We are committed to providing a number of ways for people to worship with us, so please select the option that works best for you and your family.
1. Worship in the sanctuary at 10:30am with masks and social distancing. Ushers will show you to your seats to allow for spacing between family groups. A bulletin and packaged wafer for communion will be on the pew to help mark where you will be sitting. Ushers will also dismiss you after the service out to the parking lot. We will not be singing, but quiet humming along with hymns is allowed.
2. Worship with us drive-in style. We will continue to transmit our church service live over the radio, so anyone can come to the parking lot, receive a bulletin and communion, and tune in to hear the service at 10:30am on Sunday.
3. Worship with us from home. We will be livestreaming our service on Facebook, YouTube, and the church website at 10:30am, or watch the livestream later on your own.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the church office or Pastor Erin.
1. Worship in the sanctuary at 10:30am with masks and social distancing. Ushers will show you to your seats to allow for spacing between family groups. A bulletin and packaged wafer for communion will be on the pew to help mark where you will be sitting. Ushers will also dismiss you after the service out to the parking lot. We will not be singing, but quiet humming along with hymns is allowed.
2. Worship with us drive-in style. We will continue to transmit our church service live over the radio, so anyone can come to the parking lot, receive a bulletin and communion, and tune in to hear the service at 10:30am on Sunday.
3. Worship with us from home. We will be livestreaming our service on Facebook, YouTube, and the church website at 10:30am, or watch the livestream later on your own.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the church office or Pastor Erin.
First Lutheran Church Preparedness Plan
| flc_preparedness_plan_8.27.20.docx |
