Resuming In-Person Worship on June 7

Beloved of the Lord,

“I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the House of the Lord.’”

Psalm 122:1

The Elders have decided that the time is coming to resume holding in-person worship services with some specific adaptations to do our best to minimize the risk of contracting or spreading the COVID-19 virus.

On Sunday, June 7, 2020 we will hold worship servcies at 8:00am and 10:30am.

(Bible Study will still be done via Zoom, online only.)

            First and foremost, we want everyone to know that if you feel uncomfortable attending in-person worship, even with these adaptations, please feel free to remain home until such time as you are ready. The services and Bible Studies will contine to be provided online or by DVD as we always have done. Let your conscience be at ease knowing that the Lord is with you. Reach out to the church office if you have any pastoral care needs.

            We will continue to monitor the larger situation and evaluate the effectiveness of the adaptations we are making along with feedback from attendees. As the situation changes and as we see what is working or what is not, we will adapt as best we can. We also realize that it would be impossible to completely eliminate every risk vector. We have all made decisions about what is essential in our lives related to work, groceries, medical care and the like. You will also need to decide for yourself when the time is right for you to attend in-person worship once again.
 

            As we return to worship, please give careful consideration to the requests and adaptations presented by the Board of Elders. We make these with best interest of the spiritual and physical care of everyone attending. While you may agree or disagree with the need for or effectiveness of various adaptations, we ask that, should you choose to attend, that you also abide by these requests to the best of your ability so that everyone attending can feel at ease. Love of our neighbor places their needs ahead of our own and we do our best to put everyone’s conscience at ease.

            In the State of Ohio we have been blessed with a civil government that has exempted houses of worship from any threat of civil or criminal penalties related to the health orders. However, while that means we are completely free with respect to the law, we remain bound to the love and care of our neighbor and it is our responsibility to decide how best to align ourselves with the health guidelines while still being able to worship freely.
 
            Please familiarize yourself with the included list of guidelines and adaptations that you can expect when we return to in-person worship. Take the time between now and when we resume to gather any supplies you may need. Also feel free to contact members of the Board of Elders or Pastor Zielinski with any questions you may have.

 

          We are grateful for the many volunteers that help make worship go smoothly each week. For the time being in order to minimize the need for training and so that no one feels compelled to attend before they are ready, no volunteers will be scheduled to serve during the worship service (AV, readers, acolytes, ushers, etc.). The Elders will be handling these responsibilities.

            I look forward to soon greeting you in the Lord’s House when the time is right for  you. Until then, may the Lord guard and keep you and bless you and your loved ones during these days. May He soon deliver us from this pandamic and all its effects of health and wellbeing.

In Christ,

The Board of Elders:                                               Pastor Zielinski

Sam Jakabcic

Steve Kato

Tim Wadle

Rob Zacharias
 
 

Guidelines for Returning to Worship at St. Paul, Sunday June 7, (8am & 10:30am)

  • If you, or someone in your household would be considered “high-risk” for complications related to COVID-19, please be safe and stay home. Or, if you are not feeling well, or if someone in your household is not feeling well, please be considerate of others and be safe and stay home.
 
  • Recommend wearing a face covering/mask.
  • Maintain social distancing (6-feet or more from others and no handshakes/hugs/etc.)
  • Entering:
    • Sanitize your hands as you arrive please.
  • Bulletin:
    • Pick up a bulletin at the table near the Welcome Center.
    • It is yours to keep! It contains the entire service including readings and hymns.
  • Offering
    • Continue to make use of automatic giving via your bank or our website.
    • If you have brought your offering with you, place it in the basket as you pick up your bulletin.
  • Seating
    • Every-other pew has been sectioned off. They have also been sanitized between services.
    • Please sit as a family unit with appropriate social distance between your family and others.
    • If we reach capacity in the sanctuary, we will provide additional seating in the Narthex and Fellowship Hall.
  • Communion
    • Pastor and an assistant will have just washed their hands and will be wearing masks and gloves.
    • Ushers will dismiss one family unit at a time to come forward and receive communion.
    • Communion will be received standing at the bottom of the steps, as we have done from time to time.
    • Place your hand out flat so that Pastor can place the Body of Christ into your palm.
    • Then, you take an individual cup from the tray.
    • Place the empty cup into the basket and utilize the hand sanitizer provided, if you desire.
    • Return to your seat via the narthex around to the back of the sanctuary (instead of the side aisles).
  • Leaving
    • Ushers will dismiss pews beginning at the back of the sanctuary.
    • Please limit your lingering in the Fellowship Hall but rather make your way directly to the parking lot.
    • You are welcome to remain outside to greet one another. Please continue to observe appropriate social distancing.

^