Worship services

Worship Information and DVD’s available

We are now operating in the Minnesota Conference’s recommended Blue Phase. Below you will find the recommendations for this phase of our recovery. 

COVID-19 is still circulating but the infection rate is decreasing or low, and larger gatherings can take place. 

Churches can open with no capacity limits but social distancing is still highly encouraged and masks are recommended for anyone unvaccinated. We would offer these considerations as you determine your requirements in this new phase:

· What is your congregational make-up? If you have children in worship, we would encourage you to continue to require masking for all to protect them until they have an opportunity to be vaccinated. If your congregation is made up of primarily older individuals who have all been vaccinated, then you may consider eliminating your masking requirement.

· Pay attention to the vaccination rates and the COVID positivity rate in your community. If the positivity rate increases above 5 percent, you may want to re-impose masking requirements.

· Remember the essential risk factors of COVID: indoors, proximity, and length of time. A good rule of thumb to keep people safe is to meet two of these three conditions when meeting in a public space, especially when you don’t know the vaccination status of participants: outdoors, social distanced, masked.

· If masking is optional in your setting, create an environment of respect for those who continue to wear masks. We all have different vulnerabilities. People should not be chided about their lack of faith or made to feel uncomfortable because they choose to do something that

allows them to participate with a degree of comfort. You might want to encourage those with colds to wear a mask when they come to church to protect others. Continue to have masks and hand sanitizer available as an act of hospitality.

· Keep offering people different worship options as we are all emerging from COVID in different phases: outdoor, indoor, online. Make use of all modalities to allow for the fullest participation.

· Congregational singing is still considered a high-risk activity. Consider doing congregational singing outdoors, having people masked if there’s congregational singing indoors, or having only members of your worship band sing while others hum along.

· Children’s ministries should continue to require that all adult volunteers and all participants wear masks until more children have been vaccinated.

· Be cautious about how you re-introduce coffee fellowship time and potlucks. Eating and mingling indoors creates higher-risk conditions.

· Continue all sanitation practices from the previous phases. All toys and materials in the nursery and children’s areas should be cleaned after each use.

· Continue to use no-touch alternatives for the passing of the peace and greeting each other (including the pastor at the end of the service).

· Serve communion in individual cups and pre-cut the bread.

If you would like a DVD of the prerecorded Sunday services or a printed manuscript of the sermon, please let pastor Paul know at 320-455-7314. 

“Ephesians: Gearing up for LIFE”

July 25, 2021  “Rooted and Grounded in Love”  

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

“Ephesians: GEARING UP for Life”

August 1, 2021  “A Life Worthy”  Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:1-16

August 8, 2021 – Guest Speakers

August 15, 2021  “Speaking Truth”  Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:25-5:2

August 22, 2021  “Giving Thanks”  Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20

August 28, 2021  “Armored”  Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20

September 5, 2021  Labor Day  Scripture Reading: James 1:17-27