An Important Pastoral Letter

Grace and Peace to you, St. Mark people!

A lot has been going on at St. Mark since we last had a worship service in the sanctuary. The month of July is going to see some big changes for us. So that you know what is going on with your congregation, I would like to share with you some of the more major bits of news. Before I do that, though, I want to thank you all for your faithfulness during perhaps the most difficult time our congregation has ever faced.

Various ministries and groups have continued on in some capacity. Some have met via Zoom for Bible study, some have continued to create and care for the community by sewing masks or providing meals to local agencies. It has been a month since we bid farewell to Pastor Mark. A good number of long-term care facilities received bins of snacks and other delights thanks to your donations at his farewell parade. These months have not been ideal, but I am certain we have done the best we can, just as you always tend to do.

I am extremely proud of all the work that has gone into our online worship services. Musicians, lectors, families, and just about everyone on our staff have made ours one of the most outstanding virtual worship experiences available. The praise band remotely records a new song every week, Bob Rub works with various people to create original hymn recordings, and so many folks have been more than eager to be a part of this special experience. Just about everything you see and hear in our videos is unique to that week.

Alright, onto the news. First, I am happy to announce that the council has hired an interim associate pastor. Pastor Robert Franek comes to us from his most recent role as the interim pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church downtown. He served there about two years, after a long call at a congregation down in Wataga. Pr. Franek brings with him a love of worship, an astute understanding of theology, and a heart for our unique Lutheran brand of Christianity. For now, you will mostly get to know him through our Sunday services online. As we enter the fall and work our way back toward in-person gatherings, he will work mostly with our Bible study groups and the Confirmation program, in addition to leading worship along with me. I am so thankful for Pr. Franek’s willingness to be with us in this time of transition, and I so look forward to the work we will be able to do together.

About those in-person gatherings. The council and I have the responsibility to lead this congregation to the best of our ability, to make decisions for the good of everyone, and to live with faith according to the teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As we have imagined what it would look like to reopen, we have remembered that Jesus calls us to love our neighbors and care for the sick and vulnerable in our midst. We have also committed ourselves to following the guidelines set forth by the CDC, the State of Illinois, Winnebago County, and the ELCA. Our Bishop, Jeff Clements, strongly encourages all congregations to take these guidelines seriously without searching for creative ways around the very rules designed to keep us healthy.

Last week, the council approved a motion to allow small groups to once again meet on church property. This is not a decision we have made lightly. Beginning July 1st, any groups that want to meet will be required to follow strict social distancing guidelines, and all participants will be asked to sign a waiver. This may sound extreme, but the recent uptick in cases around the country and even here in Illinois are a clear indication that we need to continue in our diligence to protect one another from this virus. Still, it is a welcome thing to be able to come to the building, and the council and I are certain we are able to gather safely, so long as we stick to the guidelines that have been given to us. A copy of those guidelines is included in this letter.

Ever since we closed our doors in the middle of March, the biggest question on all our minds has been both obvious and elusive. When will we return to worship? It is rare for Sunday worship to be cancelled for any reason, and none of us expected the initial three week break to last over three months. Almost every expert in infectious diseases will tell you that communal Christian worship is one of the most effective ways to spread a virus like COVID-19. Reports continue to surface of churches who gathered without precaution, only to cause a surge in cases. With that being said, you should know that after much deliberation the church council has decided that virtual worship will remain the primary mode of worship for now.

Virtual worship will not be the only mode, however. Beginning on July 22nd, we will introduce weekly Wednesday night worship, with a capacity limit of 50 people. This service will be recorded and edited into the video for the following Sunday’s worship. There will be safeguards, though. My primary concern as worship leader is your health and wellbeing, and we will follow the same strict guidelines small groups will be using. That means we will need to refrain from singing. Spoken corporate prayer will have to remain at a whisper. Our fast from communion will continue. Everyone will be asked to wear a mask at all times and have their temperatures taken upon arrival. And sadly, there will be no coffee, doughnuts, or mingling afterward. It is precisely because of these necessary limitations that we will continue to view virtual worship as the most meaningful option available.

If after all those restrictions you are still interested in coming on a Wednesday night, please call the church or go to our website or app to request a spot. Because space is incredibly limited, the office staff will do their best to make sure everyone is able to come on at least one of their requested dates. After you make your request, you will be notified in advance to confirm which dates will be available to you.

With our strategy to reopen, some ministries are going to occur this summer, and some are not. First, it is with sadness that I announce our Vacation Bible School, which had been postponed, has been officially cancelled for 2020. There is no safe or manageable way to host this beloved ministry program in a meaningful way. The guidelines given to us from our governing bodies simply make it a nonstarter, especially given how many students we typically host in a normal year. On the other hand, because the numbers are much smaller, our youth group mission trip is able to occur with many modifications. This group of less than 10 had planned long ago to spend a week doing mission work in Toledo, Ohio. Instead, they will be doing projects in and around the city, adhering to our small group guidelines, and sleeping in their own beds each night. I am confident that their diligence will result in a safe and meaningful experience.

Look for more activities and events happening at St. Mark this summer. Rally Sunday may provide us with an opportunity to have a Sunday gathering for the first time in six months, though it remains only a possibility at this point. Please do read the Memos email every Thursday, or use our smartphone app, in order to stay as up to date as possible. If you need anything from me or the staff, please ask. Now more than ever it is vital that we stay connected. If you have limited or no internet access, we are happy to mail a copy of the Memos and find a way for you to watch a recent worship service. Pastor Chuck and I may not be able to enter hospitals these days, but we are still able to talk and pray over the phone if you have any need. Starting on July 6th, our office hours will increase to every weekday between 9:00am and 1:00pm. I cannot wait until this is all behind us and we can see one another again. Until then, let’s do our best to keep the virus at bay, so that our long wait can be over as soon as possible.

Peace,

Pastor Chad McKenna