Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church - Marshfield, WI

Parking Lot Service

Dearest brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,

As I write this letter, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for you, the members of Christ Lutheran Church. I thank you for your prayers and your help and your patience and perseverance. All of these are God’s gifts to you, and through you, to me and the entire staff at Christ Lutheran. I’m writing to share some important news with you, as we continue to be the church under the conditions that are placed upon us with Covid-19 and “Safer at Home.”

First, through faithful offerings and through the foresight of our congregation going back many decades, our congregation is on a solid financial basis. Your offerings have been so faithful, both in the mailbox, and through our app, and even when I’m able to pick them up from your homes. All I can say is a humble thank you and a hearty “Praise God!” We will be here for you when this is done, just like we’re here for you right now, doing all that we can to share God’s Word.

Second, thank you for participating as best as you can through our online offerings, both our daily devotions and our live-streaming services (including Facebook and YouTube.) It’s a true blessing to see that we can reach so many people, and even meet new friends this way, and third…

…this Sunday, May 10, and each Sunday following (God willing), during our regular worship streaming time (9 a.m.) we will also be broadcasting our worship services on 91.1 FM to the immediate vicinity surrounding the church.* (*If the frequency needs to change, we’ll post the new frequency on the church sign). You can park in any parking spot and tune in and listen. The service will be conducted from inside, to maintain what we’re doing with the live stream, but hopefully this will especially give people who aren’t able to connect to the internet the ability to listen to our church service.

So yes, we invite you to come to church and listen from the parking lot this Sunday! Here are some of the procedures and policies that will enable us to do this safely and consistently throughout these very unusual weeks. These come to us from both the Wood County Health Department and our insurance company.

1. If you are not feeling well. Please stay home.

2. Please continue to take every-day preventative measures, such as handwashing, physical distancing, wearing face coverings, etc.

3. If you are high-risk, health-wise, and your immune system is compromised, you may wish to stay at home and listen to the live stream.

4. Please begin by parking in every other parking spot. We can fill in if needed, but this will help to maintain the required distancing. We will have parking assistants to help with parking.

5. Please remain in your vehicle before, during, and after the worship service.

6. We will not physically collect offerings or distribute printed materials.

7. We’re not able to offer communion, unfortunately, but if you are interested in receiving communion 1:1, please contact me. A call or text to 715-305-8667 is always good! (Pastor Andrew can also be reached at 231-920-2519)

8. Please be aware that the restrooms in the church will not be available, as the doors will not be open.

9. If there are any emergency needs as you are parked, please contact me on my cell phone 715-305-8667. We do have first aid kits, a defibrillator, and fire extinguishers ready in the rare event they should be needed.

10.Finally, sit, back, relax, and enjoy being together and listening to the service. When it’s time to leave, please follow the direction of the parking assistants and be patient, so we can have a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

I hope and pray this will help us minister to the entire congregation, as well as our community, while doing it in a way that is safe and responsible. I also pray that as the safer-at-home orders wind down and the community starts to recover from this extraordinary ordeal, that we will soon be able to once again phase in worship services where people can congregate in chairs or in the pews, but until then, we’ll do the best we possibly can. If you do have ideas for how we can better serve our faith community, please share them with me. For everyone, please know that you are missed, dearly loved, and constantly prayed for.

In Christ’s love,
Pastor Daryn

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9–10, ESV)
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