Information On Fall Worship & Education Schedule

September 11, 2020

Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison

LCMS President

Rev. Dr. Kevin Wilson

OH District President

UPDATED January 12

Other Information

Fellow Disciples

It has been over 3 months now that we have been blessed to worship in the sanctuary once again.  We were able to resume worship using our regular summer worship schedule.  It is now September, the time when we would normally return to a 2 Sunday Service schedule with Bible Class and Sunday School in between. 

In light of the current circumstances, the Elders at our August Meeting determined that we will continue on the current worship service schedule [Saturday 6:00 p.m. & Sunday 9:30 a.m.] through the end of the year, December 27th.  We also had 2 opportunities to talk to disciples after worship services to gather a couple things: 1). Are people comfortable and ready to resume in-person Bible Study and Sunday School; and 2). What would be the best time to hold those classes.  Based on the feedback we received, the desire of people was that both Bible Study and Sunday School should be resumed.  Beginning the weekend of September 12 & 13, the worship and education schedule will be as follows:

Worship Service Saturday 6:00 p.m.

Adult Bible Study Sunday 8:30 a.m.

Worship Service Sunday 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School/Adult Bible Study Sunday 10:45 a.m.

[Yes, there will be 2 (Two) Bible Study opportunities on Sunday]

As a side note, the Thursday evening virtual Bible Study will continue through the end of the year

Adult Bible Study will be held in the Sanctuary to allow for proper distancing

Sunday School Classes will be held in the Kitchen and Room #8 [next to the Kitchen]

At this time, the same procedures and protocols that are used for worship will apply to in-person Bible Study and Sunday School

• All are encouraged to assess their own health. If you are not feeling well, please stay home.

• Those who attend Worship Services, Bible Study, and Sunday School are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to wear masks or face coverings. This is asked out of concern for the safety of our at-risk disciples.

• Please enter and exit the church through the front doors only [the worship entrance, not the Preschool/Office entrance]. These doors will be propped open before and after events to lessen contact with them.

• There will be 2 [Two] stations where hand sanitizer will be available; one by the mailboxes and the other near the doors to the kitchen/hallway.

• People should sit in every other row of pews or chairs to help maintain proper social distancing. One household should sit in one row. At the end of the service, you will be ushered out as normal, one row at a time, except that we will start at the back of the sanctuary and work our way to the front. Please do not exit through the double doors in the middle of the sanctuary. This will help us maintain 6 ft. distancing.

• Large-print style bulletins will be provided for everyone. They will be available on a table near the back row of chairs. All books will be removed from the pew racks and under the chairs. Please take your bulletin home with you after worship.

• High contact surfaces [Doorknobs/handles, counters, wood pew backs, etc.] will be sanitized after each service. Cloth surfaces [pew seats, chair seats, etc.] will be disinfected after each service.

• There will be no fellowship donuts, food, or coffee for the time being.

• Offerings & tithes may be placed in the offering plates located at the back of the sanctuary. The plates will not be passed during the service.

• There will be no formal sharing of peace during service or shaking of hands after service.We can safely exchange greetings by maintaining 6 ft distance.

• The Communion schedule will remain amended for the time being.Communion will be celebrated on the 2nd & 4th Weekends of each month. Only individual cups will be offered. 2 [Two] Elders will bring the elements to each Communicant on individual plates, meaning there will be one wafer and one wine cup on each plate. Once all have received their elements, Pastor will invite everyone to “Take, eat” and “Take drink” at the same time. Afterward, everyone will receive the Dismissal at the same time.

• The entire service will be recorded and posted as an audio file on the church website, along with a .pdf version of the bulletin.

• The amount of singing during the service will be reduced.

• Please make sure the Elder at your service sees you to record your attendance. This is for our records.

Toward the end of the year, the Elders will again review circumstances and determine whether or not to go back to a 2-Sunday Service schedule in January.  Never forget the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress

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Rev. Paul Sundbom

St. Paul's Lutheran Church

250 Bowhall Rd.

Painesville, OH 44077

440-354-9328 H

910-382-8725 C

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