God be with you, friends and family of Hope!
We pray this finds you well. We are writing you to share information about Hope Lutheran Church’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Wisconsin’s State Supreme Court overturned Gov. Evers’ “Safer at Home” extension. This has naturally led many to ask the question, “When are we able to resume in-person worship at our church?” We acknowledge that congregations have addressed this question with a variety of responses, seeking to care for their church families’ physical health while also providing the means to hear and rejoice in God’s life-giving Word and Sacraments.
We at Hope, like all churches, are eager to return to in-person worship. At the same time, we are also eager to care for one another, and perhaps especially for those in our Hope family who are more vulnerable to the
effects of this new strain of the coronavirus if they should contract it. In order to weigh these concerns and to proceed in a way that demonstrates love and wisdom, a task force has been created to gather information
and to help guide our process toward reopening.
- During our first meeting, the team spoke in favor of aiming at a date in the month of June for reopening. This will allow us time to gather information from the congregation through a survey that is being sent out to determine how best to serve the health of those who come to our building and the comfort level of our members in returning to in-person worship. This will help us to plan for capacity in our services that still affords space for social distancing. Additionally, the June date also allows us to see how our community responds to the lifting of the “Safer at Home” restrictions – whether or not we see a noted increase in the number of positive cases in our area.
- At the meeting, we also discussed what protocols would need to be in place as we gather together again to insure that our building is as safe and clean as is reasonably possible and to insure that we are caring for one another’s health in our life together. We look forward to sharing more details about these protocols as we draw near to our reopening date.
- In the meanwhile, we are asking those who do have business to accomplish at Hope to do so in an efficient a manner as possible. We will have a sign-in sheet near the main entrance for people to complete which will let us know which areas of the building have been accessed so that we may clean them properly.
- Also, we are exploring the possibility of “drive-in” worship in the weeks leading up to our reopening. We now have the proper equipment to accomplish this. Look for more information in the days to come. Services will continue to be available online as well.
Thank you for your attention and patience as we lay the groundwork for getting back into the sanctuary together. This time has certainly been strange and trying for many, and we know that it will continue to be difficult for many in our community even as we begin to open up again. Pray for your church family! Pray for your neighbors! Pray for our leaders in government! And as you pray, remember the power and goodness of the One who hears your prayer and has promised to work all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He is with us, as surely as Christ is risen and ascended to the right hand of the Father for the sake of His church (Ephesians 1:22-23). We look forward to gathering together soon! In the meanwhile, stay safe, love your neighbor, and trust in almighty God.
Christ’s peace and joy,
Your Hope Reopening Task Force