COVID-19 Updates

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Update on Worship and COVID-19 as of January 5, 2022

Dear Beloved Community,

I write today with unwelcome yet not surprising news. COVID-19 cases in Hennepin County and surrounding areas are exceedingly high, and the positivity test rate is above 10%. Additionally, experts suggest Minnesota will not reach its peak in Omicron-driven cases (a highly contagious variant) before the end of the month. Finally, COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our church staff, which is already stretched to capacity. Because of all these reasons, the Deacons approved recommendations by the Covid Advisory Group to offer livestream worship only through the month of January.

Both the 9 and 11 a.m. services will be livestreamed each week. Our choirs will also be on hiatus, so our quintet joins Philip Brunelle at 11 a.m., and the Jazz trio and Marie Scholtz will provide music at 9 a.m. On January 23, we will celebrate Confirmation with only one service at 11 a.m., and we will welcome Confirmands, their families, and mentors into the sanctuary to join the worship leaders that day.

We plan for a quiet January, hopeful that this will allow for reduced risk of exposure and spread, necessary healing amongst staff, and an improved situation in our community. In addition to changes in worship, here are other shifts in church programming:

Sundays at 5 will continue to be on hiatus.

Sunday Forum will be offered virtually only.

All children and youth programming will be virtual only. This includes Sunday morning and Wednesday evening programming, as well as any other offerings.

Boards, committees, groups, and gatherings will meet via Zoom.

The building will be closed to visitors and volunteers.

Staff will continue to work remotely as much as possible. Custodial and security staff will be onsite as needed.

We are committed to the missions of our church tenants, such as Academia Elze, Groveland Food Shelf, and the weekly Community Meal, and will support their operations and continue strong communication with them regarding current COVID-19 protocol.

I join you all in pandemic weariness. My oldest daughter, Ellie, who tested positive for Covid on December 23, has recovered and returned to her home in Boston. Unfortunately, my youngest daughter, Hannah, tested positive today, and is very ill. This extends my quarantine, and I am grateful for all the ways to connect virtually, even in worship. Knowing we are all in need of signs of hope and long to grasp the promises a new year offers, I offer you this blessing:

The world now is too dangerous
And too beautiful
For anything but love.
Love is a blessing.
So may your eyes be so blessed that you see God in everyone
Your lips—so you speak nothing but the truth
Your ears—so that you hear the cry of the poor
May your hands be so blessed that everything you touch becomes a sacrament
Your feet—so that you run to those who need you
And may your heart be so opened
So set on fire
That your love
Your love
Changes everything.

—The Very Rev. Brian Baker

Love is a powerful force for good and can be offered and experienced even when we are not together. Let us open our hearts to love even in times of despair so as to be transformed and motivated by grace. May we be people of hope, may we be kind and caring, may we remain faithful in community.

Blessings,

Rev. Beth Hoffman Faeth
Minister for Congregational Care and Worship