Dear Our Savior’s Members and Friends,
Following guidelines from our government, our governor and our bishop, and in response to the spread of the coronavirus, we are suspending public worship gatherings for the time being.
What this means going forward:
1. We won’t be meeting for either the soup supper or Lenten evening prayer tonight and most likely for the rest of Lent. We plan to send out a PDF version of the Wednesday bulletin along with the readers’ theater drama that would have been a part of this week’s service. If you don’t wish to receive this, I ask that you simply delete it. We are hoping to be able to livestream the Wednesday evening services for the remaining two weeks (March 25 and April 1) on YouTube. Our Technology and Worship Committees are working on this, and we’ll be passing on more information as it becomes available.
2. For Sunday worship, our Executive Council has approved a plan to join with First and Trinity Lutheran Churches for a joint, livestreamed worship service on Sundays at 10 am. The livesteam will be made available through First’s Facebook page, though the worship will now be titled “Topeka Joint ELCA Worship.” The pastors of each church will participate, with a rotating schedule of leading, reading and preaching being followed. I hope you’re able to be a part of this.
If you’re not on Facebook and don’t want to be, for the time being we are planning to send out PDF versions of our own bulletin, including sermons (though I won’t be preaching at the joint worship every week). My hope is that you will be able to make use of this material for your own devotions.
3. Our Executive Council has asked the congregation to cancel all in-person church related activities, although some things may be able to be done online.
4. We are planning to still maintain regular office hours, so please feel free to call or e-mail us as needed. As long as you are comfortable doing so, you are also welcome to come visit, for prayer or conversation.
I am praying for you and for everyone who is being affected by these trying times. Please continue to take good care of your health. Remember to trust and rely on God.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jim
