March 16, 2020

Dear Immanuel Friends,

For the next two Sundays, March 22 and 29, our worship services will be in an alternative mode. The Session met yesterday and, after much deliberation, decided to substitute "in-person" worship gatherings with audio live-streaming.

 

The Session is mindful of the centrality of worship to our life together. At 10:00 on Sunday morning you will be able to click in to real-time audio of the worship service, using an order of worship that will be posted on-line. More details on the "how to" of this will be forthcoming by the end of the week. Your church leaders are committed to providing a worship experience that both honors the Sabbath and the health of our congregation and community.

 

This past Sunday's service can be accessed by following this link: www.immanuelwi.org/recordings and a pdf of the bulletin can be found here.

 

The Wednesday evening Lenten soup suppers, worship services, and programs have been cancelled. Thank you to those who were ready with their favorite soup recipes!

 

The Upper Room Meal has been postponed to 2021, and church school classes are suspended for the time being.

 

The church office will be staffed; however, access to the Parish House is by appointment only until further notice. The voice mail is monitored on a regular basis.

 

We are equipped with conference call and "Zoom" meeting capability, as needed.

 

We are also committed to exercising an abundance of compassion. Please notify the ministers or deacons if you or a member you know is in need of pastoral care.

 

The preamble of our Mission Statement refers to the ambiguities of life as the context in which we are called "to love our neighbors and manifest the Gospel" and reminds us "that 'new occasions teach new duties,'" in the words of a classic hymn. We are being challenged to live faithfully in ambiguity, and this pandemic is indeed a "new occasion" for responsible and loving actions. We will work and pray toward that end.

 

Please watch for another communication later this week with further details on Sunday's temporary worship format. The Session will meet again on Thursday afternoon. Please convey your comments, concerns, and suggestions.

 

Faithfully,

 

Deborah Block, Moderator of the Session

Robert Ater, Susun Stoll; Janet Christiaansen, David Crum, Leslie Davis, Marty Dooley, Kristi Leswing, Kate Lewis, Laurie Michalak, David Plank, Sue Renanne, Sharon Rose, Jim Schleif, Jeff Stearns; Carol Tsao, Clerk