Important Updates Regarding
Protocols and Communion
OCTOBER 9, 2020
Important Information Regarding Safety Protocols

Dear Members of St. Matthew, 

We wanted to give you an update on our pandemic policy and procedures in order to keep you informed. We know there are many sources of information, changing circumstances, and opinions when it comes to the pandemic. We are also aware that legislature may currently be changing due to the State Supreme Court's most recent decision regarding Michigan’s State of Emergency declaration.

Please note that at this moment, with the exception of Communion, outlined below, St. Matthew's policies and procedures for worship and other ministries have not changed. We ask and expect all who enter our buildings to follow them as before, whether it be for worship or during the week. This includes, but is not limited to, our policies regarding wearing masks and social distancing during worship, and maintaining buildings closed to walk in visitors during the week.

If needed, please review these policies on our website HERE.

Be assured that we are doing our best to stay up to date on the most current data from the State, County, and the CDC. We regularly review and adjust our policy and procedures in accordance with that information.

As always, our goal is twofold. First, to keep our staff, students, members, and guests, especially those most vulnerable, safe; Second, to make sure that we are not in violation of any federal, state, or county regulation.

We know that this is a sensitive matter for many and ask that you keep the church and its leadership in your daily prayers as we try to best serve the people God has entrusted us to lead.

We are committed to continuing online worship for those not yet returning to in-person worship, and we encourage you to meet together in Small Groups safely outside of our buildings. Please find ways to care for and be in community with one another.

We are also praying for you.

In Christ, 
Your St. Matthew Leadership
In Person Communion Resumes
Once a Month in Each Service

St. Matthew will resume communion during in-person worship on Sundays. Contemporary services will celebrate communion on the 2nd Sunday of the month and Blended services on the 3rd Sunday of the month. Here are the instructions for how communion will take place:

As you enter the service, the elders will hand out bags with bread and wine to those who desire to commune. During the service, as everyone is holding their bread and wine, the pastor will consecrate the elements from the front of the church. After the consecration, we will all take communion at the same time in our seats. After communion, you are asked to place empty cups back into the bags they came in and seal them. After the service, we will provide a basket to dispose of your bags as you leave. 

Upcoming Communion Schedule:
October 11 at 9am New Vintage and 11am Prayer & Praise (2nd Sunday of the month)
October 18 at 8:15am Blended (3rd Sunday of the month)

Note: Even with the continuation of Sunday service communion, St. Matthew is still offering Drive-in communion on the first Wednesday of every month throughout the school year.
  • PLEASE NOTE THE COMMUNION POLICY AT ST. MATTHEW:
  • Those desiring to be guests at the Lord’s Table must:
  • Believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; Believe that in, with, and under the bread and wine they receive the true body and blood of Christ; Confess their sin, seek the assurance of forgiveness, and intend, with God’s help, to amend their sinful life.
  • Anyone who has not yet been instructed, is in doubt, or holds a confession differing from this belief, and yet desires to receive the sacrament, is asked first to speak with the pastor.
  • For the benefit of communicants who have reactions to the unleavened wheat wafers, unleavened rice wafers are also available. Simply indicate the need for a rice wafer to the Elder distributing communion.
  • Out of an abundance of caution, we are temporarily suspending the use of the common cup. Individual cups will be provided in an individual bag with the wafer.
  • For the benefit of communicants who need less alcohol, several individual cups containing white grape juice with a slight tincture of wine are available upon request from the Elder.
  • For further study, see Matthew 5:23f; 10:32f; 18:15-35; 26:26-29; I Cor. 11:17-34. 

  • If there are ways we can help keep you connected, please let us know - call the church office and leave a message or email hello@st-matthew.org .

  • General Communications: hello@st-matthew.org / leave message at 248-624-7676
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St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Walled Lake & Wixom
2040 S. Commerce Road, Walled Lake, MI 48390
48380 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, MI 48393