WORSHIPING, CONNECTING, AND SERVING:
COVID-19 UPDATE

The global health crisis is causing us to be scattered for a while in terms of our physical connection, but we are still unified in the Spirit and held by God’s strong arms of love.

Many people are engaging the situation with COVID-19 at Redeemer (staff, Vestry, team leaders, community group leaders, etc) so that we can continue to live out our life as the body of Christ, among ourselves and before the world, which is in such deep need right now. Here are some important updates on our life together in the coming days and weeks.

Worship

All public worship services and activities are suspended through the end of March. We will evaluate the situation at that time, dependent upon guidance and requirements from the State government, CDC, etc. Honestly, it’s likely to be longer than that before we gather in person again.

How can we continue to gather for worship? We can do so online. We will be leading worship each Sunday morning at 10 a.m., which is available on our YouTube channel. If the link changes we will let you know. For the next two Sundays our service will be a version of Morning Prayer rather than an entire Communion service, and we’ll distribute a bulletin electronically so you can participate.

We are also using a cloud-based video platform, ZOOM, to join in Evening Prayer or Compline on Wednesday evenings at 8 p.m., and perhaps at other times as well. You can find the instructions for the first call here.

Our Children’s Pastor, Stephanie, is providing a weekly Godly-play story on video for our children that ties to the themes we’ve been walking together in Lent.

We are developing other electronic resources as spiritual support and encouragement (such as sharing prayer needs, etc.) so stay tuned.

Connection

Our mutual support and encouragement has always been important for Redeemer, and continuing that in this season of isolation is particularly vital. This is something we can all be involved in. Our community group leaders will be facilitating communication and connection in a number of ways (text, social media, FaceTime, etc). We’ll also increase our pastoral phone call ‘check-ins’ with the congregation, especially for those who are most vulnerable to isolation, health risk, etc. If you have or are aware of a need, please contact our office.

If you are not part of a community group but would like to join a virtual group to help with connection, please contact our office as well.

Health Issues

There are many questions around the spread of the virus and its effects. What are the symptoms, what should I do if I have symptoms, how long might the virus last, etc., etc. There is much that is unknown, but with each day the health community gains more data.

We’ve appointed Kristin Hillinger to serve as our Parish Nurse. As both a qualified healthcare professional and a seminary graduate, Kristin is a great resource medically and pastorally. If you have any questions surrounding this, you can call her at 847-224-0824.

If you test positive for the virus, please inform our office, so that we can provide appropriate pastoral support and care.

Serving Those in Need

Internal ‘reach’ is important right now, and the above issues relate to that. But equally important is our reach outward to the community. The church is the hands, feet and heart of God to the world, and we are called to serve sacrificially and selflessly in times like these. There are two specific needs we want to mention (although there are many others right now).

  • We’ve already been collecting items for the St. James Food pantry in Highwood. You can drop those off at our office, or leave them on the porch if the office is closed. For more information, contact the St. James food pantry directly: 847-433-1494.
  • In addition, the Moraine Township Food Pantry in Highland Park is working to provide daily meals to students who usually get meals at school. They are in need of food items, paper grocery bags and volunteers to help meet this important need. We’ll provide more details in a separate communication.

Also, we can all check on our neighbors. It’s a chance to get to know them (if we don’t already) and offer help such as picking up items from the store, running other errands, etc. This is the love of Jesus for those around us.

Giving

This is last, but certainly it is not least. Your faithful and consistent stewardship of financial resources is vital during this time and will allow Church of the Redeemer to serve well now and be strengthened for ministry when this crisis has passed. Here’s how you can continue to participate:

  • Sign up with Realm and give online (even by text). You can draw directly from your bank account to the church, and set up a one-time or recurring donation.
  • Most banks have the option of making payments through Zelle. You can send your tithes and offerings in this way, as well. Just use our office email, chredeemer@gmail.com.
  • Checks still work. Just mail to Church of the Redeemer, 107 Highwood Ave, Highwood, IL 60040.

Please reach out to our office or pastors at anytime, and know that we are praying for you. And if you know of someone who attends Redeemer but does not receive our emails, please encourage them to contact our office to sign up.

As you pray, please remember those most at risk–the elderly, those with compromised immune systems and the poor. As this virus spreads, in most parts of the world ‘social distancing’ is not an option, and those places, already suffering from poverty and disease, will face the harshest consequences.

Thank you, and we pray for God’s protection and care on each of you in the coming days and weeks.