RESPONDING TO COVID-19

As we announced via email today, all services and other scheduled events are canceled at least through the end of March, and likely beyond. Please read the entire update on worshiping, connecting, and serving during COVID-19 here.

In addition, join us this evening for Evening Prayer via Zoom.

In place of our Lenten Soup and Prayer service, join for evening prayer from your home computer or phone zia Zoom.  Learn more.

Church of the Redeemer community groups are canceled through the end of March to help slow the transmission of COVID-19. Will reevaluate the situation at the beginning of April.

We are encouraging community group leaders to stay in touch with group members in the coming weeks. Contact the church office with any questions.

Since yesterday’s update, there have been developments (particularly the closure of local schools) that have led us to make further modifications in our plans for worship this Sunday. We will still meet for worship and celebrate Ethan McCarthy’s ordination as a deacon, but we are canceling all other scheduled church activities for Sunday, March 13th, including COR@9, children’s ministry (including nursery), and hospitality hour. We continue to urge caution and encourage all those who are unable to attend to participate via livestream (see link above). The vestry still plans to meet this coming Tuesday to discuss plans for future weeks.

If you are isolated or are under self-quarantine for any reason, please reach out to one of our pastors so that we can find ways to support you.

Since we issued our guidelines last week (related to community spread in our worship and receiving the Eucharist), what is new? For one thing, we want to strongly urge our elderly members, and those with compromised immune systems, to remain home and under as much self-quarantine as is possible. In the short term at least, based on Illinois guidelines and input from the Bishop’s office, we are not planning on cancelling worship services, so each person’s decision on attending is vital. Please use caution and wisdom. This is prudence without panic. Also, if you are not feeling well, or if your children have had cold and flu like symptoms, please stay home. For those staying home, we are initiating a live-stream version of our worship service, so that our community can remain connected, as much as is possible.

Beginning this Sunday we will not be offering food following the service—coffee and tea only. And the guidelines we put into place last week regarding the passing of the peace and Holy Communion, will continue (these are outlined in the worship bulletin).

On Tuesday our Vestry will meet and forge an action plan for Redeemer going forward, evaluating our risk week by week, and offering appropriate responses. I’m very grateful for our leaders, and their care and sensitivity. Laurie Nelson, who serves as a Vestry Warden and also leads our hospitality ministry, sent me the following comments today, and I hope we can all take them to heart:

This is a time when we need to be careful about our physical health, but we need to tend to our spiritual health as well, and we feel this is a time to come before God together as a community, and not neglect to meet with one another. Each of us has a primary responsibility to not jeopardize the health of the very young, the very old, or those with an already compromised health condition. We leave it to individuals and families to decide if they fall in to those categories and decide to remain at home for a time. We should already be taking proper precautions and limiting our contact with the most vulnerable among us…We have a small (physical) space, but will be as welcoming and connected to each other as we can. We are a family. Join us as we worship God together and trust in his care.

So wash hands frequently, be attentive to your own health situation (if any symptoms arise) and keep some distance between one another, even as we continue to gather together in the Lord’s Name, at least while we can. Thank you for praying for God’s protection, and for seeking out creative ways to minister to those in the community around us who may be very fearful and full of anxiety.

As a staff we are praying for you, and are available if you have questions or concerns. Our help is in the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 124) and we trust his leading and care.