Message from Pastor Amy, March 28, 2020
NOTE: Updated information is printed in red.
In-Person Worship Suspended
- Because the CDC has recommended no gatherings of more than 50 people for 8 weeks, we will not hold in-person worship until Sunday, May 17. This includes the next weeks of Lent, Holy Week and Easter. It is so hard to think of not having worship together on Easter. We hope and pray the recommendations change. If not, we will stay the course to do our part. Please continue to support the operating budget of the congregation at this time. See below for more on this.
- We will offer Worship online Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. See below for more information.
- We will temporarily suspend all weddings, funerals and memorials until May 11.
- Graveside services will be offered for immediate family only (funeral home guidelines are very strict now, no more than 10 people including funeral home staff and clergy) and physical distancing of 6 feet will be maintained carefully. Memorial services will be scheduled at a later date.
Building Closed
- The building will be locked and closed to all except staff, Cantor Jonathon Struve, Treasurer John Moeller, and Reg Laursen (he has been appointed building manager by the Executive Committee). People requesting financial help will see a sign requesting that they call to make an appointment with Pr. Amy. We will also have a dropbox with pen and paper where they can leave requests.
- We do not yet have an end date about when the building will reopen. It is possible the building could reopen before we hold large worship services.
- We are closing the building because
- We need to limit who enters the building to keep it safer for our staff who will be there to serve the congregation and the community.
- We want to model the importance of physical distancing with all who use our building. We will ask support groups not to meet in the building but we will arrange Zoom meetings for them so they can meet online.
No In-Person Meetings for Good Shepherd Anywhere Please, All Programming Suspended
- Because Governor Reynolds has banned all gatherings of 10 or more people and because we serve a very high-risk population, all programming and all in-person meetings and groups related to Good Shepherd will be asked to meet via Zoom (instructions below), phone, or postpone until notified of a change. This impacts Congregation Council, Committee Meetings, Circle meetings, Prayer Shawl, Bible Study and informal planning meetings. Many of these gatherings are smaller than ten people but we need to do our part to protect vulnerable populations and try to prevent community spread.
- If you had a Good Shepherd group or meeting scheduled at the church building or in another location, Administrative Assistant Jenny Werner will remove it from the church calendar unless you contact her at the church office 563-382-3963 or by email at decorahgoodshepherd@gmail.com and indicate it will continue via Zoom (see more about Zoom below).
Worship Services and Bulletins
Sunday Morning Worship at 9:30am.
Holden Evening Prayer every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
We will record a video of worship and share it on our YouTube channel in time for worship.
You can go to YouTube and search for Good Shepherd Decorah or you can click here to get to that channel.
Archived videos of the services will also be posted on our website under the WORSHIP tab on the page called Worship Services in the Time of COVID
You can print the bulletins out at home or follow along on a split screen on your computer or on your phone.
Our YouTube Channel also includes videos from Kathryn Thompson and a video from Brooke. Just click here
Luther will not be able to broadcast our service on KWLC radio while the campus is closed.
Listen to or Read the Sermon The audio and text of the sermon will continue to be posted on our website goodshepherddecorah.org under the CONNECT tab at the Sermons or by clicking here and on our Facebook page.
Connect with others via Zoom
The congregation now has a Zoom account. Zoom is a way to connect with one person or a group via video or phone (landline or cell phone). We have purchased a Zoom account that will allow multiple meetings using this same meeting ID.
You can join a meeting on Zoom two different ways.
- You can join as a video call. This will allow you to both see and talk to participants in the meeting.
- You can join by phone. This will be audio only. You will be able to hear and talk to participants in the meeting.
We have simple instructions for how to use Zoom. If you would like to use Zoom for your group, call or email the church office at 563-382-3963 or decorahgoodshepherd@gmail.com
Jenny will schedule your meeting via Zoom for you on the church calendar.
Bible Study Via Zoom
Join Pr. Amy for Bible Study every Thursday at 10am via Zoom. Even if you haven’t participated in the past, you are most welcome to join this gathering when we are all in need of community and have more time at home!
To join, just click here and follow all the prompts on your screen. You can trust Zoom and agree to all prompts.
- It is OK to click “Allow” or “Open zoom.us” and OK to allow Zoom to use your camera and microphone.
- You shouldn’t need to download the zoom app, you can just access the meeting through your internet browser.
- You may also see a window that says join with computer audio, you can click on that.
- Once you are on the call, you may need to click on the “start video” icon at the bottom of the screen. Until you do that, there will be a red line over the camera icon and the video won’t be working.
You can also just join by phone by calling the number below and entering the Meeting ID# when prompted.
Call-in: 1-646-558-8656; Meeting ID: 356 019 3007
You will be asked for a participant ID, just hit pound to skip that.
Shepherds for our Flocks!
Good Shepherd congregation is putting in place a system to help us all stay connected in mutually supportive ways during this extraordinary time. Under the guidance of Pr. Amy, and with the support of the Social Justice Sub-committee, we have grouped the congregation into 10 “Flocks.” Each Flock has 14 or 15 individual and family group members. These Flocks will be cared for by 10 “Shepherds.” You can think of these Shepherds as an expansion of the pastoral ministry of our congregation. The Shepherds will be in direct communication with their Flocks through phone calls, email, and hand written notes. Shepherds, as much as possible, will assist with arranging support services for their flock – meaning they will contact other members at large – to pick up groceries, medications, or run other necessary errands. Shepherds will share pastoral concerns with Pr. Amy and Pr. Marion who will provide further care. The Shepherds will maintain confidentiality, and will only share needs and concerns with Pr. Amy and Pr. Marion.
Caring for the Larger Decorah Community
The Decorah Area Faith Coalition and Decorah Now have created the Decorah and Winneshiek County Mutual Aid Network. This is a place where you can volunteer to help others in the community or indicate you need assistance. Here is the link for that, and you just click on the link: decorahnow.com/mutual-aid-network/
The Food Pantry is also in need of young, healthy volunteers who can help to bag groceries and distribute them via a drive-by pick up method. The food pantry will only be distributing pre-bagged food through drive-by pick up. To help, sign up at decorahpantry.org/volunteer.
The Food Pantry is organizing workers in shifts and if one of the workers gets sick or exposed, then the whole shift will be ineligible for a stretch of time.
Your continued generosity toward our operating budget will be more important than ever during this time. That’s especially true as we seek to take care of our amazing staff. If you’re not using electronic giving via your bank or automatic withdrawal, you can still mail your offering to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 701 Iowa Avenue, Decorah, IA 52101. We are also working on a way you can give directly at the website.
Thank you for your donations to the Mission Assistance Fund this week. That is now in good shape. Please continue to give to the general fund.
You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers each day.
May the peace of God which passes all understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Peace to you,
Pastor Amy Larson
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Good Shepherd is fully accessible to all. 