Good Shepherd Lutheran Response to Coronavirus

Tuesday of Occuli, March 17 A.D. T 2020 

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

Dear Christians of Good Shepherd Lutheran,

We wanted to write to keep you up to date on what is happening at Good Shepherd in response to the events in our surrounding world, especially concerning the continuing coronavirus fears.  

The Pastors, the elders, and the chairman of the congregation put in place a plan to govern how our congregation responds to the epidemic that seems to be spreading around us.  The goal of this plan is to put in place a plan that makes decisions based on best information from reputable agencies, rather than on spur of the moment passions or with knee jerk reactions.  It allows us to change responses based upon the current best available information.  We have attached that plan to this letter.   The goals behind this plan are as follows:

To maintain high quality spiritual care throughout the pandemic.

To give assurance to our members and the community that we are maintaining a safe environment

To support our members and the community

To do our part to slow the transmission of the pandemic

As we have adopted the plan, we also have put ourselves into the most stringent setting (Phase 3-Plan D) based upon the words of Governor Pete Ricketts, prohibiting gatherings of 10 or more people.  That means that for now, in person events and organizations at Good Shepherd are shut down.  Elders will evaluate this based on the latest information each week.  When we move to a different phase of the plan, we will inform you.  

This isn’t giving into fear, but rather acknowledging the serious of the situation as told us by officials.  

Even as we face this crises, as a congregation, we will continue with Christian care for neighbor.  To emphasize this mercy for neighbor, the Pastors and Vicar will double our efforts to bring the word to you our members.  We will work to create and distribute daily video and radio devotions, so you may still hear God’s Word.  We will stream our regularly scheduled services and sermons, even with no congregation in the pews.  We will email these devotions and make them available on our church website.  If your family is in need of pastoral care, please call the church office, and we will schedule a visit.  If you would like the Lord’s Supper for your family, please let us know.  We will not shirk our duty of Pastoral care in God’s Word, even if we are not gathering in God’s house.  

We will need your help as well.  As we share God’s word via radio and online, please help us share it with your family and friends who also are missing regularly scheduled Divine Services.  We will make materials available, please help us distribute them.  

The Church staff will continue to work.  If you need to drop anything off, please stop by the church.  Please also help us as a church to continue to meet our obligations.  Continue to keep our ministry in your prayer.  

If you have questions, please contact us.

In Christ,

The Pastors, the Elders, and the Chairman of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church