Weekly Announcements from Pastor Valerie Brown-Greenly, Senior Pastor
Dear Friends,
It’s hard to believe that it’s March already. The weather is improving a few days and hours at a time, and we probably only have one or two snows left to go before we can feel like Spring has arrived! It’s certainly been a long season and as I write today, I can’t help but express my gratitude at how patient you have been during this COVID season. Our last sanctuary worship was on March 8, almost a full year ago now.
Given all of that, let’s start to think about our return to our Sanctuary. As you plan and look at the calendar, please know we will do our Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday celebrations outdoors in our parking lot. It seems logical we would want to include as many of us as possible for these two huge attendance Sundays. I will give you details on the worship, but for now, plan to come and be able to stand outside your car to sing if you wish, wearing your masks, and to participate fully in the service. If you desire, you can remain in your cars.
The Sunday after Easter, April 11, I have given everyone the weekend off. Worship will be live streamed and provided by the Minneapolis Area Synod. The following Sunday, April 18, worship will also be live streamed.
My hope is we will begin in-person worship on Sunday, April 25. There will be some detailing for that service as far as knowing those who choose to attend will need to wear masks and wear them correctly throughout the hour. (Communion for now will be using the pod method, and you will receive your communion pod and bulletin when you enter). There will be no congregational singing at these first in-person worships. Obviously, when we first return, there will be no coffee hour inside. As the weather allows, we should be able to have refreshments outdoors following the service. We will continue to live stream all worship services, so those who are not able to attend in person may still enjoy a worship opportunity. Please know you will receive detailed instructions about Sunday, April 25. There will be a limit to the number of people who can be in worship and we will have to figure out a sign-up system. Thank you for your patience as we move forward.
For the last several weeks, we have been having vaccination clinics through Peace Lutheran. It has been a blessing to be able to help so many people in our communities and to be such a timely ministry. At this writing, I believe we will finish our work by April 1. After Easter, the staff will be taking a needed break, and we will be working on preparing for ‘normalizing’ our in-building experience going forward.
Hopefully, you have received the good news about the Community Garden plan for the summer. If you enjoy gardening, consider getting a garden area at Peace Lutheran. The information for signing up is on our website and more information will be coming.
Here is one more opportunity: This is from one of our members, Elizabeth Bouma, who is working toward her Eagle Scout award. She writes:
“Hello, my name is Elizabeth Bouma and I have been a member of Peace Lutheran since I was in Sunday School. I am planning a Food Drive for my Eagle Scout project which will be held at Peace Lutheran Church on the Preschool/Sunday School side. This Food Drive will run from 1:00pm-4:00pm on both Saturday March 13 and Sunday March 14. All the goods donated to this Food Drive will be donated to the Church. So, come on down and help support our local community! “
If you want to donate to the Food Drive, please use the parking lot entrance closest to the Preschool/Sunday School entrance. Elizabeth will be there on March 13 and 14, between 1:00pm and 4:00pm, to receive your donations.
One last reminder: we cannot receive donations tomorrow, Thursday, March 4, as there will be a vaccination clinic that day. Office hours are normal for next week, so please stop in on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning, March 9, 10 and 11, 8:30am-Noon. Thank you for your ongoing donations and for your generous financial gifting.
As we work to ready the Easter Holiday Baskets, the following items are needed: canned chicken, jams and jellies, boxed oatmeal packets, pancake mix and syrup, cake mix and frosting.
Have a good week! See you soon. Take care…Be safe…
Pastor Valerie
Cell: 612-280-6493 Email: [email protected]
Church: 763-757-4459 Email: vbrown-greenly@