Grace Gathering Update [April 4th] [Video]

Greetings Family and Friends at Grace,

On April 1,  Governor DeSantis put the entire state of Florida under a stay at home order. This directive is designed to further encourage residents of Florida to stay at home as we work to flatten the curve of COVID-19.

If you read the order or heard others talking about it, you may already know that churches are listed as essential businesses. In Port St. Lucie’s emergency planning meeting at city hall from Thursday afternoon, Mayor Oravec encouraged churches to remain virtual or “drive-in” style at this time. In the attached video, I include his message about this. 

For those who have stepped up over the past few weeks to take on extra roles to serve the Grace community through music, phone calls, and office tasks, I am so grateful. We would not have been able to “be the church” remotely without your contributions.

At this time, I have decided to discontinue the Wednesday and Sunday individual communion services so we can work to keep each other safe from this virus. With the way our space is designed and the nature of sharing in the meal, ensuring 6 feet is just not always possible. This decision is not one I took lightly, for I know the power of the Lord’s Supper and the blessings it brings. 

LCMS President Harrison wrote to the pastors this week, in light of the upcoming Holy Week, “We pastors struggle with a barrage of changes, of unanswered questions, of rough edges, of theological thoughts and concerns, of practical problems. Many face financial challenges. We struggle with moving targets, changing health regulations and mandates. We want more than anything for our dear people to receive the forgiveness and consoling power of the Word of the Gospel, the Scriptures, and the very body and blood of Jesus. We struggle trying to sort out how it is that the very coming together to receive Christ’s gifts may endanger the flock we seek to love and shepherd.” Then he went on to say, “Dearest brothers, you have Jesus; Jesus only, but that is sufficient. ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Cor. 12:9).”

You may be feeling weak right now, with our social events and spiritual community taken away, at least in-person, jobs lost, and family members far away in places with even more sickness than here. Remember, Jesus’ power makes us perfect in our weakness. I, who’s wrestled with “doing church” in a totally new and complicated way, am also feeling weak. The events of Holy Week, that we begin tomorrow with Palm Sunday, remind us of that every year, and this year it may even mean a little bit more. Let’s rest in that and be open to how the Holy Spirit can transform our hearts and minds.

After Holy Week, we will begin engaging in more community building through online virtual meetings for Bible study and fellowship. You can either call in with a traditional phone or use your computer or other device to see one another. Look for more details once we’re past Easter.

In the meantime, as we grieve the absence of the Lord’s Supper and in-person gatherings, please call and text your brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage them, check on them, and see if they have any needs. Let the church know of any needs we could provide, such as errands or financial assistance.

You know how I despise the manipulative nature that asking for money brings, but here are the ways we and the community need your continued support:

• Please send your offering through the mail or ask that your bank provide us with weekly checks. The expenses at Grace to make virtual services have increased in the last month, and your contributions to the general operations of the church are still needed and appreciated.

• If you have not received or turned in a pledge card for the new building, please prayerfully consider a conservative amount you could offer over the next three years so we can continue to plan for the building project. Anyone can re-submit their pledges at any time over the next three years, especially given the unsteadiness of these times.

• When the stimulus checks arrive, some of you may be in a position of plenty. If you are able to contribute that amount, or a portion of it, back into the community, we ask for your donation so we can make sure others in our congregation and community who have lost their jobs have the opportunity to stay afloat. You can send those amounts to the church, marked “stimulus,” separate from your general offering. If you are one in need of financial support, please let us know so we can plan for financial assistance to those in our church and community who have needs.

• Many in the community are relying on food banks to help them get by financially. If you are led to contribute, please be advised that there are some scams going on right now that pose as food bank donations. I recommend donating to one you know has been in operation prior to these times, for example Treasure Coast Food Bank, where members of the church visited last year. 

Tomorrow we begin Holy Week. We walk behind Jesus as he rides a humble donkey into Jerusalem. We listen as he eats with and serves his disciples one last time. We watch as he’s betrayed and stands before the court. We sit at the foot of the cross, knowing Peter isn’t far off denying him, as Jesus suffers and dies for all of us.

But remember this also: Sunday is coming. As cheesy as it sounds, our church may be empty right now, but we know that our Redeemer lives because the tomb is empty too!

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See Past Updates

Gathering Update Grace Lutheran PSL (COVID 19) March 19th 2020

Grace and peace to all my friends at Grace Lutheran PSL,

Life is full of change and adversity. 

God’s people walked in the wilderness after being taken from slavery. God’s people lived in captivity after being taken over by foreign powers. Christians in Peter’s day were driven from their homeland and forced to live and serve a people not their own. 

Yes, all those times were difficult, but in all those circumstances, each time those people rediscovered that God was for them and that He would get them through any adversity. 

These days have brought a new tough time, but, just like the believers in the past, I pray we will see God working through the adversity. 

COVID 19 has caused the world to take action. Commitment to social distancing, as an entire community, is vital if we are going to save millions of lives. Loving our neighbor as ourselves and caring for the least of these, two of Jesus’ teachings, are being presented to us in a whole new way in these times.

The CDC and our president have made a recommendation for any group of 10 or more not to gather. As Luther reminds us in explanation of the fourth commandment, we as Christians ought to honor those in authority. Because of this recommendation, we have had to make a very difficult decision at Grace. 

We will no longer hold worship services or Bible studies in person at Grace Lutheran PSL for the time being. 

So here is my plan going forward into the coming weeks: 

1. Recorded Sunday Services

- I have talked with Cindy, and we are going to record Sunday services on Saturday.

- She is going to assemble a few singers, and the recording should be done well because the service will be designed to be on camera and edited rather than live. 

- The edited service will premiere on YouTube and www.gracelutheranpsl.com at 9am every Sunday. 

2. The Daily Grace

- Perhaps you have seen it. www.gracelutheranpsl.com/daily

- The vision for Daily Grace is “Grace and Peace for a Chaotic and Lonely Time.” 

- I plan on adding things here multiple times a day. There will be a wide variety of content, both fun and serious, Bible based and not.

- Most stuff will also be put on Facebook and in the daily email. Like us on Facebook.

3. During the Week Communion

- I am going to have a few times during the week where individuals/families can come and receive communion and participate in a small service. 

- Pretty much all other social interactions are being canceled, so we could use spiritual nourishment and a few moments together to share in conversation and the Lord’s Supper.

-This communion service will happen every Sunday and Wednesday from 10am-1pm.

-Timeslots may become necessary, depending on the popularity.

- If you arrive and see another person/family in the sanctuary, please wait in the fellowship hall. If you see someone waiting in the fellowship hall, distance yourself in the fellowship hall, or wait on the front porch or car.

- This is subject to change, but we are trying to figure out how to be the church right now. 

- I practiced some today and was able to provide a nice little service while keeping everything sanitary. 

4. Physical Weekly Packets

- Many of the articles and resources, along with the recordings from services, that are uploaded to the website will be made available to those without internet on a weekly basis.

- I want to give those who need it a packet during communion or other times. 

- The packet will include a DVD of the service and any other videos done during the previous week for the Daily Grace. 

- The packet will also include printouts of the content from The Daily Grace. 

- New packets will be available by Sunday at 10 am and can be retrieved then or after.

- Please reach out to us about anyone that would want the packet rather than using the website and YouTube. 

5. Video Conferencing

- Interacting face to face will be sorely missed, especially among those who are used to regularly gathering for Bible studies and other groups.

- In the interest of keeping discussion going, we will be hosting meetings online in the coming weeks where Bible study groups can join in.

- The way these will work is that a web link will be sent out in email with a “save the date” notice of what time and day to join the online group. If you are interested, click on that link a few minutes before the group is scheduled to begin.

- If you have a computer without a webcam, you can join with audio only.

- If you don’t have a computer or smartphone, you can join by phone by calling into the discussion group.

6. Reaching Out

-If you need anything, please call the church. If no one is there, leave a message, and we will get back to you. 

-Seriously, if you need milk and don’t feel comfortable shopping, please contact us. We will find someone to shop for you.  

These are odd times, and we have to think outside the box here. But what we know is that God is still seeing us through. And we must always love God and love our neighbor. Loving our neighbor is, ironically, what social distancing is all about. 

I am declaring today that Grace Lutheran PSL is about this one statement, 

"Giving Grace and Peace in a Chaotic and Lonely Time"

 Peace to you all,

Cris

Pastor Grace Lutheran PSL 

See the Latest Gathering Update

COVID 19 update at Grace

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