Sept. 9, 2021
Dear Friends,
This weekend is the start of the church program year—what some call the “real” start of the year. It’s always an exciting time any year, but this year it has a particular significance because we’ll be expanding our worship service offerings and bringing back other in-person offerings for the first time since the start of the pandemic more than 18 months ago.
Beginning this weekend, we will once again hold four in-person services every weekend:
- Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m.—Liturgy with Piano and Flute and Holy Communion Weekly
- Sunday morning at 8:30 and 9:45 a.m.—Traditional services with organ and choir, and Holy Communion the first Sunday of the month and festival Sundays
- Sunday morning at 11 a.m.—Updated Contemporary service with guitar, bass, keyboard and drums and Holy Communion weekly
We will also continue to offer our 9:45 a.m. service as a livestream option every week at spdlc.org/livestream.
As we kick off the year, a few quick notes about how we’re approaching our life together given the ongoing state of Covid.
For worship and other educational and small group gatherings
- Masks are optional for those who are fully vaccinated
- Masks are expected for those who are not vaccinated
- NOTE: Because they will spend multiple hours together every week, and because of the nature of choral singing, the choir will be masked for both rehearsals and services
Children and Youth Activities
- Continuing our practice of following the Wayzata School District protocols, participants in indoor K-12 events and activities will be masked
- Masks are encouraged for pre-K activities, but parents will have discretion about their use
For Volunteers
- We expect our volunteers—ushers, those helping with hospitality, those in the choir—to be vaccinated
Additional Protocols and Precautions
- We have installed air filtration systems in our larger gathering spaces
- To decrease the possibility of all four pastors potentially becoming ill at the same time, we will continue our practice of having two pastors on during weekend services for the time-being
We are, of course, excited about the start of the program year, and look forward to seeing many people again in person for the first time in the next few weeks. We also celebrate the many who continue to participate and engage with us virtually.
Thank you to everyone connected to St. Philip the Deacon for all of the faithful ways you have supported and sustained our mission and ministry during the disruptions of the last year and a half. As I have said many times over the last few months, I believe that God has big dreams and big plans for us, and—with you—I look forward to faithfully following as God leads us into a bright and hope-filled future.
Grace and Peace,
Tim Westermeyer, Senior Pastor
On behalf of the Pastoral Team, the Church Council and Executive Team:
Pastors: Pastor Mark Schmid, Pastor Cheryl Mathison, Pastor Valerie Strand Patterson
Church Council: Beth Jacob (President), Bjorn Berg, Ben Bienert, Debbie McIntyre, Heidi Hukriede, Sarah Johansen, Greg Lindberg, Alyssa Porubcan, Jason Scherschligt
Executive Team: Tom Abrahamson, Mike Braun, Lana Jones, Bob Paulson, John Schultz