God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46

Our entire worship service is broadcast live on the radio within a 50 mile radius of Chippewa Falls on WCFW 105.7 FM 

The sermon for May 24th, 2020, can be found here.

A Catechism reading schedule can be found here.

May 19, 2020

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1)

My Family in Christ at Zion,

Two months ago, I had the heart-breaking duty of telling you that due to the coronavirus pandemic we can no longer go to the house of the Lord Jesus as we would like to do.  And while difficult, this was the proper thing to do in order to help keep our neighbor and ourselves healthy and to slow down the spread of COVID-19.  Many of the goals of not gathering together for the past two months have now been met.  We are all better informed as to what to watch for in regards to the coronavirus and how to reduce and minimize the risk of spreading it.  Hospitals and health care centers are better prepared to take care of anyone who does become ill.  This, combined with recent court decisions, have allowed the Elders, the Congregational Chairman, and me to meet and discuss the next steps at Zion.  As a result of all this, today, I have the joyous privilege of saying ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’ 

This does not mean that everything will be back to the way it was.  The coronavirus is still here, and we do not want the past two months of staying at home to be for nothing.  Many adjustments will need to be made in order for us to gather again safely and minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus.  These adjustments will be listed in a little bit.  

Before getting to the adjustments, I want to reassure everyone that everyone at Zion takes both your spiritual health and your physical health very seriously.  This is why we are reopening slowly and will be constantly evaluating the situation and making any necessary adjustments.  If you are not comfortable or ready to come back yet, I understand and support you.  All the adjustments made for when we were not allowed to gather will continue.  This includes the radio broadcast every Sunday at 9am.  The bulletin with the full service printed mailed and/or emailed to you.  Individual and Family Communion Services as requested throughout the week.  The service helper schedules remain suspended (though volunteers to assist will be appreciated).  So if you are uncomfortable with coming back, or are not ready, take the time that you need.  If you would prefer, I can come to your home for an Individual and Family Communion service.  If not, know that you are always in my prayers.

For those who are ready, we will be resuming in-person Sunday services on May 24th.  As we gather, please keep in mind the following points and adjustments.

• If you are not feeling well or have been around someone who is ill with a contagious disease, stay home.  This is more important now than ever as we continue to work to contain the corona virus.
• Follow the social distancing guidelines that you have learned over the past two months.
  • Maintain a six-foot circle between you and anyone who is not living in the same house.
  • No hand shaking or hugging (I know this will be difficult, but germs are easily transferred by hand shaking.)
  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (singing the doxology takes 25-30 seconds)
  • Use hand sanitizer if you cannot wash your hands.
  • Mask may be worn at your discretion.  (If you need a cloth mask, we have some wonderful sewers who are making them.)
  • Gloves may be worn at your discretion, though the evidence that they help much in this situation is low.
• The building will be sanitized before each service with special attention given to the pews, handrails, doors, and bathrooms.
• There will be a greeter at each door to open it for you
• Attendance will be written down by one person.  Please make sure you let them know you are here.
• Please spread out in the sanctuary.  Every other pew will be blocked off.  Try to keep one household to a pew or sit on opposite ends.
• Try to sit in the same spot each week.
• The order of service and hymns will be printed each week, giving you some options on how to participate in the service.
  • You may pick up a copy of the bulletin at church or bring the one that was mailed to you.
  • Hymnals will also remain in the pew for you to use.
    • If you have your own hymnal, this would be a good time to get in the habit of bringing it each week.
    • If you would like to purchase a hymnal for home use, please let me know.
  • You may bring your phone or other device to follow with the emailed bulletin.
• The offering will be collected in the narthex.  The elder or an usher will bring the plates to be presented at the altar during the offertory.
• Communion will continue to be offered each week with the following adjustments.
  • The center of the rail will remain open to allow for social distancing.
  • There will be one household at a time per side of the rail (for example, the Jones family will be on the lectern side of the communion rail and the Mueller family will be on the pulpit side.  This will mean that some tables may have as few as 2 or 3 people).
  • Please remain in your pew until the previous table is departing, then come forward.
  • Pastor and all communion assistants will be using hand sanitizer before serving each table.
  • The communion rail will be sanitized after each table is served.
  • The flow will be unchanged.  We will start with those seated on the pulpit side and continue front to back until everyone has been served.  Then we will move to those on the lectern side.
• In consideration of those who will be listening on the radio and the likelihood that the service will now go back to being over an hour in length, we will be pausing after the prayers of the church to speak the benediction, and will then continue with the service of the sacrament.  This way, all who are listening at home will receive the Lord’s blessing.
  • This order was common in the early church when after the Service of the Word was completed, the benediction would be given and those who were not receiving the Lord’s Supper would depart.  The Service of the Sacrament would then begin.
• Fellowship time will also be restarted with social distancing practices followed
  • Coffee will be available, but one person each week will serve it (volunteers needed).
  • Refreshments will be limited to single serve items.
  • Everything used will be disposable.
• The Sunday morning Bible study will resume as well.  This week will be a ‘Table Talk’ session in which we discuss how the past two months have impacted us and what we will be doing in the weeks ahead.
  • Short, topical studies will be planned for the summer.
  • Lutheranism 101 will resume in the fall.
• The Wednesday Study will remain suspended for now to allow us to focus on getting into the new routine on Sundays.  This will be revisited at the June Elder’s meeting.
• Board and Council meetings will resume in June.

As you can see, there is a lot to consider and pay attention to as we reopen.  The above points are but a fraction of all that needs to be considered.  This is why I am asking for your continued prayers and patience as we slowly move forward from the shadow of COVID-19.  But no matter what happens, we know that Jesus is with us and nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Blessings in Christ Jesus, our risen Lord and Savior,

Rev. Tim Jones
Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls, WI

Introduction to Zion Lutheran

When you step into the sanctuary at Zion you will see the words, "A Changeless Christ For A Changing World" written on the archway in the front of the nave. These words give you a good idea of what to expect at Zion in our doctrine and practice. While many congregations try to market ‘a christ’ that appeals to what a changing world wants, we continue to give a constantly changing world what it needs—A Changeless Christ in Word and Sacraments, like the Christian Church has done for two-thousand years. At Zion you will find a pure proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a right administration of the Sacraments, flowing from Scripture alone, guarded by the historic liturgy and Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. We don’t try to change the Word of God to please the world, but proclaim the full counsel of Scripture, including the Law in Its full sternness and the Gospel of Christ crucified in Its full sweetness. This is what we, and the entire fallen world of all time, need—a changeless Christ. If you would like to have the forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation that Jesus won on the cross and delivers to us today in the Church, please join us poor miserable sinners.

Welcome to Zion Lutheran Church.

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