AUGUST 13, 2021 VIEW FROM DA PEWS

​Weekly View From Da Pews
August 13, 2021
“Volunteers don’t get paid because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless!”
  Last night I met with some of those PRICELESS volunteers!  They are your church council!  Members of Dekorra Lutheran who have stepped up to be leaders and doers.  They are who make Dekorra a great place to worship and gather as a church family.  They generously give of their time and talents in order to make all that happens a good experience for each of us.  Last night was a very long meeting!  We had much to discuss and decide on, so that all of you will be safe amid this pandemic that won’t go away.  Pastor Sterling and Bill Buckley did a great job of leading the conversations and discussions on a variety of issues that will effect on how we worship in the future. 
  Beginning Sunday, August 22nd we are again limiting the amount of people who will be allowed to worship in the sanctuary.  When you arrive at church the ushers in the parking lot will hand out tickets for inside worship.  60 members will be allowed in the sanctuary and another 30 will be allowed in the fellowship hall.  We are also highly recommending that this Sunday you should mask up and starting on Monday it will be mandatory that you wear a mask at all times while you are at church.  This will apply even if you have full vaccination, as you can still spread the virus even if you are vaccinated.
  We will attempt to keep the worship service as “normal” as possible, using the Cantor and assistant Ministers.  We will also be switching back to using the wafer/wine cups for communion rather than the traditional bread and wine.  We are also going to NOT sing during worship starting on August 22nd. 
  Are we disappointed with going backward, especially since we just reopened!  You bet!  No one is more disappointed than your church council.  However, as the leaders of your church, it is our responsibility to make sure that you are safe while you are here for worship and other activities.  So, we the church council, ask that you please bear with us as we go through these troubling times.
  On a brighter note we will start to install our new audio/visual system on September 13th.  As with most things these days, they had to wait to get some of the components needed before they could start.  As of September we will have to start making payments on the loan we signed in order to do this project.  It will require an additional $15 per month from each of you, on top of what you ordinarily would be giving.  That’s about $4 each week.
  We heard from Lynn Lund about the youth group efforts to raise funds for their trip to the national gathering next year.  This will require about $1300 per person to attend and the youth are working very hard to raise those funds.  When they have a fund raiser like the recent “Brat Sales”, please get behind their efforts. 
  The property committee will be looking for some help on August 21st as they complete the installation of the new light pole in the church parking lot.  Bob Acker has already cut the asphalt so that we can bury the power lines to the new pole.  Thank you Bob for all that you do for Dekorra.
  Pastor announced that on Wednesday, September 15th we will start confirmation classes with worship at 6pm led by the youth.  We will also be changing our Sunday worship time to 9am on Sunday morning with Sunday school to follow.
  Bill Buckley presented an idea called “Ride Share” to the group.  It would require obtaining a van with which we could transport our elderly or disabled to church on Sunday mornings.  It was decided to pursue the idea. 
  Just a reminder, the church picnic for August 22nd has been CANCELED due to the increase in Covid-19.
  At the beginning of the meeting last night, Pastor Sterling handed out a “Self-Care “quiz for each of the council members to take.  I must admit I failed miserably.  The long and short of this is, “you need to take care of yourself in order to take care of others!”  I will try to do better.
  I hope to see you all this Sunday with your “mask up”.
William