Pastor Eric explaining about drive in worship

Grace Lutheran Church Drive in Worship Guidelines and Procedures
We are excited to be able to hold drive-in worship services in the old Shopko parking lot beginning on August 23. We hope that this will be a meaningful experience for our faith community as we have not been able to worship together since March 15. As we prepare to be together, please review the following safety guidelines and procedures.

Before you arrive

• If you have any symptoms of illness, stay home or seek medical attention –do not come to worship
  
• Use the restroom before you come. Since we are not at our own building, there will not be any readily available bathrooms. While Subway is in the same parking lot, we want to be respectful of their business and not send in an influx of people simply to use the bathroom. If you do need to use a restroom, we recommend driving to the nearest gas station.
  
• Plan on arriving earlier than the start time of worship. It takes time to get parked and situated. All worship services will start on time – try not to be late and a distraction for others.
  
• Bring something to do while you wait – especially if you have kids with you. 
  
• For communion, please bring a clean plate from home (any kind you desire). To-go communion cups will be provided
  
• The bulletin for the service will be emailed to you and posted to Facebook. Please either download, print it, or have it ready to go as a paper bulletin will not be provided for you.
  
• If you do not feel comfortable coming, please know that Facebook Live will still be an option for the foreseeable future as will the Youtube video
  

When you arrive

• Please wear your masks when speaking with an usher
  
• Please follow the directions of the ushers who will be wearing safety vests.
  
• Ushers will have baskets for you to place an offering in as you arrive
  
• Ushers will also have offering envelopes as needed.
  
• Be considerate when parking and follow the directions of those assisting you 
  
• Tune your radio to 88.1 FM
  

During the service

• Feel free to open your windows, talk to your neighbors next to you, wave at friends. You should be parked far enough away to abide by the social distancing guidelines.
  
• DO NOT get out of your vehicles to greet your neighbors.
  
  • If people get out of their vehicles to greet their neighbors, pastor will immediately end the service.
    
• Since we will be by one of the main roads in town, we ask that you refrain from honking your horn to show your approval or to say amen. Instead, we encourage you to flash your car lights. 
  
• For Communion, the pastor will come to your driver’s window and put the number of communion cups needed for your vehicle on the clean plate that you have brought with you. The pastor will say, “The body and blood of Christ, given and shed for you” and then he will go to the next car.  Remember communion is bread and wine (or grape juice) 
  
• Please wear a mask as pastor comes around
  
• Communing with anything else (donuts and coffee, for example) is not a valid Sacrament. 
  
• Gluten free option for bread will be offered. These are sealed. However, no juice/wine option for those who require gluten free will be offered. You may bring your own juice/wine. Also, remember that receiving communion in one kind, either bread or wine, is receiving the fullness of communion as is consistent with our Lutheran theological tradition and teaching.
  
• You may request a communion cup for someone who is not with you if you intend to bring it to them immediately after worship (ie. to a shut-in spouse or parent) so that they may receive Communion as well. Please let pastor know when he comes around.
  

Following the service

• Please be patient.
  
• Drive carefully out of the lot. Remember, everyone is trying to leave (and back out) at the same time! 
  
• Follow the directions of the ushers as you leave. 
  
• If you have an offering, you may place it in a basket as you leave which ushers will have available. 
  
• Invite others to join us for worship on Sundays at 9:30am via Facebook Live or for the drive-in service.
  
• Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
  

Grace Lutheran Office Hours:
During this pandemic Grace Lutheran will be closed until further notice. 

Phone Number: During this pandemic office and the church will be closed you can still call the church to leave a message, messages will be checked. 218-365-5605 

Email: gracelutheranelymn@gmail.com​

​***** Even though Grace Lutheran is closed during  Coronavirus pandemic, your offerings are still needed to help with still heating the church, staff still working behind the scenes so that we can all be connected at a distance. To give online: go to menu at top left, in the drop down click on Online Offerings, the click on the donate button. You can also still mail in your offerings to the church, Grace Lutheran 301 E. Conan St. Ely, MN 55731. Thank you. 


During the Coronavirus pandemic, the church will be closed for all services, meetings, and gatherings during this time. Please join us on our Facebook page for online services Sunday mornings and a devotional that is posted  everyday. https://www.facebook.com/gracelutheranely/

Don't have Facebook? No problem, click the menu button at the top the click on Online Services. 


Greetings Grace Lutheran,
 
Like you, I am doing my best to keep up with all the information that is coming out about COVID-19 (Coronavirus) as well as the continued spread of influenza and other cold and flu viruses and illnesses. Also, like you, I want what is best for those affected by COVID-19 including the many who are already sick with the illness around the world. As your pastor, I also want what is best for you, your friends and families, for our community, and for myself. Know that the council and I are in discussion for best practices at Grace. As you come to worship and meetings, you will notice some small but significant changes. In light of all the developments that seemingly come in every minute and every hour, I thought it would be best to remind you of some best practices. These tips come from places like the CDC and WHO and are likely nothing new to you, but may be helpful to keep in mind.

1. Wash your hands. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is your best option to prevent the spread of disease. Utilize singing a verse of a favorite song, the ABCs, Happy Birthday, or reciting the Lords Prayer. These and many options are about 20 seconds long. When unable to hand wash, another good option is to use hand sanitizer.
2. Cough or sneeze into your elbow. When you feel the urge to cough or sneeze, utilize your elbow instead of your hands. This will help prevent the spread of germs. After you have coughed or sneezed, wash your hands. If your coughing or sneezing continues, go home.
3. Avoid contact with eyes, nose, mouth, or other’s hands. This is one of the key ways illness can spread. Do as much as you can to avoid your hands contacting your eyes, nose, and mouth.
4. If you are sick or exhibiting symptoms of being sick, stay home. If you are experiencing any symptoms, you are strongly encouraged to not come to worship or any other social gathering. Everyone’s health and well-being is a top priority. Don’t feel bad about staying home or encouraging others to stay home. Your absence is understood.
5. Stay informed. Stay up to date on the latest developments. Check sources of information for accuracy. A lot of false and unhelpful information is being spread. You are encouraged to talk with your doctor or a medical professional if you have any questions.

 
Also know that Grace will be implementing various changes to the ways in which we do communion, share the peace, collect offering, collect attendance slips, distribute coffee and treats during fellowship time. These will likely change from week to week, but will start on Sunday, March 15. You will be notified as information becomes available. Simply, know that precautions are being taken to avoid the spread of germs that lead to illness.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate an unfamiliar situation to us all.
 
Peace
Pastor Eric
 
For more information about COVID-19, you can go to these helpful links:
https://www.cdc.gov/
 
https://www.who.int/
 
https://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Worship_in_Times_of_Public_Health_Concerns.pdf?_ga=2.132153102.183101534.1583946374-539639482.1540824682
 
http://www.nemnsynod.org/
 
https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/8025

In light of the many illnesses going around, both COVID-19 and the various strains of influenza still present and the concern for everyone's health and well-being, Grace Lutheran is attempting to be as prepared as possible. Know that Pastor Eric is consulting with the council and others in the congregation to take steps toward keeping people healthy. Please read the attached letter from Pastor Eric. 

In advance of worship this Sunday, the following are changes that are being made.

Sharing of the Peace/Greeters: We will be moving to non-contact ways of sharing the peace. Hand waves, bowing, peace sign, and other non-contact ways of sharing the peace are strongly encouraged. Please refrain from handshakes, fist bumps, elbow bumps

Communion: We will be using cup trays for the receiving of the wine. Please only touch one cup. We will otherwise be continuing the same way of communing. Please also remember that receiving either the bread or the wine counts as having received the fullness of communion based on our theological teachings. So, if you wish to receive either bread or wine, that is also acceptable. Communion servers will continue to use hand sanitizer or wash their hands prior to serving

Offering/Noisy Offering/Attendance Slips: We will not be passing offering plates or noisy offering buckets nor will ushers be collecting the attendance slips as they usually do. In its place, you will be invited to place the appropriate items into designated areas as you enter or exit the sanctuary.

Fellowship/Coffee Hour: For those serving coffee/doughnuts, you will be asked to wear gloves as you prepare the coffee and doughnuts as well as when you collect the used cups, napkins, etc. You will also be asked to use tongs to distribute doughnuts/cookies to people. For those who wish to partake in coffee/doughnuts/cookies, you are asked to wait to have someone who is serving give you the item(s) you desire.

Don't forget to wash your hands and, if you even have a symptom like a coughing, sneezing, or runny nose, please stay home.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we navigate our current health and well-being situations. 

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ALL ARE WELCOME! Service times are Sundays at 9:30a. Grace is Handicapped accessible, elevator is on the 3rd ave. entrance. We have nursery, and Sunday School. Here at Grace we believe in open communion, it's for everybody that would like to participate. Join us after service for social (coffee, donuts, juice for kids) 

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT GRACE…..      
During the Coronavirus pandemic, the church will be closed for all services, meetings, and gatherings during this time. Please join us on our Facebook page for online services Sunday mornings and everyday devotional. https://www.facebook.com/gracelutheranely/









 
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2020 Annual report right here!!!!!!!!!!! Click Me!

This year, the Habitat 500 has morphed into a “virtual” ride during the COVID19 pandemic.  During a time when our health depends on our ability to social distance by staying at home, we are even more aware of the need for safe and affordable housing.  Concurrently, during this time of economic uncertainty, fundraising is more challenging.  
Five members of Grace Lutheran have signed up for the virtual ride.  We will be riding actual bikes on roads and trails, but we will not be riding together with 200 other riders during one week in July.  Instead we have each committed to riding throughout the summer.  While we will miss the camaraderie of spending a week with people from throughout the state and neighboring states united by the dream of safe and affordable shelter for all, we will enjoy sleeping in our own beds and choosing not to ride on a rainy day.  
North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity, in partnership with Brittany Satterwhite, will soon begin rehabbing a Habitat house in Ely, and when completed, Brittany will purchase it with an affordable mortgage.  Brittany and her three young daughters attend Grace Lutheran Church.  Stay tuned for opportunities to volunteer.  Safely building a house with social distancing is another challenge, and NSLCHFH is busy figuring this out.  
In the meantime, financial support for construction materials is essential.  You can help by supporting any of the Habitat 500 riders.  

To donate online, go to https://p2p.onecause.com/habitat500 and search for Debbie Hultman, Mary Mills, David Bergum, Dorothy Sand or Caroline Owens.  Or send a check to NSLCHFH, PO Box 24, Virginia MN 55792.  Put the rider’s name on the memo line of your check.  

A Habitat 500 pancake breakfast has been a tradition at Grace.  You could eat a pancake while making your donation, a virtual pancake breakfast.

THANK YOU!



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Grace Lutheran Church Closing Policy
Weekdays:

• Grace Lutheran will follow the Ely School system when deciding to close during the school year due to inclement weather
• All church related activities will be canceled when the Ely Schools are closed or let out early

Weekends:

• You are encouraged to use caution when traveling, use your best judgment when road and weather conditions are more severe