STAY CONNECTED

Grace Lutheran Office Hours:
During the Coronavirus pandemic, the church office is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00am to 3:00pm.

Ways to Worship

In the Sanctuary
Effective Aug. 7th, 2021...Today, Grace Lutheran Council met and voted to reinstate the mask requirement, effective immediately, for all meetings and worship services. No exceptions. 

Council is greatly concerned about the rising number of cases of Covid, especially the Delta Variant, and wants to keep everyone as safe as possible.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Pastor Eric or anyone on the council

Peace
Grace Lutheran Council and Pastor Eric

Please assess your own health and be prepared to follow the GUIDELINES FOR INDOOR WORSHIP (see below In Person Worship Guidelines and Information)  If at any time, the local schools switch back to online-only instruction, indoor in-person worship will be suspended and only the livestream, services uploaded on our YouTube page and on our website.

Facebook Streaming
We will continue to stream our worship on our Facebook page. Tune in on Sundays at 9:30 am to participate live with other members. 

YouTube
Our worship video will also be made available to watch on YouTube page
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 In Person Worship Guidelines and Information
Effective August 8th, 2021

1. If you are sick, have symptoms, or may have been exposed to someone who is positive for covid, please stay home.
2. Facebook Live worship option will continue for those who do not yet feel comfortable coming in person for worship 
3. Masks 
   1. Effective Aug. 7th, 2021...Today, Grace Lutheran Council met and voted to reinstate the mask requirement, effective immediately, for all meetings and worship services. No exceptions. 
      
      Council is greatly concerned about the rising number of cases of Covid, especially the Delta Variant, and wants to keep everyone as safe as possible.
      
      If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Pastor Eric or anyone on the council
      
      Peace
      Grace Lutheran Council and Pastor Eric
4. Social distancing will be observed in the sanctuary and/or the fellowship hall for worship
5. Frequent use of hand sanitizer is encouraged
6. Ushers will be assigned to both the sanctuary and the fellowship hall. 
   1. They will be responsible for checking you in
   2. Making sure you are in your appropriate seat
   3. Will be responsible for enforcing social distancing requirements
7. Seating will be by family units or pods 
   1. Capacity increases from 60 to 75
   2. There will be no more pre-registration. Instead, we are asking you to register/sign-in with the ushers as you arrive.
   3. Signs will be made for the rows and the locations where people will be seated in each row. Seating will be every other row
      1. Each row can hold up to 6.
   4. Seating in family units will be flexible. Extended families and close friends who are vaccinated may be a pod. 
   5. Dismissals will go from back to front.
8. Various parts of worship will look and feel different
   1. Bulletins:
      1. Distribution of bulletins will be flexible from week to week.
      2. Participants will be encouraged to bring cell phone or iPad (silenced) to be able to bring up the bulletin that is emailed.
      3. Pastor or Brian may be able to provide a printed bulletin in either full or abbreviated form. 
   2. Singing: Masks must be worn for singing. Singing as a congregation will be permitted with masks.
   3. Prayers/Responses in unison (example: Lord’s Prayer): May be spoken
   4. Offering: plates will be located at the entrances to the sanctuary and fellowship hall. No plates will be passed during the service
   5. Sharing the peace: Will take place but you will have to remain in your seat area. Waves, peace signs, and other acceptable gestures will be used. Shaking hands will not be taking place.
   6. Communion: 
      1. Everyone is given a communion cup as they enter and during the appropriate time, everyone communes at the same time. 
      2. To dispose of your cups, each family unit/pod will be given a ziploc bag to put the used cups in and to throw in the garbage as you leave. Please do not leave used cups in the pews or at tables.
   7. Dismissal: You will be encouraged to leave the building following the service.
   8. Fellowship time: See Indoor Fellowship After Church Announcement
   9. 1. Outside fellowship may be possible. You are encouraged to meet outside of the church to share in a time of fellowship. Bring a chair and meet in small groups
   10. Pastor Greeting: Pastor Eric will not be shaking hands as you leave the sanctuary but may greet you outside as you leave.
9. Nursery:
   1. Brian and Jodi will be present as needed basis in the nursery during services. 
   2. As you register, please either email or call the church indicating your desire to utilize the nursery.

Procedures for Safely Meeting at Grace Lutheran
EFFECTIVE August 7, 2021

1. Wear a mask over mouth and nose at all times, no exceptions. You are also encouraged to wear two masks.
   1. If you need more masks, the church office has extra cloth masks and one-time use masks.
2. Socially distance
   1. Sit at least six feet away during a meeting or activity
3. Frequently wash and sanitize hands
4. Make an appointment if you wish to have a group or committee meet inside the church. No drop-in visits if possible
5. Sign in and sign out when entering and exiting the building.
6. Clean and disinfect all surfaces you touch before and after a meeting.
   1. Including door knobs, railing, table tops, windows, electronics, chairs, etc.
7. You are encouraged to keep the number of people meeting at one time to 10-15 maximum.
8. Food or beverages  See Indoor Fellowship After Church
9. Meet in open areas to allow for social distancing.

​​***** Even though Grace Lutheran is slowly opening back up during  Coronavirus pandemic, your offerings are still needed to help with still heating/cooling 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.

 

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT GRACE…..    

​Effective Aug. 7th, 2021...Today, Grace Lutheran Council met and voted to reinstate the mask requirement, effective immediately, for all meetings and worship services. No exceptions. 

Council is greatly concerned about the rising number of cases of Covid, especially the Delta Variant, and wants to keep everyone as safe as possible.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Pastor Eric or anyone on the council

Peace
Grace Lutheran Council and Pastor Eric
 
Indoor Fellowship After Church
Many have been enjoying gathering in small groups outside of church building for fellowship after church for much of the summer. We started by bringing chairs and gathering at Whiteside Park, bringing our own beverage. Then we transitioned to gathering with lawn chairs, treats, and conversation on and around the parsonage lawn.
We soon learned that we didn’t need the chairs. We enjoyed the flexibility of moving around and visiting. Now, with the weather turning colder, we are looking to move inside.
At their September meeting, the Church Council Smart Team discussed the possibility of moving after church fellowship inside. Council has agreed to after service fellowship beginning Sunday, October 17 with the following guidelines.
1. Masks worn except while eating or drinking.
2. Coffee will be provided with self-service in disposable cups.
Someone from Amazing Grace will make the coffee in small pots before
church service.
3. Treats may be provided by volunteers and will be set out on napkins.
4. Distancing will be respected at all times. Tables will be spaced. Seating at
the tables should not exceed 4. The middle seat should be vacant.

Using the above guidelines, committees and groups within the church are also permitted to include hospitality in their meetings beginning the week of October 17. We expect that this may be trial and error and may be making revisions as we move forward. As always, we continue to desire to remain safe.

As of now, until Oct. 17th Sunday Morning Fellowship in the church, we are encouraging you gather in small groups on the parsonage lawn.  Bring a chair, maybe a thermos of coffee, and a smile.  (You could also make a quick stop at the Front Porch, Log Cabin Coffee, Northern Grounds, or a gas station. )
 
Coffee on the parsonage lawn: As of now, until Oct. 17, Sunday Morning Fellowship in the church, we are encouraging you to gather in small groups on the parsonage lawn after worship.  Bring a chair, maybe a thermos of coffee, and a smile.  (You could also make a quick stop at the Front Porch, Northern Grounds, Log Cabin Coffee, or a gas station
 
October is Stewardship Month. Our schedule for the campaign is:
Sunday, October 10th - Stewardship Sunday and a special media celebration of our ministries.
Sunday, October 24th – Pledges are due back to the church.
Sunday, November 7th - Pledge Sunday. Pledges will be dedicated during this service.
 
Livestream Tech Volunteers Pastor Eric and the Worship and Music Committee are seeking interested individuals who might like to help with running the livestream for worship. Volunteers would be trained on how to run the livestream and given opportunities to learn with those who have already run livestream. Please contact Pastor Eric if you are interested or have questions.

***Pastor Eric has been selected for jury duty for the month of October. It may be possible that he will have to postpone or cancel meetings during the week as a result of being selected on a particular day. Sunday worship should remain unaffected. Thank you in advance for your understanding.***



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Phone:

(218)365-5605
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Address:

301 E. Conan St.
​Ely, MN 55731

Email:
gracelutheranelymn@gmail.com

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