Dealing with Loss and Grief in the Midst of a Pandemic

Insights on Congregation Meetings in time of Pandemic – A Message from Secretary Beth Schlegel – 9/21/20

Covid Communion Communication 6-18-20

Resuming Care-filled Worship and Sacramental Life During a Pandemic – This comprehensive, 36-page resource provides excellent guidance on the wide range of concerns involved in reopening your congregation. From the Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacraments, which includes the ELCA.

When Can We Sing – This 13-minute video message from the Moravian Music Foundation talks about the risks to choirs and musicians and explains why singing must be avoided in worship for the foreseeable future.

ELCA: Returning to In-person Worship – This will assist your Covid-19 planning team in formulating procedures and timetables to resume in-person worship.

Pennsylvania Law on Virtual Meetings -Certain conditions must be met in order for nonprofit governing bodies, such as congregation councils and congregational meetings, to meet officially.

ELCA: FAQ on Virtual and Remote Meetings – Guidance for holding congregational meetings when folks can’t physically gather. Save

ELCA: Guidance on Attendance – Here is our church’s advice on how to keep track of attendance when worship is done virtually.

ELCA: Prayers for Times of Public Health Concerns, COVID-19 -Our Churchwide office has prepared new prayers for use in the coronavirus crisis, as well as assembled prayers from other sources.

ELCA: Guidelines for Funeral Practices in a Public Health Crisis (Updated 3/20/20) – Helpful suggestions for ministering to the bereaved and handling funeral arrangements in these days of COVID-19.

Guide for Christian Funerals during COVID-19 – Excellent advice from the Massachusetts Council of Churches.

ELCA: How to Stream Your Worship Service — A Starter Guide (Updated 3/13/20) – Many congregants should be encouraged to stay away from worship: those who are sick, certainly, and those whose health or age puts them at special risk for COVID-19. Some congregations may decided to cancel worship altogether. How to serve them? Digital technology offers solutions. This ELCA guide can help.

ELCA: Worship in Times of Public Health Concerns (Updated 3/12/20) – Our Churchwide ministry has assembled commonsense advice on how to conduct worship that glorifies God but also minimizes the chances of coronavirus infection to God’s people.

LDR: Congregational Planning Checklist for a Pandemic (Updated 3/11/20) – Lutheran Disaster Response offers a guide for your congregation on how to plan for the impact of a pandemic in your church.

LWF: Intercessory Prayers Amid the Spread of COVID-19 – Lutheran World Federation offers these prayers.

Preparing Your Church for Coronavirus – The Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College has prepared this excellent, insightful guide for congregational leaders leading their congregations in this difficult time.

Timothy Wengert on Eucharistic Practices – One of our church’s eminent Luther scholars (and co-editor of the 2000 Book of Concord), Dr. Wengert gives a historical perspective on the Lord’s Supper in times of crisis.

10 Guidelines for pastoral care during the coronavirus crisis – From Christian Century, a wonderful reminder about the need to be a nonanxious shepherd to God’s people, as well as tips for how to care for people while maintaining physical distance.

Pandemic Hope Devotional – Help God’s people through this crisis with prayer and Scripture. This simple devotional provides some faithful steps to work though this crisis. There are daily Bible readings and activities geared for families. For those who may unexpectedly have children at home due to cancelled school, the activities may help keep children and caretakers engaged in healthy activities. From FAITH5.

Preparedness Guide for Houses of Worship – The Centers for Disease Control released this guide to help churches and other community organizations get ready for an outbreak of coronavirus. Put together an emergency plan BEFORE the virus reaches your area. Now that’s smart.