• The Congregation Council updated COVID-19 protocols due to increased risk from the Delta variant and rising case numbers in Winneshiek and surrounding counties.
• The new protocols include:
  • Masks are required for all Sunday School, Youth Forum and Confirmation activities.
  • Worship Leaders and everyone working with children and youth must be vaccinated.
  • Fellowship Hour will be held outdoors, with the serving table in the entryway by the kitchen. Everyone will remain masked while indoors. People are invited to come through the line indoors and enjoy treats outside. Feel free to bring lawn chairs for seating outdoors. In case of rain, Fellowship Hour will be cancelled.
  • Please note: The Congregation Council, rather than a COVID task force, is now setting COVID protocols.

COVID-19 TASK FORCE GUIDELINES FOR WORSHIP AND FACILITIES USE
Approved by Congregation Council on April 20, 2021

Outdoor Worship: 

• Full worship service with Gathering, Word, Meal, Sending
• Singing allowed
• Pickup band, choir, handbells
• No sign up needed
• Worshippers please bring lawn chairs
• Distancing and masks required;  encouraged for kindergarteners and younger
• Families and children most welcome: We welcome and encourage kids to move and play. We know and trust that parents will encourage their children to be respectful of other congregational members.
• Communion served using individual, sealed cups
• Restrooms open, one household at a time
• Vaccines encouraged 

 Move into the Sanctuary If Weather Prevents Outdoor Worship:

• Music Director Brooke Joyce and Pr. Amy will make the call about whether we need to move indoors  at 7:30 am Sunday morning. The decision will be announced in the Sunday email. If we move indoors, the sign-up form will be shared in that email and posted on the website. The sign-up form will include encouragement to let others sign up first if you have recently been indoors for worship. 
• Limit 50 people
• Sign-up required
• Masks required and encouraged for those under age four
• Families and children are most welcome. We welcome and encourage kids to move and play. We know and trust that parents will encourage their children to be respectful of other congregational members.
• Designated spots for seating in the sanctuary
• Windows open
• No singing or wind instruments
• Communion served using individual, sealed cups
• No Fellowship Hour
• Nursery closed to children, open for nursing moms
• One household at a time in restrooms
• Vaccines encouraged 

Online Worship Service:

• During this season of outdoor worship, it will not work well to livestream the outdoor service. We will continue to offer an online worship service, but it will be shorter and simpler than the current online service. 
• When we return to regularly scheduled worship in the sanctuary, we will then livestream the indoor service.

Building Use:

• Building open daily 8:30 am-8:30 pm.
• Masks required
• Groups of 17 or fewer may meet in the Adult Forum space if distancing is practiced, 10 more can join if the group spreads into the gathering space outside the sanctuary
• Groups of 8 or fewer may meet in the library if distancing is practiced and windows are open
• The Fellowship Hall and Sunday School room can be made available for groups in coordination with Kinderhaus
• Building sanitized regularly
• Sunday School and Youth Forum will meet outside following outdoor worship. In case of inclement weather they will meet indoors at 10:30 a.m.
• Confirmation class will meet indoors on Wednesday nights.

Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms needs to stay home.

On Sunday, November 19, Pr. Marion will lead Adult Forum.  She says:  Sunday, Dec. 3rd is the first Sunday of Advent and the first Sunday of the new Church Year. As this new year begins we will leave aside Matthew’s Gospel and begin reading from the Gospel of Mark. Come to the adult forum this Sunday to learn more about Mark’s unique story of Jesus and how we will explore that during the coming year.  

Wednesday evening worship services will resume on Ash Wednesday, February 10, at 7:00 p.m., with Holy Communion and imposition of ashes.

On the following five Wednesday evenings during Lent, services will begin at 5:30 p.m.; Holy Communion will not be served. A simple Soup Supper will be offered in the Fellowship Hall after the services.

There will not be a Wednesday evening service during Holy Week. Holy Communion will be served at the Maundy Thursday service, March 24, 7:00 p.m.

Monday, January 18
8:30 a.m. – CNA class until 3 pm

Tuesday January 19
5:00 p.m. – Audit Committee Meeting – Library
7:00 p.m. – Congregation Council Meeting

Wednesday, January 20
7:30 a.m. – Men’s Breakfast
7:00 p.m. – Band Rehearsal

Thursday, January 21
10:00 a.m. – Adult Bible Study
5:00 p.m. – Community Meal at First Lutheran Church
February Newsletter deadline

Saturday, January 23
9:00 a.m. – WELCA Brunch hosted by CLA Circle – Fellowship Hall

Sunday, January 24
9:30 a.m. – Worship Service with Holy Communion – Third Sunday after Epiphany
10:30 a.m. – GS Annual Meeting during Fellowship Hour – Fellowship Hall
10:45 a.m. – Sunday School in Sanctuary

Reminder – Good Shepherd is hosting the graduation ceremony and lunch for the CNA (Certified Nurse Aide) Class on Monday, January 25,  beginning at 12:30 p.m.  The ceremony will take place in the sanctuary; lunch will follow in the Fellowship Hall.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Contact Luther intern Makayla Marinack through the church office for additional information.