ALL ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED THRU APRIL 5th

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and sound judgment.” 
2 Timothy 1:7 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

For the past number of days, like you, we have been monitoring the news of the spread of the COVID-19 virus; and during that time, we have been in discussion about what to do should it continue to spread. Plans and protocols have been made and remade, formed and reformed based on the best knowledge we could find. However, given the ever-changing and rapidly-evolving circumstances surrounding the coronavirus—and upon the recommendation of the Governor of Colorado, the Office of the Bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod, and our leadership here at Holy Cross—we have decided to immediately suspend all church activities at Holy Cross until March 31^st. This means that we will not be holding Sunday or Mid-Week Lenten services on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights and that all ministry activities will be canceled for the same period of time. The church will also be closed for all other building users. During this time of closure, the staff will continue to meet periodically to plan and prepare for upcoming ministry needs and to evaluate the situation. On March 31^st, we will take into consideration the recommendations of the Department of Public Health as we consider the next steps.

As it is, we are tentatively planning on reopening the office on Tuesday, March 31^st, and reassembling for worship together on Sunday, April 5. In the meantime,

With no Sunday worship, we will need to find new ways of being Church; and so we will be trying to find ways of increasing our ministry connections online. For the next several weeks, we will be sending worship resources and video reflections via Facebook and email for Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings that will invite you to nurture your faith and stay connected to others—even while we are physically apart. Further, on Sunday mornings, in particular, we invite you to take those resources and at 10:00 a.m., shut everything else off, and use them to worship as a family (or by yourself, as the case may be)—knowing that at the same time we are all gathering together (albeit, not physically). 

In addition, we invite you to be Church with each other—especially for some of our more vulnerable and at-risk others. While we, as staff, will be trying to contact people by phone throughout the coming weeks as best we can, we need you to do so as well. We are church together; and for the next few weeks anyway, this will be one of those ways that we really can be church together. Pick up the phone and call some of our shut-ins, elderly, and at-risk members (as well as others). Find out how they are doing and if they need anything. When you go to the grocery store, help them by doing some “dual” shopping if they need it, then drop the groceries off on their doorstep. Email each other. Care for one another. Pray for one another. (In fact, try this: At 6:18 p.m. each day, stop with whatever you’re doing and literally pray for one another and our world. Why 6:18 p.m.? Because Ephesians 6:18 says, “Pray in the Spirit at all times in every [situation...And pray]…for all the saints.” C’mon. Two minutes. And your dinner won’t even get cold.) In a time when many people will be isolated, your phone calls, prayers, etc., are not only good Christian things to do; they can be a lifeline to those who need it.

Pastoral Care. As we mentioned above, we’ll also be doing what we can to care for our most vulnerable members, as well as others. But we also know that as human beings, tied to the same restrictions of time and space as you, it may not always be possible to be in constant contact with all of you (or even most of you). However, if you or someone you know (especially some of those you are in contact with) do need urgent pastoral care, please don’t hesitate to contact one of us at any time. Given the circumstances of the COVID-19 virus, we may not be able to be there in person, but we’re only a phone call, email or text away. If you do have urgent needs, please call Pastor Ron , Pastor Aly, or Scott Moore. You may also contact them through their staff emails located on our website. We’ll try to walk with you along the way in every way possible.

Lastly, Offerings & Giving. In this season of limited social gathering, we know that people will be hurting, but we also know that the mission and ministry of Holy Cross continues. To that end, we also know that unless our offerings and giving continue, those too will suffer. Many of you already give electronically, and for that, we are extremely grateful. For others, this may be a great time to sign up to give that way too. You can establish your electronic giving through Realm, or you can give a one-time (or more) gift online through the link on our website at http://holycrosswheatridge.org, and click on “Online Giving”. You can also mail your offering to us at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 4500 Wadsworth Blvd, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. If you need help with this, please do not hesitate to contact us.

These are scary and anxious times; and these are uncharted waters we’re sailing. The reminder to us in this moment, however, is that we worship a God who is bigger, stronger, and wider than any coronavirus. These are not decisions that have been made lightly or in fear or panic, but they are made with an eye toward protecting our most vulnerable members—and you. More, they are made with an eye to the One we worship, who said: “Behold, I have said and done all these things so that you might have peace by remaining one with me. In this world you will have trouble and tribulation, but be of good courage, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

May he fill you with just that kind of peace as we walk together through this.

In peace,

Pastor Ron, Pastor Aly, & Scott