CORONA VIRUS UPDATE
COVID 19 (Coronavirus) UPDATE
Last posted 6/1/20 at 12:00PM
The family at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church loves and cares for our Decatur community, and we want to continue do our part to help protect our family, friends, and neighbors from the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
In accordance with current local and state guidelines, our campus is preparing for limited opening. This includes St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, SPL Field House, AND St. Paul’s Early Learning Center. All in person classes are currently suspended (including classes for adult, youth, and children, and our nursery is also closed); Church Office and ELC Office staff are still in a hybrid capacity with some working in person as needed and some working remotely, until current restrictions and guidelines change. In an effort to begin preparing for in person worship services and in order to maintain a high level of sanitization, the building is not yet open to regular foot traffic – please call the Church Office at 217-423-6955 if you have a need or question, or utilize our Drop Box located at the St. Paul’s Early Learning Center entrance should you need to drop something off at the building (available Monday-Friday, 8am-12pm).
As we look toward resuming in person worship services and prepare to follow guidelines for doing so, we will still continue to host ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICES. All Worship Services will be streamed for you during regular worship times at spldecatur.churchonline.org on Saturday at 6:00 pm and Sunday at 8:00 am and 10:30 am.
SPECIAL UPDATE:
You may also view the Celebration of Life service for Pastor Eric Trickey on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:00 PM (CST) at SPLDECATUR.CHURCHONLINE.ORG and following at the same site and at YOUTUBE.COM/SPLDECATUR. You can read more about Pastor Eric Trickey HERE or at Dawson-Wikoff.com
COMMUNION
We will host the Drive Thru Communion experience again on the 2nd & 4th Sundays in June (June 14th & June 28th) from 12:00-2:00pm in the South Parking Lot on the SPL Campus. Questions? Contact the Church Office at 217-423-6955.
COUNT ME IN!:
We like to know when you’re worshiping with us, whether it’s in person or online! Be sure to complete the online CONNECT CARD for you and your family each week you worship with us, available on our Forms list at SPLDECATUR.ORG
WATCH WORSHIP SERVICES ONLINE
Worship Services Online
Saturday at 6:00 PM
Sunday at 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM
If you or someone you know does not have access to viewing worship online, we would be glad to mail an audio recording of the service. Please contact Sarah Johnson at 217-855-5855 or sarah@spldecatur.org to be added to the mailing list during this time.
Worshipping online? Let us know!
You can “check-in” and let us know you’re with us via the Worship Attendance Connect Card (available by clicking at the top right while viewing the worship service or also in the Forms section of our website). There is also an option to submit a prayer request as a part of this form.
GIVING
If you’re wondering what to do about Giving as related to worship, you are able to access our Online Giving platform via the SPLDECATUR.ORG main page or on the Church Online site (button located in the upper right region of each page).
If you utilize the envelope system, you are welcome to mail it to the Church Office (1 Bachrach Ct., Decatur, IL 62526). You may also drop off any items into our Drop Box available inside our St. Paul’s Early Learning Center entrance on the SPL campus 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM during the week (Monday-Friday).
LATEST UPDATES
You can stay connected to all of the latest information via our online connecting points:
On this page or our Latest News section of our website at SPLDECATUR.ORG
On our Facebook Page at facebook.com/stpaulsdecatur
On Twitter at @SPLDecatur
On Instagram at @SPLDecatur or #SPLDecatur
On YouTube at @SPLDecatur where we have past messages and several playlists available to you
On the St. Paul’s Early Learning Center Website at ELCDECATUR.ORG and Facebook page at facebook.com/ELCDecatur
On the SPL Field House Facebook page at facebook.com/SPLFieldHouse
On the Decatur Kids Facebook page at facebook.com/DecaturBagsOfHope
ADDITIONAL UPDATES
All Sunday Adult, Youth, and Children’s Education classes will NOT meet during this time. However, SPL Youth and SPL Kids are each engaging in ministry to families online. Connect with Pastor Bill Grueninger and Jennifer Power to learn more.
Connect with SPL Kids on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/SPLKids
Connect with SPL Youth on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/SPLYouth
Looking to meet with your Small Group of 10 or less?
If you and your Small Group are looking to connect and are in need of ideas, contact our Church Office at 217-423-6955 to find out what resources are available to you during this time.
THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT
If you want a quick and easy way to keep most of these resources at your fingertips, download the SPL Decatur app on your devices. Access Church Online, Giving, Forms, and all of our social platforms there.
Just go to SPLDECATUR.ORG/APP and click the link for the device you have to get started.
Watch for more updates on this webpage as we continue to navigate this situation together.
TAKING PRECAUTIONS
Please be mindful of the guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), including:
– Stay home when you are sick and and follow ALL guidelines during this “Shelter in Place” order
– Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom; before eating; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
– Use tissues and throw them away after use
– Keep a distance (at least 6 feet); no handshaking
– You should be fever free for at least 48 hours, without fever-reducing meds, before venturing out or being in contact with others
