UPDATED MESSIAH HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOL (MASKS): 

Adapted from the July 2022 Grace Note 

 On June 21 church council met and decided on a new health and safety protocol regarding the wearing of masks in the church. As you are aware, it is still a mixed bag out in the community. If you visit a doctor, you'll still be wearing a mask during the visit. Colleges and universities are still requiring masks inside of buildings. Stores and other public places are not generally requiring the wearing of masks. 

At Messiah, we will be using a flexible system of mask wearing; when Cuyahoga County's risk level is in the green zone, we will not require masks. If the risk level is on the rise, and it gets into the yellow or orange zone, we will ask folks to wear masks. Anyone who wishes to wear a mask is encouraged to do so at any time. Also, we hope that folks would generally practice safe spacing when in worship and when out and about inside the building. 

It seems that vaccinations, boosters and newly adopted medical treatments have made the covid virus much less serious. I don't want to downplay any risk, however, as your council, we feel it is time to modify our rubrics regarding our wearing of masks. 

We will have a sign posted at the entrances to the building stating the risk level each Sunday. Thanks for your attention to this. 

c/o Jon Paulus, Council President 

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HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOL:

• The protocol is keyed to Cuyahoga County risk levels which are rated as Green (low), Yellow (medium) or Orange (high). 

• If the risk levels are in the Green zone, and the trend is either steady or downward, masks will be optional. 

• If the risk levels are in the Green zone, but the trend is rising, all will be requested to wear masks. 

• If the risk levels are in the Yellow or Orange zones, all will be requested to wear masks. 

• In all cases, those who wish to wear masks are encouraged to do so at their own discretion. 

Messiah Missive - #134  

Beloved Church,

Have you ever found yourself sitting around a campfire, staring into the flames late at night, wondering about life? Fire can be powerful, both in drawing us in for warmth and light, but also if it gets out of control, we’re in trouble. Jesus speaks of fire in the Gospel text for this coming Sunday… and it all gets a bit uncomfortable. What might he be getting at? What’s the good news? Read it ahead of our gathering: Luke 12:49-56 (bible.oremus.org/?ql=527324188)

• HEALTH AND SAFETY THIS WEEKEND: The community risk level is orange (high risk). Masks are required while in the building this Sunday.

• Bulletin: Attached please find the bulletin for this coming Sunday (8-14-22): https://bit.ly/Aug14thBulletin_MLC

• Vacation Bible School – VBS will take place on all Sundays in August directly after the worship service. Lunch is provided. VBS activities to follow. Sign-up sheets are located outside the sanctuary in the lobby area.

• Pub Theology: We will next meet on August 22 at 6:00pm. Please watch the blog pubtheologyeast.wordpress.com for updates regarding location and topic.

• August Sunday School Clean Up! The high school youth and their teacher (Sarah Dellinger) will begin a thorough cleaning to organize the high school Sunday school room into a safe, welcoming space to meet each week. Please be aware that our cleaning will begin at the beginning of August as we want to be ready before fall Sunday school begins. If you have any items in this room, please claim them as they will be discarded if they are not needed by our youth group. If you want to help clean the room, you are very welcome and appreciated! 

• New Altar Flower Protocol: As Lyndhurst Florist has closed, we have revised the process by which altar flowers are given in worship. Members are encouraged to supply their own flowers in remembrance of departed loved ones, special anniversaries, etc. If you would like to reserve a specific Sunday and have a notice placed in the Bulletin, please sign up on the Flower Chart per past protocol, and contact Karyn Schmidt to share details regarding your preferred wording. You can also provide a $25 offering to support future Messiah flower purchases for others who may not be able to supply their own. NOTE: We recommend you consider using Access Florist at 700 Beta Drive – as their proceeds go to the Access Theater Project: https://atpneo.org/. Owner Joanna is great to work with. Their phone number is: 440-728-8598.

• Volunteer Opportunities: Readers, summer music and more...click here: https://messiahlyndhurst.org/sign-ups.

• Ukraine Crisis: There are two ways to help if you are able. (1) Ukraine Relief Supply Drive in Cleveland: https://www.medwish.org/ukraine/ (2) Lutheran Disaster Response: community.elca.org/eastern-europe-crisis-response 

• Prayer Requests: We encourage you to make prayer requests for the weekly Bulletin and monthly Grace Note by sending these to the church via email: office@messiahlyndhurst.org. Please send by Wednesday at noon for Bulletin inclusion the following Sunday.