UPDATED April 1, 2021
For Immanuel Members:
Wisconsin State Mask Mandate Ended – Now What?
On Wednesday, March 31, 2021 the Wisconsin Supreme Court voted to end Governor Evers’ state-wide mask mandate, effective immediately. Local governments have the authority to continue their own mask mandates. Brown County Health and Human Services – Public Health Division has placed a Health Advisory in place. The advisory is NOT an order or mandate, due to the county’s public health department not being able to issue an enforceable mask order without authority from the County Board. Since it is an advisory and not a mandate, we are free to either follow it or not, without breaking the 4th commandment. This means that it is voluntary to wear a mask at indoor gatherings.
What does this mean for our worship services? It means that some may choose to continue to wear a mask or other face covering, and it means that some may choose not to, even if they do not have a medical exemption. As your pastor, I have a few recommendations for both groups.
To those who prefer/choose to continue wearing a mask inside:
- Feel free to do so as long as you wish.
- Realize that some may prefer not to do so, and at this time there is no legal or scriptural bind to do so.
- Especially when conversing with someone who is not wearing a mask, if you prefer to physically distance, please feel free to let them know and ask that they provide that comfortable distance.
- Our fellowship hall (the area behind the sanctuary) will continue to be the area that has physically distant seating. The fellowship hall is now designated a mask wearing only area.
To those who prefer/choose not to continue wearing a mask inside:
- Feel free to attend without the use of a mask.
- Realize that some may prefer to continue to wear a mask, and they have the freedom to do so.
- When conversing with someone, whether they are wearing a mask or not, if they indicate that they would prefer to physically distance while standing or sitting, please respect their wishes and remain at a distance.
- The sanctuary is an area for both mask wearers and non-mask wearers.
We will continue to have our outdoor worship option.
We will continue to have two trustees per service so we can serve those worshipping outside.
Our trustees and pastor will continue to wear masks while serving all of our worshippers.
For everyone, please be considerate and polite to your brothers and sisters in Christ. We have come to worship. May God bless us as we keep that our primary focus.
We continue to follow our usual abbreviated Sunday morning format , including 3 ways of worshipping together:
Worshiping with our drive-in worshippers
Physically distanced area
Outside in your car (drive-in worship): A trustee will come to your car sometime before the service begins and give you a bulletin and a communication card. The trustees will wear masks.
Inside in a physically distanced area: The fellowship hall is set up with chairs which are 6 feet apart (sets of 2, 3 and 5). At the end of the service, those in the physically distanced area are ushered out first.
Inside in a non-physically distanced area. This is in the sanctuary itself.
Those who are uncomfortable attending services indoors, take advantage of our drive-in worship! I have also make audio recordings of the sermons in a podcast format. It is entitled: “Immanuel Cares.”
For St. Paul Members:
The council has agreed that members can choose to wear or not wear a mask for indoor worship. Please be considerate and polite to your brothers and sisters in Christ. We have come to worship. May God bless us as we keep that our primary focus.
Private communion is still offered,
If you, like some, still desire to receive private communion, I am ready and willing to serve. Call my cell (920.632.8632) and set up a time and day. We can meet in your home, my office at church, or in the church sanctuary.