FULL INTERVIEW WITH PASTOR RIZ PRAKASIM

A Christ the Servant Update on the
COVID-19 Health Crisis

Dear Christ the Servant Community,

CLICK HERE TO WATCH PASTOR CHRIS' VIDEO MESSAGE!

We have made the difficult decision to cancel, postpone or reshape all programming at Christ the Servant through Sunday, April 5^th based on recommendations from the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health.  This is a bold act of love that aligns us with the best efforts of our larger community, state and nation to ensure the health of all who live here.  

Here’s what that means:

·  There will be no meetings or gatherings of our church leaders, teams, worship, or outside groups at our facility between today, Friday, March 20^th and Sunday, April 5^th.

·  Worship on Sundays and Wednesdays between March 22^nd and April 5^th will be livestreamed. You may join the livestream in multiple ways and find links on our website to connect online (please bear with us as we continue to work out technical issues):

• Facebook Live
• Direct Feed Video Livestream
• Online Church Interactive Format
• Zoom Interactive Video Conference (to connect by telephone for audio only call1-312-626-6799 – When Prompted Enter Meeting ID: 667 716 5345)

We will use the same Zoom link and information above for:

• Fellowship time on Sundays immediately following worship.
• Youth Group Check-In on Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.
• Bible study on Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.
• Personal or group conversations upon request (if you would like to speak with Pastor Chris or use the video conference for a group conversation, email pastorchris@cslcvh.org to schedule a time).

·  Critical assistance ministries will continue in a reduced and precautionary format.

• Bread Distribution on Tuesdays will continue on a limited basis with pick up outside.
• The scheduled blood drive on Monday, March 23rd 2:00-7:00 p.m. will continue in order to assist the Red Cross and those in desperate need of blood during a time of unprecedented cancellations. The Red Cross has established strict precautionary measures in order to abide by CDC and MNDH guidelines. The schedule is full, but if you would like to be on standby as a donor please email lois@cslcvh.org. 
• Members of our community continue to be in need of emergency food assistance and essential supplies. We encourage everyone to give directly to the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf at 1884 Whitaker Street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. For more information call (651) 407-5310 or visit whitebearfoodshelf.org.

This is a rapidly changing situation, so we are making decisions week by week.  We will continue to evaluate recommendations of the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health to make a determination about what to do after April 5^th.

We are always concerned about those in our community who are vulnerable.  If you are in need of assistance, or aware of someone in our community who needs help during this health crisis, please contact us.  It is critical that as a community we continue to care for each other, especially the vulnerable. Over the next two weeks, the Christ the Servant leaders will be calling every family in the congregation to check in, to ask if there are prayer requests, and to see if there is some way that we can be of assistance to one another during stressful times.  If you are interested in being a part of our “Calling Team” to check in with people, please contact the church office (651-429-6595). While there will be no staff keeping regular office hours, the voicemail is being checked regularly and we will return your call as soon as possible. You may also email us at office@cslcvh.org. If you have a pastoral emergency or need, please call Pastor Chris Steubing at 651-335-0256.

Communications through the end of April will focus on our weekly eNewsletter (this will be mailed out to those without email), updates through social media, the Christ the Servant website, and my blog.  Because things are changing so quickly with our schedule, we will not be sending out the April Cross and Cradle Newsletter.  Instead we will rely on these quicker forms of communication.

We are so grateful to all of you for continuing to support the church and its ministries through your regular financial giving.  Your generosity is so important during this health crisis for continuing the congregation’s many commitments, sustaining Christ the Servant’s operations, and to support our partner ministries who are doing important work caring for those in need.

We have options for people continuing to give during this time when we will not be gathering at the Christ the Servant building:

·  Checks can be sent to Christ the Servant Lutheran Church 3676 Centerville Road, Vadnais Heights, MN 55127.

·  Options to give electronically as a one-time or recurring online gift and through “text-to-give” can be found at https://www.cslcvh.org/tithe/.

Finally, being scattered into our own homes does not mean that we cannot be church together. We will be setting up extended family size groups of 20-40 people called “Missional Communities” with leaders designated to reach out to support, encourage, and engage their group. You will be invited to actively participate in one of these Missional Communities so that we can all continue encountering God, loving one another, and reaching the world as a spiritual family on mission regardless of our location. God is good. All the time.

In Christ

Pastor Chris Steubing & Church Council