Hello and Blessings from St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, We wanted to check in and update everyone about our current situation and what’s happening at the church. You may have heard that the Ontario Government has recently given approval for churches to open again at 30 percent of their capacity. While this is a positive step, the virus is still with us and still poses a threat to our health. Our Eastern Synod Bishop, Michael Pryse, along with his Anglican colleagues, after consulting with experts, are strongly recommending keeping our church buildings closed throughout the summer. In a virtual meeting regarding the opening of churches in Grey Bruce, Dr. Ian Arra, Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer, Public Health Grey Bruce, stated that “Virtual attendance is still optimal for our congregations.” Our hope is that we will be able to open our doors again in September. The letter from the Bishop is attached in this e-mail. In the meantime, Pastor John will continue to provide worship services on television and online each week through the summer months. The phone at the church office continues to be checked regularly for messages, and our secure mailbox is checked daily for correspondence and offerings. We thank you for your feedback regarding our first attempt at a communion service. We are grateful for your continued support of St. Matthew’s and cannot wait to be able to gather together safely once again. Until then, be well and remember that Pastor John is available to talk any time if you have pastoral or church related questions or concerns, at 519-506-5509. God’s Blessings and Peace Be With You, Pastor John and St. Matthew’s Church Council
St. Matthew’s Ev. Lutheran
356 9th Street, Hanover ON N4N 3L5
(519-364-2240)
stmatthews@wightman.ca
